LemmiSchmoeker reviewed The Hungover Cookbook by Milton Crawford
A bit of fun with the idea of the hangover, but the recipes are anything but interesting
3 stars
Crawford is having a bit of fun with the idea of the hangover, but it's hard to shake the feeling that he himself hasn't been hungover all that often (though judging from the sparse descriptions of his experiences, just enough to know what it's all about). He's quoting Kingsley Amis and P. G. Wodehouse as authorities on the topic to the extent that he hardly even attempts to find his own thoughts. The presentation is nice enough, but can't hide the fact that the recipes are anything but interesting. It is a lacklustre collection of mostly simple food and drink items that are only held together by the vaguest notion of "spicy comfort food" or "soothing and comforting". Also, including a two-ingredient lime soda in a cookbook (to mention in passing that the author has been to India) is a bit condescending, isn't it?
(As someone who has experienced the …
Crawford is having a bit of fun with the idea of the hangover, but it's hard to shake the feeling that he himself hasn't been hungover all that often (though judging from the sparse descriptions of his experiences, just enough to know what it's all about). He's quoting Kingsley Amis and P. G. Wodehouse as authorities on the topic to the extent that he hardly even attempts to find his own thoughts. The presentation is nice enough, but can't hide the fact that the recipes are anything but interesting. It is a lacklustre collection of mostly simple food and drink items that are only held together by the vaguest notion of "spicy comfort food" or "soothing and comforting". Also, including a two-ingredient lime soda in a cookbook (to mention in passing that the author has been to India) is a bit condescending, isn't it?
(As someone who has experienced the odd hangover myself, I'd also question the inclusion of overly fatty or acidic dishes like the Elvis Presley peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich or the banana and passion fruit smoothie, but your mileage may vary.)