Gaffigan, Jim. Food: A Love Story. New York: Crown Archetype. 2014. Print.
First Sentences:
What are my qualifications to write this book? None really.
So why should you read it? Here's why. I'm a little bit fat. Okay, to some I might not be considered that fat, but the point is I'm not thin. If a thin guy were to write about a love of food and eating, I'd highly recommend you not read his book....
I wouldn't trust them skinnies with food advice. After all, how to you know they really feel passionately about food? Well, obviously they are not passionate enough to overdo it. That's not very passionate.
Anyway, I'm overweight.
Description:
While I enjoy humor books, it is not often there is one that makes me laugh out loud on every page at some situation, turn of the phrase, or just pure and simple outrageousness. Enter Jim Gaffigan's Food: A Love Story with probably the funniest writing I have encountered since ... well, ever.
Gaffigan, a stand up comedian gaining popularity for his dry humor, already has written a popular book with his wife and co-writer, Jeannie, about raising their five children (his "basketball team") in a two-room New York City apartment called, Dad Is Fat. The follow up book, Food, is a narrative of stream-of-consciousness about his passion for food as an "eatie" (someone who loves and is satisfied with ordinary food) as opposed to a "foodie" (someone always looking for the perfect dining experience).
An avowed overweight man, Gaffigan rejects the Weight Watchers creed that "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."
While he admits weight can be a problem in our society, looking too thin has equal drawbacks for Gaffigan:
The book is organized into short chapters that cover every aspect imaginable about food. He starts off with various regional food he has experienced during his stand up tours. The United States is divided into "Seabugland" (lobsters, crabs, etc), "Steakland," "Mexican Foodland," EatingBBQland," "Food Anxietyland" (New Orleans where food is so important), "Coffeeland," "Blubberland," and "Luauland." He examines each area for its restaurants and food offerings, both good and awful, and then carefully, tastefully describes them.
There are also short commentaries on international food. He reviews Thai food ("Buddha was so peaceful and fat because of the Thai food"), Indian ("either on the edge of too spicy or lethally hot"), Chinese ("they will eat anything, but they have an uncanny ability make seemingly disgusting things taste good...like oxtail soup"), and other cuisines.
Next comes his musings about specific everyday foods, from fish to steak ("the manly meat"), where he writes about bacon ("the candy of meat"), cheeseburgers ("America's Sweetheart"), ketchup ("the king of the condiments"), doughnuts ("not liking doughnuts is a crime"), crackers ("the adult junk food"). and a debate between which is preferred: Wheat Thins or Triscuit.
There are also some good and scathing restaurant reviews, from IHOP ("ICanBarelyMove feels more appropriate. Maybe INeedAWheelchair"), Waffle House ("the vibe feels more like that of a halfway house or a mobile home"), and Auntie Anne's Pretzels ("a last resort. I have some dignity"). Of course, the regular stops also are addressed, like McDonald's ("Not wanting to embarrass and humiliate myself by admitting I'm there for the food, I say, 'Oh, I'm just meeting a hooker. He should be here by now"), Burger King ("the impostor king...it seems like Burger King purposely does it worse"), Wendy's ("the other woman in my life, playing hard to get with her delicious Frosty"), and White Castle ("some people make fun of White Castle, and these people are called everyone").
You get the idea. Nothing is sacred to Gaffigan when it comes to simply eating and enjoying food all the time, wherever and whenever hunger (or just an interest in consuming some more food!) occurs to him.
There is much, much more in Food on Gaffigan's favorites and those worthy of scorn, although nothing is considered so bad that it stops him from eating a particular food or in a certain dining establishment.
A thoroughly satisfying narrative, one that can be read straight through, skimmed, or simply picked up and read in any order, for as long as you care to laugh and nod your head in agreement with his witticisms and wisdom. I loved it, even though I am one of those untrustworthy skinnies.
Gaffigan, a stand up comedian gaining popularity for his dry humor, already has written a popular book with his wife and co-writer, Jeannie, about raising their five children (his "basketball team") in a two-room New York City apartment called, Dad Is Fat. The follow up book, Food, is a narrative of stream-of-consciousness about his passion for food as an "eatie" (someone who loves and is satisfied with ordinary food) as opposed to a "foodie" (someone always looking for the perfect dining experience).
An avowed overweight man, Gaffigan rejects the Weight Watchers creed that "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."
I for one can think of a thousand things that taste better than thin feels. Many of them are two-word phrases that end with cheese....Even unsalted French fries taste better than thin feels....Eating fries without salt feels like a sacrifice. "What am I, a pioneer?" When I have to eat unsalted fries, I often feel like I should be a contestant on Survivor or something.
While he admits weight can be a problem in our society, looking too thin has equal drawbacks for Gaffigan:
I believe some people should be fat. We all have a that friend who has lost tons of weight, and whenever you see them you secretly think, You looked better fat. Go back to being fat. You're thin, but you look exhausted. Even looking at you makes me want to sit down.
The book is organized into short chapters that cover every aspect imaginable about food. He starts off with various regional food he has experienced during his stand up tours. The United States is divided into "Seabugland" (lobsters, crabs, etc), "Steakland," "Mexican Foodland," EatingBBQland," "Food Anxietyland" (New Orleans where food is so important), "Coffeeland," "Blubberland," and "Luauland." He examines each area for its restaurants and food offerings, both good and awful, and then carefully, tastefully describes them.
There are also short commentaries on international food. He reviews Thai food ("Buddha was so peaceful and fat because of the Thai food"), Indian ("either on the edge of too spicy or lethally hot"), Chinese ("they will eat anything, but they have an uncanny ability make seemingly disgusting things taste good...like oxtail soup"), and other cuisines.
Next comes his musings about specific everyday foods, from fish to steak ("the manly meat"), where he writes about bacon ("the candy of meat"), cheeseburgers ("America's Sweetheart"), ketchup ("the king of the condiments"), doughnuts ("not liking doughnuts is a crime"), crackers ("the adult junk food"). and a debate between which is preferred: Wheat Thins or Triscuit.
There are also some good and scathing restaurant reviews, from IHOP ("ICanBarelyMove feels more appropriate. Maybe INeedAWheelchair"), Waffle House ("the vibe feels more like that of a halfway house or a mobile home"), and Auntie Anne's Pretzels ("a last resort. I have some dignity"). Of course, the regular stops also are addressed, like McDonald's ("Not wanting to embarrass and humiliate myself by admitting I'm there for the food, I say, 'Oh, I'm just meeting a hooker. He should be here by now"), Burger King ("the impostor king...it seems like Burger King purposely does it worse"), Wendy's ("the other woman in my life, playing hard to get with her delicious Frosty"), and White Castle ("some people make fun of White Castle, and these people are called everyone").
You get the idea. Nothing is sacred to Gaffigan when it comes to simply eating and enjoying food all the time, wherever and whenever hunger (or just an interest in consuming some more food!) occurs to him.
When I don't want to eat something, I assume I'm sick and most likely dying. I try to stick to three meals a day and then an additional three at night. The only time I stop eating is when I'm sleeping.
There is much, much more in Food on Gaffigan's favorites and those worthy of scorn, although nothing is considered so bad that it stops him from eating a particular food or in a certain dining establishment.
A thoroughly satisfying narrative, one that can be read straight through, skimmed, or simply picked up and read in any order, for as long as you care to laugh and nod your head in agreement with his witticisms and wisdom. I loved it, even though I am one of those untrustworthy skinnies.
_____________________
If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
Gaffigan, Jim. Dad Is Fat
If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
Gaffigan, Jim. Dad Is Fat
More funny recollections from Jim Gaffigan and his wife/co-writer, Jeannie, on raising their "basketball team" of five kids in a New York City apartment.
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