Bite by Bite

May 16, 2011
One would have to be extremely committed, with an obsessive attention to detail, to nail even one of these awe-inducing appetizers by Callahan, owner of Callahan Catering in New York City, let alone a fleet of them to service a party. Callahan's dishes are irresistibly adorable and inspired: tiny hand-twisted pretzels paired with shots of beer, or a mini meatball topped with its own little fork-swirled mound of pasta. Baked beans are served in bacon cups molded from mini muffin tins; miniature loaves of bread for grilled cheese sandwiches are baked in little pans; chicken parmesan bites manifest themselves as lollipops; pancakes the size of nickels, dimes, and quarters are stacked and glued together with dots of maple syrup. Commonplace savory items (burgers, bagels with cream cheese and lox) are transformed into desserts: chocolate ice cream "burgers" with meringue "buns," profiterole "bagels" with vanilla pudding for the cream cheese and mango or papaya slices for the lox. This book is for advanced cooks, but Callahan does offer some helpful tips and shortcuts for home cooks, like substituting store-bought for homemade ingredients.

Starred review from June 15, 2011

This first book from caterer-to-the-stars Callahan has been a long time coming and does not disappoint. Over 100 photographs accompany 100 recipes for some of his most famous and lauded creations, e.g., Lilliputian Spaghetti & Meatballs, Cheeseburgers and Fries with homemade buns and little paper cones, Chicken Nori Cigarettes, and Stuffed Mushrooms inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Food on a stick has never been as chic as it is in Mango-Shrimp Lollipops and custom-branded Barbecued Chicken. Callahan provides detailed instructions for each recipe and tips for shortcuts and personalized presentations. He also includes sections on tools and serving ware and suggested themes and menus as well as a list of shopping resources. VERDICT With a little care, the average home cook can re-create these enticing dishes. An essential purchase for fans of tapas, mezes, dim sums, and other small bites.--Rosemarie Lewis, Georgetown Cty Lib., SC

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