Michael Laiskonis

Pastry Chef, Consultant, Writer, Creative Director at ICE, NYC

I like to think of John Thorne as one the pioneers of the food-blogging phenomenon, though he began writing his short dispatches and newsletters in the early 1980s - long before the advent of the internet. This older collection of short essays - most of them accompanied by simple recipes - includes one of my all-time favorite pieces of food writing. The chapter Learning to Eat details the emergence of both Thornes developed palate and an interest in cooking, serving as a reminder that the simplest of pleasures are often the most rewarding.

Jeremy Cherfas

Producer and host of Eat This Podcast

Includes some recipes, too.

Maggie Green

Registered dietitian, chef and cookbook author