Skinny Bitch in the Kitch

November 19, 2007
Capitalizing on the runaway success of their first book, Skinny Bitch
—a feisty exposé of the “shady business” of the food industry—Freedman, a former agent for Ford models, and Barnouin, a former model and holistic nutritionist, present a slim follow-up vegan cookbook with a wide range of recipes. Reminding readers that meat and dairy are no-nos (the former described as “dead, rotting, decomposing flesh of carcasses” and the latter as the cause of multiple ailments and diseases ranging from acne to cancer), they espouse the liberal use of such complex carbs as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Simple carbs, they warn, “suck and should be avoided.” The authors offer “Bitchin Breakfasts,” “Skinny-ass Salads,” and “PMS-Pleasing Snacks and Appetizers,” using such alternatives to meat and dairy products as vegan bacon (made of soy protein and wheat gluten) and vegan cheese (a dairy-free cheese substitute that contains no milk). The recipes are neither too complicated nor basic: a zesty chapter called “International Bitch” includes Falafel and Pad Thai, and the “Italian Bitch” section ranges from Lasagna to Eggplant Parmesan vegan-style. Desserts include Bitchtastic Brownies and a mouth-watering Chocolate Suicide Cake. Perhaps not a great gift book for grandma (unless she happens to be a foul-mouthed vegan), this will be embraced by readers seeking healthful recipes with an entertaining twist.

October 22, 2007
The follow-up to bestselling diet guide Skinny Bitch, this irreverent cookbook orders readers to toss out all their meat, eggs and dairy, and make room for nutritional yeast, seitan and something called "Bragg's Liquid Aminos" (although soy sauce will do in a pinch). The authors' philosophy is simple but rigid: in order to be skinny, one must also be vegan (and, preferably, willing to give up coffee and white sugar). Not to despair-the svelte can eat all the tofu-based fake meat and cheese they want, and follow it up with dessert-alikes such as Bitchtastic Brownies or Cheezecake. For the most part, recipes are easy and inoffensive; while a "Chicken" Parmesan Panini will fool nobody, other offerings, like Japanese Soba Noodles with Steamed Vegetables and Tofu, are perfectly satisfying. But to enjoy this cookbook in full, a reader must be content to be addressed (repeatedly) as "bitch," as in, "Who's a boring old fart now, bitch?" Confusingly, there's no nutritional information for any of the recipes, nor is there any information on the specific dietary needs of vegans-apparently, you'll need to buy Freedman and Barnouin's first book for that. (For those who haven't tried, switching to a vegan diet is difficult even with a proper guide; this book's complete lack of support should make it a real bitch.)

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.