Gourmet Hippy Cookbook Review
Bruce Brennan Makes Cooking So-Cal Easy and Fun - Healthy Too
Even if you've been resisting the trend to cook light, you will appreciate Bruce Brennan's down to earth approach. Live as one with the earth and eat well too.
Those Californians may seem strange to folks from other parts of the country and especially those from the South. There’s a huge difference between Southern Cooking and Southern California Cooking. It’s apples and oranges. Well, no it’s not. It’s tofu and fat back.
These West Coast Hippies “Get It”
Even if you’re redneck to the bone, “The Hippy Gourmet’s Quick and Simple Cookbook for Healthy Eating” by Bruce Brennan and James Ehrlick will ring a bell. Instead of focusing on exotic ingredients that are most surely not found in small town areas, they take a “whole food” approach. These guys follow the seasons as do many cousins across the country. When they add spices (and they do), they are not ones that you can’t say, spell or even imagine dumping on your food.
Who Are These Guys?
If you’re not familiar with Bruce Brennan, then he hosts a PBS cooking show called, yes, “Hippy Gourmet.” He was back-to-earth before that was the “in” thing. His show has done very well, because he does not try to go “iron chef” and take food beyond what any normal human might be able to comprehend and mirror.
James Ehrlich is the producer of the PBS show. Unlike many producers who insist that the “talent” hawk brand name products, he’s been fine with Bruce doing it his own way. It would be hard to go against the trends and to forego those great earning opportunities. Ehrlich has allowed Bruce to stay true and to build a fan base.
What’s the Cookbook Like?
This is not a glossy four-color printed cookbook packed with photos. That would not be very earth friendly. It would not appeal to the down to earth people that might benefit from eating with the seasons and cooking simply but good.
The Recipes
There are a lot of recipes in the “Hippy Gourmet.” Sections include breakfast, munchies, salads/dressings, soups/stews, main courses, bean/grains, veggies, and desserts.
This cookbook leans toward the vegetarian lifestyle heavily. There are recipes including seafood, but it’s mostly veggie based. Anyone wanting to eat healthier can pick up some great ideas ranging from appetizers all the way through desserts. The main dishes featuring vegetables are not hard to swallow. They make sense. They taste great. Even carnivores can learn a new trick or two here and can appreciate a lighter meal from time to time.
Great Tips
Since this southern California approach may be new to some readers, Bruce does include lots of sidebars with helpful information. He defines terms and ingredients if they are not super common. He covers topics of interest like talking about real maple syrup. All the extra bits of data are presented well. He doesn’t talk down. You will walk about understanding and thinking you can and would want to make these recipes and think about this approach to eating.
Bottom Line
Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a hippy and even if you are attached to your own way of cooking and eating, “The Hippy Gourmet’s Quick and Simple Cooking for Healthy Eating” is a good purchase. Bruce will open your eyes, heart and mind to some alternative thoughts on your kitchen and your cooking. His approach is friendly. His recipes are excellent. You can eat better every day or now and then if you pick up this cookbook. It really is a great one and not at all stuffy like many alternative lifestyle cookbooks.
