The Grit Cookbook: World-Wise, Down-Home Recipes

I received this cookbook as a Christmas present from friends who are residents of Athens. I have only eaten at The Grit once, and so I am far from being an expert on their menu, and I didn't have any "favorites" that I was compelled to try first. So I opened it up and attempted the first recipe that caught my eye, the Cinnamon Raisin-Craisin Bread. Oh baby.... this is the good stuff. The recipe was well written and easy to follow, and the resulting bread was out of this world. This was just the first of many. All of the recipes I have tried have been great, especially the brunch dishes and cakes, and I haven't missed the meat one bit. Bravo, and thanks to my friend for sending it since I never would have known about this gem without her!

I was a regular of the Grit back in the days when the hottest things on the menu was herbal tea and coffee. The food was always delicious and I am glad to see the original "staple" beans and rice are there, if just for old-times sake! If you like vegetarian food but seek variety and simple creativity, this is the book for you! Filled with lots of anecodotes, recipees, and serious knock down flavor.

When I finished graduate school and left Athens, GA the thing I missed the most was eating at The Grit. It is probably my favorite restaurant, and I have eaten at a lot of places around the country. Every time I ate there I wished that there was a cookbook with their recipes (especially my favorite -- The Golden Bowl). Now there is one (yea!) and although we have had the cookbook for only a short time we have made nearly half the recipes -- and have yet to find one that we would not make again. Most recipes are quite simple and all are good. I was somewhat surprised (although delighted) that they published some of their most popular dishes and excellent desserts. Although this does not replace the experience of actually eating at The Grit, it is as close as I can come without a trip to Athens.

I eat at the Grit regularly (but I am not vegetarian). I love it. I crave it often. When I learned that the Grit was putting out a cookbook, I thought to myself, "They'll probably have their main menu items in there, but not their daily specials," which are my favorites (even though their main menu is just as tasty). Much to my surprise, the cookbook has them all! For instance, goodies like the "reuben", the tomato bisque soup, the indian dishes, the vanilla iced coffee, and so on... yep, they're in there. For those of you who have eaten at the Grit and want to re-create the Grit's yummy delights at home, you won't be disappointed in the depth and breadth of items offered in the Grit cookbook. For those of you who haven't eaten at the Grit, you won't be disappointed either! Vegetarian or not, these recipes are very tasty! Thanks to the folks at the Grit for sharing these recipes so that the whole world 'round can enjoy a now-expanded menu of yummy vegetarian fare. Buy it -- you won't be disappointed.