Stalking the Green Fairy: And Other Fantastic Adventures in Food and Drink

by James Villas, James Villas

The Food Writer of the Year (Bon Appetit, 2003) Takes You on His Quest for the Ultimate Culinary Experiences . . .

"[This book reveals] . . . the positively Sherlockian discipline and brilliance of Mr. Villas on the scent of any culinary mystery he feels possessed to unravel."
--From the Foreword by Jeremiah Tower

Praise for James Villas:

"One of America's greatest journalists."
--Emeril Lagasse

"There are not many writers around who are as much fun to read as James Villas. In his intensely personal style, he is elegant, quirky, opinionated, precise, and lyrical."
--Paula Wolfert

"James Villas is a man of stature. He travels widely, he has a keen eye, and a keener palate, he knows the arts and times, and has many interests, which makes him all the sharper when he writes about food."
--James Beard

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Cooking, Biography Memoir

310 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2004

About the author

James Villas was the food and wine editor of Town & Country magazine for twenty-seven years. His work has also appeared in Esquire, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Saveur, The New York Times, and the Atlantic Monthly, among other publications. Two of his cookbooks have been nominated for a James Beard Award. He has also won a James Beard Award twice for journalism and received Bon Appetit's Food Writer of the Year Award in 2003. James Villas is the author of more than a dozen cookbooks and books on food, including My Mother’s Southern Kitchen and The Glory of Southern Cooking. He lives in East Hampton, New York.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something I stumbled upon on Amazon ages ago (probably while looking up The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten, which is a wonderful collection of food essays) and put on my wishlist most likely because of the nod to absinthe in the title. I ended up borrowing it from the library last month and found it very enjoyable, although not on par with the Steingarten book. Villas is stubborn about his love for certain "lowbrow" foods and cooking styles, so that while some of the book talks about haute cuisine and international adventures, he also devotes sections of the book to meatloaf, grits, fruitcake, and iceberg lettuce. The book is interspersed with recipes and is definitely an enjoyable read, especially if you're a fan of food writing. If you've never read anything like this before, though, start with the Steingarten book, and go looking for this one later on.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the food essays were really interesting and well-written, and I liked his topics of Southern food, canned tuna, Club sandwiches, Peanut Butter, and Nicoise Salad just to name a few. These also included some really good recipes, a few of which I will actually be trying out in future. The end chapters on alcohol and haute cuisine were rather pretentious, and I mostly skimmed those, with the wonderful exception of the essay on Absinthe. His information on "stalking the green fairy" was the main reason I wanted to read the book in the first place, and it did not disappoint. Though I have not tried it, it is good to know that there are so many places to try it in the US and abroad.

[Bo Mcmillan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first part of the book, which focuses on simple Southern cooking, is personal, warm, witty and interesting. The second half, however, displays a nigh-unreadable smorgasbord of self-inflated importance, holier-than-thou opinions and snooty notes of condescension to those of us who can't fly to France for a "fine rosé." The irony, I think, is that the second half of the book completely crushes the authenticity of the first part. Oh well.

P.S. The section on microbrews is a snooty fuss-fest lacking much, if any, worthwhile information or legitimacy. However, it is a bit funny to parody.

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

First part of the book where he expressed appreciation for humble classics was amazing. Latter part of the book about drinks was a little too trendy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I refer to this book often and love the for adventures/stories/history.

[Elizabeth Rowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had really high hopes for this book. I liked the title and was hoping that it would be chock full of fun and humorous tales of all different kinds of food and drink experiences from around the world. Once I got past the first section (which I could relate to being from the south and fully enjoying southern cuisine), I was sorely wrong. The author quickly went from endearing to incredibly demeaning, condescending, and holier-than-thou in his description of his opinions. I definitely did not appreciate the feeling that I was less of a person because I didn't adhere to his specific tastes. In fact, I merely skimmed the last section because I was so fed up with the tone that the book had taken. I guess I now know why this book was on sale for $1.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this book, and liked at least half of it very much. Villas' staunch defense of okra, fruitcake and canned tuna made me grin. He's a good writer, and a funny one. The book began to pale, for me, when he ventured out of his ancestral foodways and into restaurant criticism touched with some what felt to me like gratuitous sneering at the less fortunate who can't jet off to the France for the latest wine.

[Buttonwillow Six · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best chapter in this book is, indeed, the chapter on absinthe called "Stalking the Green Fairy." I also enjoyed the chapter on San Francisco sourdough. James Villas has clearly done some research and eating on the topics in this book. However, his writing is overly florid and he has an inflated sense of self-importance that was a little hard for me to get over.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too
many resipes and too little context. I really can't see myself making sausage from scratch. The section on grits was lacking. I will probbly keep it on the cooking shelf in the kitchen for awhile, but not a keeper for me.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually I had read this a couple years ago... some interesting things, more of a tribute to food-snob writing though and the writer's personal tastes (but is there any other sort of food writing?) revealing his regional prejudices and etc.

[Ken Rosenblad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful compilation of James Villas' essays on food and life. This genre is close to my heart in that it combines two great passions in my life - food and literature. I really loved reading this book because it was a gift from my son... :^)

[Eriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic essays of a discerning food writer, absinthe, meatloaf, bourbon and more! Also includes some really great recipes.

[Lu]

underappreciated foods essays

[Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in unusual foods and drink or strange stories behind commonplace edibles Villa's is the man for you. I also love his Southern twist.

[Emily Von pfahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book certainly had interesting information in it, I found the presentation to be a little too dry. However, if anyone offers you a Green Fairy turn it down!