Bites From the Bookworms: Cookbooks Inspired by TV & Movies Part 2

Posted by Alana T.

Television shows touch many aspects popular culture.  From fashion to food, what our favorite characters are doing on the small screen often influence our real lives.  It's no surprise then, that some of the most popular TV shows have inspired cookbooks.  There are quite a few out there and I've selected some of the best known for a review on the blog.  Our first post covered cookbooks from TV shows in the 70s and 80s.    This post covers books from two well known HBO series and one book/movie.

The Soprano's Family Cookbook by Allen Rucker and Michelle Scicolone.  The text is written as if it were being presented by one of the fictional characters of the show.  There is a lot of discussion about family, food, and culture to go with the recipes.  Many segments tie to specific episodes and there are short segments written by other characters of the show.  Overall, the text is tongue in cheek, but the recipes provide examples of good Italian food.

TrueBlood: Eats, Drinks, and Bites From Bon Temps by Gianna Sobol.  As with the Soprano's cookbook, this one has recipes presented and discussed by characters of the show; the book is an official creation of HBO, the makers of the TV show.  The first section is a lengthy list of cocktails, many based on a TrueBlood mix.  The second and third parts of the book feature recipes inspired by characters, places, or scenes from the TV show.  The majority of menus feature Southern cooking and the recipes are approachable and easy to follow. I can vouch for the tastiness of the Blood and Sand (cocktail) and the Brujo Burger (a veggie burger with bacon!).

The Unofficial Hunger Games Cookbook by Emily Baines.  This cookbook is targeted towards teens - the main audience of the books.  Along with recipes, there are brief discussions about the meaning of various foods and dishes in the novels.  Many recipes are straightforward, but others call for difficult to find (burdock roots), expensive (pheasant) or wacky (raccoon) ingredients.  Overall, not a realistic cookbook and not a good introduction to cooking for beginners - read it for fun.