The Frugal Gourmet Cooks Three Ancient Cuisines: China, Greece, and Rome

by Jeff Smith

The popular television chef prepares a range of culinary treats based on the ancient cuisines of China, Greece, and Rome

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Greece, Food and Drink

528 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1989

About the author

Jeffrey L. Smith was the author of a dozen best-selling cookbooks and the host of The Frugal Gourmet, a popular American cooking show.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See authors with similar names.

Reviews

[Kathy]

The man turned out to be a creep, but he had two ideas that I really liked: 1) There's no better way to learn a culture than to appreciate their food, and 2) if you're alone, you're worth cooking good food for yourself.

[Juliana]

This one has been rattling around on my shelves for quite a long time and it is time to try a few of these recipes.

[Susan Mazur Stommen]

Nothing caught my eye. But then, I've read apulius and others...
Once you've learned how to make garum, and stuff an ostrich with a peacock, there's nothing Jeff can really add...

[Ginnie Grant]

The way this book was written it was really confusing and hard to understand

[Amber Robbins]

This is a wonderful book for anyone wanting genuine authentic recipes from China, Greece, or Rome. There are more Chinese recipes than the others because this focuses on the silk road trade route, contains chapters on historical lessons, and plenty of well organized recipes with good explanations. The only thing I take a star away from is the fact that there are controversial recipes included that westerners would definitely not have access to the ingredients, legally, for like shark fin soup or live shrimp that you give alchohol to and eat while they are alive. And I only remove a star to signal to others that this is there and that there are dozens of recipes you will likely never be able to use in modern times both for legal and moral reasons. I personally give it five stars

[Bookfanatic]

A favorite cookbook of mine. The recipes aren't difficult. If you live in a large metropolitan area with ethnic stores, you can find these ingredients easily. I love the little anecdotes and tidbits that Jeff Smith gives for each recipe. He has a very warm, folksy way of writing. You feel like he's talking to you. This is an unpretentious cookbook. My one complaint is the lack of photos. I love my cookbooks to have glossy photos. If you can get past the lack of photos for the recipes, you'll find this is a gem of a book.

[Lisa]

Arranged by main ingredient, this book covers a great range of foods from three cuisines that, in authentic form, weren't adequately known in 1989. A great resource for learning to use certain ingredients, and a marvelous primer on the combinations of flavors that are the hallmarks of truly authentic chinese, greek, and (roman) italian food. Interesting anecdotes about Jeff Smith's experiences eating these foods in their native lands.

[Kathleen]

better than the original book, at least for vegetarians. there's more here to work with. and many of the dishes can be adapted (i.e., trading garlic broth for chicken broth). i really love the way he writes about the importance of eating together with family and friends. his sense of community and longing for connection is touching, even if the recipes aren't that fantastic overall.

[Conrad]

The focaccia recipe is excellent and the tips on Greek cuisine are fine, but I really disliked the section on Chinese cooking, which focuses on the spectacular (c'mon, Jeff, who's actually going to make Drunken Shrimp?!) rather than the practical.

[OssifrageRage]

Learn some food history while you cook.

This book offers some very interesting recipes and techniques.

I would classify this as a browse-before-you-buy or get it used. Some recipes overlap with other Frugal Gourmet books. I do not find myself using as many recipes from this book.

[Mary]

I’ve enjoyed all of his previous books. This one that combines three different cuisines shows how flexible he is but I am a purist when it comes to food and cuisines I will not exchange rice pancakes with flour tortillas. For that reason this book really only shows two stars

[Chris Brimmer]

I use this book a lot. Proceeds go to his victims so don't worry about making a child molester some money.

[MJ]

Does a great job with authentic recipes and is pretty accessible if you have access to the specialized ingredients.

[Teresa]

I loved his show and love his books, but some of these excellent recipies are really out there and I will never cook them.

[Travis]

Worth buying for the fried rice recipe alone!
A great book, full of history, cooking tips and recipes all about the three ancient cuisines that shaped cooking as we know it.

[Fredrick Danysh]

Former cooking show host Jeff Smith has adapted food from China, Greece, and Italy for the American home cook. Most of these recipes were featured in his television shows.

[Yvonna]

What a way to learn about people: through their foods. Excellent recipes!

[Cindy]

Quite good, written in an engaging style with recipes easily followed be most beginning to intermediate cooks.

[Yaaresse]

Personal controversies and accusations aside, the guy put out a solid series of cookbooks.

[KennyO]

It isnt a terribly engaging cookbook but with Smith's eye for historic and cultural authenticity this is a very good source for recipes and information on these three cuisines.