A memoir about the joys of food and parenting and the wild ms preferences change from day to day (and may take years to include vegetables again). ...
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Jul 06, 2010
CLM
rated it: 
Great fun! I enjoyed hearing about Matthew, Iris and Laurie's adventures from his perspective, and of course I particularly enjoyed the literary allusions and references to those I know (although somehow I did not find any BT mentions - in other ways, Matthew comes close to the perfect spouse). Every time I picked the book up I got hungry again although I am less sophisticated than Iris and would probably not survive for long in this household. I am trying to remember what I ate when I visite
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Apr 03, 2010
Heather
rated it:
Disclaimer: I don't have kids. And I read this at someone's house, so I mostly skimmed the second half, and I didn't read any of the recipes.
It's more of a fun read than a step-by-step how-to, but it's great for perspective, even for those who do not frequent their local Asian market. The basic message is to give your baby/child the opportunity to be as non-picky an eater as they can be, but as picky as they need to be (and still give them the opportunity to come out of whatever p More...
It's more of a fun read than a step-by-step how-to, but it's great for perspective, even for those who do not frequent their local Asian market. The basic message is to give your baby/child the opportunity to be as non-picky an eater as they can be, but as picky as they need to be (and still give them the opportunity to come out of whatever p More...
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Apr 20, 2010
Yune
rated it: 
Really quite charming: the tale of a food writer's daughter's culinary journeys. I got this book because I find the author's podcast (Spilled Milk, made with another food writer) to be entertaining and informative and friendly for a hopeless cook such as myself. His voice shines through just as clearly in print.
If you're a beginning cook, Everyday Food will ask you to stretch, but not very far. There's a monthly feature called "Have you tried...?" introducing a special ingredient, sMore...
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Dec 26, 2009
Carlie
rated it:
A fun read. Enjoyed the solidarity of foodie-ness + parenthood in the author's life and also mine. Amster-Burton is a no health food freak and is one of the most guilt-free child feeders that I've ever run across, I aspire to his level of mental freedom about what constitutes "right" eating and what is acceptable fare and practice for youthful meals. I have occasional fantasies about living in Seattle and this book didn't help that little delusion any...the author's world sounds like a
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Nov 03, 2009
Anne
rated it: 
I had mixed feelings about this book.
Parts of it were quite funny.
There were some recipes that I'd like to try sometime (I probably won't)
But
It was also just a series of vignettes about how lucjy he is that his daughter was adventurous in food.
A lot of people probably pick up this book hoping to find out hw he did it so they can try it too - but what you find out is that his daughter - while she goes through food phases just like all More...
Parts of it were quite funny.
There were some recipes that I'd like to try sometime (I probably won't)
But
It was also just a series of vignettes about how lucjy he is that his daughter was adventurous in food.
A lot of people probably pick up this book hoping to find out hw he did it so they can try it too - but what you find out is that his daughter - while she goes through food phases just like all More...
Oct 01, 2009
Deb
rated it:
The style of this book is perfect. It's not a cookbook, it's not a memoir, it's just a dad and his kid (Iris) traversing the rocky road of childhood eating habits. The author just happens to tell you how he makes the easy-peasy recipes for Iris at the end of each chapter. I am definitely stealing the 6-ingredient phad thai recipe!
One of the things I really enjoyed were the references to other food-for-kids books. Amster-Burton balances his food expertise and experiences raising a foo More...
One of the things I really enjoyed were the references to other food-for-kids books. Amster-Burton balances his food expertise and experiences raising a foo More...
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Jun 29, 2009
Mallory
rated it: 
I wanted to give this 2.5... darn this whole-star rating system.
Anyway, this book can't decide if it's a cookbook or a memoir... it's a stay-at-home dad's account of how he tried to encourage his daughter to be willing to try new foods (and sometimes succeeded!). I like food and I like kids, so I thought I'd like this book. It's a little Seattle Yippie for my taste (FYI a Yippie is a Yuppie masquerading as a Hippie - don't be fooled) with lots of accounts of going to the Asian Grocer More...
Anyway, this book can't decide if it's a cookbook or a memoir... it's a stay-at-home dad's account of how he tried to encourage his daughter to be willing to try new foods (and sometimes succeeded!). I like food and I like kids, so I thought I'd like this book. It's a little Seattle Yippie for my taste (FYI a Yippie is a Yuppie masquerading as a Hippie - don't be fooled) with lots of accounts of going to the Asian Grocer More...
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Jan 03, 2010
Michael
rated it:
This was a Christmas gift, and the last book I read in 2009.
First, it's important to note that the subtitle is misleading. Amster-Burton clearly wants his daughter to be an adventurous eater, but he gives up on that when she learns that she can say "yuck", around 24 months of age. The book is really about how to cook for a family that includes a picky toddler without making multiple meals and sacrificing taste for the adults.
Caveat number two: Amster-Burton is More...
First, it's important to note that the subtitle is misleading. Amster-Burton clearly wants his daughter to be an adventurous eater, but he gives up on that when she learns that she can say "yuck", around 24 months of age. The book is really about how to cook for a family that includes a picky toddler without making multiple meals and sacrificing taste for the adults.
Caveat number two: Amster-Burton is More...
Jul 23, 2009
Meghan
rated it:
I've nailed down the reason I never like memoirs based on food blogs, although I think it might have more to do with what I read into them: a kind of dishonesty, an attitude of "hey, look at my beautiful life!", an unwillingness to delve deeply into how this lifestyle is maintained - we can't all be freelancers waxing rhapsodic about strawberries. Anyway, this is a memoir by a hip stay-at-home dad in Seattle, about what he cooks for his family, what his daughter likes, and how her tast
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Dec 19, 2011
Lizz
rated it:
I love this book! I keep stopping to read parts to Erik, saying, "this is what we should do when we have kids! Or at least you should."
Part-memoir, part-cookbook, HUNGRY MONKEY is perfect for 20-somethings in their first apartment needing a few cooking lessons, new parents worried their child will turn into a tater tot and empty nesters wanting to add some literal spice to their lives. In other words, while Amster-Burton writes specifically about feeding his delightful-soundi More...
Part-memoir, part-cookbook, HUNGRY MONKEY is perfect for 20-somethings in their first apartment needing a few cooking lessons, new parents worried their child will turn into a tater tot and empty nesters wanting to add some literal spice to their lives. In other words, while Amster-Burton writes specifically about feeding his delightful-soundi More...
May 31, 2010
Lindsey
rated it:
Overall this was a fun read and I liked its (mostly) relatable stories about kids and food. What's fun is that you get kid/food stories, but in the "amped up" version (i.e. his kid asking for lobster for dinner and picking out sushi from the conveyor belt). In the end, though, you realize kids are really all the same, meaning they all have their idiosyncracies. What I didn't like was the author, at least the guy talking in the book (whether that's really the author or not). For as hard
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Jan 12, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
I liked the IDEA of this book and so I set off to read it with very high hopes. Unfortunately, these hopes fell flat.
I found the book very slow paced. And while there was heart behind the author's writing style, there wasn't enough personality to pull me in or make me like the characters. And I wasn't that into the author's corny sense of humor either. Ouch. Was that harsh? Probably.
I did find the author's approach to feeding his little girl to be an interesting one ( More...
I found the book very slow paced. And while there was heart behind the author's writing style, there wasn't enough personality to pull me in or make me like the characters. And I wasn't that into the author's corny sense of humor either. Ouch. Was that harsh? Probably.
I did find the author's approach to feeding his little girl to be an interesting one ( More...
Jul 31, 2009
Kristi
rated it:
I recently picked up a copy of a new food memoir titled "Hungry Monkey" by Matthew Amster-Burton...because you got me...I loved the kitchy title, its cover and because it was about food. Oh, and the author is from my home - Seattle. What is there not to like about this book? Well, nothing! After a busy Saturday morning with my a$$ firmly planted on my upper deck I devoured this food memoir, enjoying every bite of it!
Yes, I did take some reading breaks! The first break was More...
Yes, I did take some reading breaks! The first break was More...
Jan 19, 2010
Harry
rated it:
Matthew Amster-Burton deserves some kind of parenting medal. Most parents will take any opportunity to brag on their child's latest triumph or repeat the funny things they say. Amster-Burton actually convinced a publisher to pay him to write a book whose premise (raising a child with sophisticated tastebuds) is a flimsy pretext for parental bragging. Bravo!
The book has a number of good recipes and amusing stories. Since my daughter is less than a year old, it's nice to preview what's More...
The book has a number of good recipes and amusing stories. Since my daughter is less than a year old, it's nice to preview what's More...
Oct 04, 2009
Hillary
rated it:
I really loved a lot of this book - I found a kindred spirit in Amster-Burton. Like him, I love to cook and want to share my joy of all things food with my kids (though he takes cooking to a whole different level than I do - he cooks like what I would do if I had unlimited time, money, and access to ingredients). Like Iris, my kids have their own opinions about what tastes good (my 3-year-old thinks he hates black pepper and onions like his daughter.) I enjoyed reading that there is someone else
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Dec 19, 2009
Rachael
rated it:
Hungry Monkey by Matthew Amster-Burton isn't like most books. It's not
strictly a cookbook or a memoir--it's a hybrid of the two. It's the story
of one father's journey (Amster-Burton's) to "raise an adventurous eater"
and how he quickly finds out that kids often have their own opinions about
what tastes good. This hilarious book shares stories about Amster-Burton
traversing the sometimes rocky road of trying to feed his daughter, from
the time she is b More...
strictly a cookbook or a memoir--it's a hybrid of the two. It's the story
of one father's journey (Amster-Burton's) to "raise an adventurous eater"
and how he quickly finds out that kids often have their own opinions about
what tastes good. This hilarious book shares stories about Amster-Burton
traversing the sometimes rocky road of trying to feed his daughter, from
the time she is b More...
Mar 06, 2010
Meredith
rated it:
(This is a long one, I wrote it for the library booktalk blog:)
I have a 2 1/2 year old who will eat pretty much nothing but raisins and cheerios. This hasn't fazed us, however. We continue to offer him foods we enjoy, like sushi and hummus. We figure one day he might just surprise us all and try some!
Matthew Amster-Burton is of the same mind. His book, Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater, is part memoir and part cookbook. His anec More...
I have a 2 1/2 year old who will eat pretty much nothing but raisins and cheerios. This hasn't fazed us, however. We continue to offer him foods we enjoy, like sushi and hummus. We figure one day he might just surprise us all and try some!
Matthew Amster-Burton is of the same mind. His book, Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater, is part memoir and part cookbook. His anec More...
May 18, 2009
Sherri
rated it:
I loved Hungry Monkey because it gave me exactly what I needed—an attitude adjustment! I bought Hungry Monkey because I was looking for practical tips to help fulfill my summer 2009 goal of getting Katherine to try some new foods. While Amster-Burton did give me some great practical tips (like buy a electric frying pan and subscribe to a basic photo-filled food magazine like Everyday Food—both for Katherine), he made me lighten up. His stories made me laugh aloud, and inspired me to sta More...
May 30, 2009
Kirsten
rated it:
I finished this book today and gave it to my husband so he could read it while on a business trip. I am already regretting that decision because I won't have Hungry Monkey in my hands again for 6 whole days. As soon as I read the last page I wanted to start over again with some little sticky flags in my hand to mark recipes I wanted to try and passages where Amster-Burton says specifically that kaiten sushi is ideal baby food. But no, I was all, "This book is hilarious. It's about cooki
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Aug 30, 2009
Emmeline
rated it:
Worth checking out from your local library, and photocopying a few recipes.
A humorous book filled with short snippets (and recipes) of a father's journey to "raise an adventurous eater."
Amster-Burton confesses to things that many food writers/chefs would never admit- his fondness for Kraft mac n' cheese,canned tomatoes, Gerber apricot baby food, and his pride in teaching his four-year-old to play Donkey Kong.
The short stories/chapters can be repetit More...
A humorous book filled with short snippets (and recipes) of a father's journey to "raise an adventurous eater."
Amster-Burton confesses to things that many food writers/chefs would never admit- his fondness for Kraft mac n' cheese,canned tomatoes, Gerber apricot baby food, and his pride in teaching his four-year-old to play Donkey Kong.
The short stories/chapters can be repetit More...
Mar 20, 2011
Julie
rated it:
If you're looking for a "how-to" book then this book isn't for you. It is really just the story of a foodie dad who doesn't want to give up eating the things he likes best just because he has a small child. It is a very good story, though. It is well written and funny - LOL kind of funny. I could be biased though. He has the same basic philosophy for feeding children that I have. For example, he respects his daughter's food preferences, but won't fix a separate meal just for her.
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Jul 16, 2009
Joni
rated it:
If you like to eat, I think you will like this book. If you are a parent, you will love this book. Amster-Burton writes in a casual style about his adventures in eating with a child. He starts from the beginning, before solid foods, and progresses up to when his child is 4. He has hilarious vignettes sprinkled throughout the book and tips on getting your children involved in the process. I appreciated his laid-back attitude towards feeding kids. It was a real relief to read about parenting
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Apr 13, 2010
Beth
rated it:
If you're hoping for tips to get your picky eater to try some new foods, then you're looking in the wrong book. Amster-Burton is a work-at-home foodie dad to Iris, who has tried a wide range of foods in her four years. She has also been lucky enough to have a father who cooks both for and with her, modeling an enthusiastic attitude toward all kinds of food.
The vignettes are sweet and funny, told in a conversational style with just a touch of self-deprecation. His love for his family More...
The vignettes are sweet and funny, told in a conversational style with just a touch of self-deprecation. His love for his family More...
Jun 24, 2009
Fawn
rated it:
Such a sweet book, ostensibly about food, but also just a sweet memoir of Amster-Burton parenting his daughter. He is the primary care provider during the day for Iris, a now 4 year old, with a great imagination. (As he says, "My wife brings home the metaphorical bacon, but I bring home the bacon." He is a food writer and foodie and his wife is a librarian.)
It is easy to become a little neurotic when you read most books about feeding your baby (i.e. Don't do this or they w More...
It is easy to become a little neurotic when you read most books about feeding your baby (i.e. Don't do this or they w More...
Aug 31, 2009
Caitlin
rated it:
Enjoyable, quick read. I laughed out loud several times. When I was pregnant, I read a great book called The Panic Free Pregnancy. This should actually be subtitled, "The Panic Free Guide to Feeding your Child." I wish I'd read it when I first started feeding Riley. It would have saved me some angst, I think. He has a whole chapter debunking the baby food bible, "Super Baby Food." But his basic premise is that you should just feed your kid what you want to eat yourself. They
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Apr 21, 2010
Christina
rated it:
This is actually more of a memoir than an advice book. Which is fine, if that's what you're after. If you're looking for how to convince your four year old to like gourmet cooking, this isn't it.
This is not a book for vegetarians. There are lots of recipes but they are very meat-centric.
This is not a book for busy parents. The author admits to having a minimum of 2 hours every day to prepare dinner. And he's apparently got more patience than I since he's actively sea More...
This is not a book for vegetarians. There are lots of recipes but they are very meat-centric.
This is not a book for busy parents. The author admits to having a minimum of 2 hours every day to prepare dinner. And he's apparently got more patience than I since he's actively sea More...
Jun 20, 2009
Susann
rated it:
I grinned and chuckled my way through this as I learned how the Amster-Burton family handles their 3 meals, plus snacks, a day. (Answer: As long as I could have cereal on those french toast mornings, I would happily move in with them.) Matthew's breezy and laid-back tone is a reminder that food + kids can equal fun and doesn't have to equal A Big Stressful Deal.
The most important thing that I learned, though, is that the Pocky from Pocky Sticks is pronounced 'pokey.' How could I hav More...
The most important thing that I learned, though, is that the Pocky from Pocky Sticks is pronounced 'pokey.' How could I hav More...
Mar 17, 2010
Patrick
rated it:
I love Amster-Burton's writing and sense of humor; there seemed to be something on every page that made me laugh out loud.
We're doing OK on the how-to-feed-our-kid-real-food front (hint: feed them real food), so I read this more out of curiosity than as a guidebook to learn something I don't know. That said, there are a lot of yummy looking recipes and great parental anecdotes in this book. Hard to tell who the target audience is, or at least hard to believe that there are enough ur More...
We're doing OK on the how-to-feed-our-kid-real-food front (hint: feed them real food), so I read this more out of curiosity than as a guidebook to learn something I don't know. That said, there are a lot of yummy looking recipes and great parental anecdotes in this book. Hard to tell who the target audience is, or at least hard to believe that there are enough ur More...
Sep 16, 2009
Jenn
rated it:
I loved this book! I may be just a little bit biased because the author is a fellow Seattle-ite, but his recommendations for finding fresh, local ingredients are applicable to anyone, anywhere.
I really liked his practical style for feeding his family. He gives many recipes that are economical and healthy. He teaches cooking techniques and terminology in an inviting and approachable way.
This is a great book for any family - even if you do not have children, this is a great way to lea More...
I really liked his practical style for feeding his family. He gives many recipes that are economical and healthy. He teaches cooking techniques and terminology in an inviting and approachable way.
This is a great book for any family - even if you do not have children, this is a great way to lea More...
Jul 07, 2009
Delight
rated it:
This hilarious book about Amster-Burton's culinary adventures with his four year old daughter, Iris, had me laughing out loud through the entire book. Parents who are trying to feed picky kids something other than mac 'n cheese and pb&j will relate, and those without kids might see a little of their childhood selves. This book is full of recipes--including many that adults will be excited to eat, too. Amster-Burton is a foodie and a local one who lives close to our neighborhood so it was fun
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