Manifold Destiny: The One, the Only, Guide to Cooking on Your Car Engine!

To look at the prices being charged for used copies of this book is a somewhat frightening experience, because it makes quite obvious that Manifold Destiny is something of an unrecognized culinary classic when people will pay $50 and up for a paperback. But I tell ya something, for the truly hardcore kitchen geek, the same sort of person who might try cooking with lava or a bunsen burner, this would make an incredibly thoughtful present. One can only hope there's a third edition in the pipeline for sometime in the next couple of years. This book is about cooking in your car, and also eating in your car. That's important, because it gives some nice information on a lot of unusual regional specialties around the United States and Canada (including Michigan's now-famous pasties and Binghamton, NY's spiedies, as well as the legendary smoked meat from Schwartz's Deli in Montreal). It's a nice little hors d'oeuvre for the food tourist. But there's also lots of good information about cooking on car engines, which is what you came to this review to find out about in the first place, right? Maynard and Scheller talk about all kinds of concerns -- finding the best place on your engine block to secure a packet of food, what kind of aluminum foil to use (and how much -- triple layers), and even a whole bunch of recipes based on American regional cuisine, from traditional Italian like uova in purgatorio to nouvelle-inspired dishes like Thruway Thighs (a stuffed chicken dish). While the info on reviewing cars for their suitability as cookstoves is rather dated, there's still a lot of good information on a rather silly subject. So find this book for someone very special who loves doing interesting things in the kitchen. They will appreciate it very much.

Yes. A fine tome of lore. Well, it's hard to be taken seriously by your travel mates till the fumes roll off of "any cajun spice you can find" simmering there under your hood next to your alternator waft through the cabin air conditioning system. After putting up with their insults the first 100 km of your trip, they are suddenly bought into the process. Eating out of the engine bay of your car, hood open will doubtlessly attract the attension of those travelling down the highway. It's polite to tilt your wine glass to them as they pause to offer help (drivers excluded, of course). All good fun.

The first thing you are likely to wonder is why used copies of this book often go for [fifty dollars] or more in online auctions. Here's why. Once having read it, you'd really truly miss the ability to share it with disbelieving friends. I admit, I am biased, since I happen to have the same type of vehicle/kitchen used in the writing and testing of these recipes. If you own a different type of vehicle, your mileage may vary. Sorry, couldn't resist. It's hilarious reading even if you don't have the guts to try it yourself. The somewhat prosiac nature of the recipes, as derided by one reviewer, actually serves to heighten the surrealism. If you're attracted to the title, the book won't disappoint.

First read of this book was part of a lark to add something unique to a virtual drive down the Pan-American Highway from Alaska down to Argentina; high school assignment on modernized version of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. And now that there are these foil cooking pouches available, this is even easier than before. The humor is great, but this is very practical way to make a vacation a frugal one.

This book is pure fun. Thanks to crisp writing and great wit, what could have been just a gimmick turns out to be a great read. What's more amazing is that you actually learn a few things while chuckling through the stories about, for example, using the wheel well of a Toyota Camry to keep bread warm between rest stops. If you have any interest at all in either cooking or cars (only one is necessary!), you will not be disappointed. If you know anybody who fits these descriptions, give them this book as a fun gift.