Recipes for Disaster

September 15, 2012
Calamities in the kitchen for a newbie chef. Rafferty, former writer for The Soup, brings yet another snarky voice to the myriad of memoirs that revolve around culinary experiments and dinner parties by inexperienced cooks. What distinguishes this author from others is her insatiable appetite for wine, her indomitable spirit in the face of catastrophe, her resolute desire to please everyone and her offbeat sense of humor. Rafferty wittily pokes fun at herself and her attempts to pull off Martha Stewart-type meals in a tiny apartment hardly big enough for one, let alone seven guests who often don't know the difference between good and bad wine. Runny gravy, watery polenta and a cranky boyfriend running on empty are all included in a hodgepodge of memories. Attacking each meal with gusto, Rafferty discusses entertaining at some of the most important food moments of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as preparing a dinner for well-known restaurant owners and volunteering to cater a baby shower for 100 guests. She yearns to satisfy appetites and create memories that extend beyond the frazzled nerves (before and after the meal) and the occasional outbreak of tears. For Rafferty, "preparing food is a meditation," even if something goes wrong and "the food sucks." Recipes at the end of each chapter enhance the narrative, but some readers may find more fluff than sustenance as they tag along for the ride. Energetic account of a comedienne's mishaps in the kitchen as she prepares meals for family and friends.

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November 1, 2012

While the few lucky souls who haven't yet experienced a cooking disaster might not find much common ground with Rafferty, her tales of kitchen mishap (and success) are likely to ring true for most readers. Here Rafferty brings to bear her years of experience as a stand-up comedian and as a writer and supervising producer for E!'s The Soup. She understands how to set up a joke, and her pacing is impeccable. Rafferty regales readers with her adventures trying to break into the comedy scene in LA or hosting an impromptu dinner party in the wee hours. She shares tips for "How to Throw a Baby Shower for 100 People and Not Hate Babies or People" (pretty self-explanatory) or how to cook a foolproof turkey, provided you have a working oven. Each chapter includes a recipe or practical tips for planning meals and parties. VERDICT Witty, sharply observed, and occasionally touching, this is an enjoyable, irreverent memoir with plenty of comedic disaster, plus some recipes thrown in.--Courtney Greene, Indiana Univ. Libs., Bloomington, IN

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2012
Between her book's title and several statements in the introduction like Cookbooks should have a whole chapter on dealing with disappointment, Rafferty may trick readers into thinking she's a comedy writer (TV's The Soup) first and foremost before she reveals she's equally talented in the kitchen. In this part entertaining manual, part memoir of the entertainment industry that will please entertainment junkies and foodies alike, Rafferty touches on the L.A. stand-up scene, her early exploration of which drew her attention to cooking out of pure necessity. She includes basic tips that no one ever tells youchoose one soda option for guests, don't attempt a new recipe when you have a crowd to impress and a canon of tried and true favoritesand advice that seasoned entertainers will find useful. Recipes, from braised short ribs over polenta to apple pie (because store bought is for people who don't love their boyfriends), come with conversational, detailed descriptions. Rafferty, who herself can't have fruit or many vegetables, also includes tips for accommodating food allergies.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)