The Hungry Fan's Game Day Cookbook

May 16, 2016
Falk, a passionate foodie, started her HungryFan website in 2011, celebrating sports and fan culture—inspired in part by her father, a well-known sports agent—and the food that goes with it. In this solid collection, she offers fellow fans 165 recipes to enjoy while tailgating or at home. In addition to the expected jalapeno poppers, Bloody Marys, and Buffalo wings, Falk offers many tasty (and often healthy) riffs such as chipotle chicken potato skins and a low-fat blue cheese dip, both of which substitute Greek yogurt in place of sour cream; a grilled chicken and peach sandwich; and must-try desserts such as Guinness cupcakes with Bailey’s frosting. Some of her famous sports friends offer dishes as well: fans can recreate Michael Jordan’s meat lovers’ flatbread or Swedish meatballs from football legend Boomer Esiason. Almost all of the dishes come together easily—Mama Falk’s meatloaf calls for just six ingredients—but a few, such as March Madness Atlanta-Inspired BBQ Pork, will take some time and planning. Regardless of culinary preferences or skill level, every hungry sports fan can find something appealing in this go-to guide for game days all year long.

July 1, 2016

Falk, the daughter of sports agent David Falk and creator of the lifestyle brand Hungry Fan (hungryfan.com), balances indulgent foods (bacon-wrapped hot dog) with lighter choices (a healthy spin on French onion dip) in this sports-themed cookbook for passionate fans. In addition to soups, sandwiches, desserts, drinks, and more, there are plenty of entertaining tips and contributions from star athletes (e.g., wide receiver Greg Jennings's favorite take on macaroni and cheese). Falk periodically recommends proprietary Hungry Fan products such as spice blends, but readers won't need to purchase these to enjoy the book. VERDICT Readers in search of new ideas for game-day entertaining will appreciate this book's blend of classic and contemporary recipes, which occasionally call for trendy ingredients such as avocado oil, quinoa, and name-brand tomato sauce.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
Falk is no ordinary sports fan. She grew up at the knees of famous professional athletes managed by her father, a successful sports agent, and can recall many a time of finding star players around the family dinner table. Today she continues in the world of sports as the Hungry Fan, a media brand focused on the sports fan experience and game day food. This book, her first, pulls together hearty recipes for nachos, dips, sandwiches, pastas, barbecue, and more. It's familiar sports-watching food, with plenty of fried dishes and bacon to spare but sometimes with a fresh spin or a lighter take, such as chipotle chicken, sweet potato skins, and Asian-inspired pork burgers. Professional athletes, current and hall-of-famers, contribute a handful of recipes, each introduced with a personal anecdote from Falk, who writes throughout with bubbly enthusiasm for all things sports-and-food.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)