Books

_On Food and Cooking_, Harold McGee.

Why so few book notes recently? It begins with the fact that it's much slower trying to absorb all 800+ pages of biochemistry, ingredients, cooking methodologies and all the other food science in McGee's tome than it is to zip through 380 pages of scientifantastatistical adventure novel. I also spent a lot of time playing puzzle games and interactive fiction. Oh, and there's a synchronized review blizzard coming May 11th; I'm pondering what I have to say for that one.

So, McGee: it is too long to explain, so let me sum up: take any one-and-a-half column-pages from this book and you can derive the complete science content of a half-hour episode of _Good Eats_. It's written in a similar style, too -- I think Alton's been cribbing. Alton does have better puppets and skits, though.

Books

_On Food and Cooking_, Harold McGee.

Why so few book notes recently? It begins with the fact that it's much slower trying to absorb all 800+ pages of biochemistry, ingredients, cooking methodologies and all the other food science in McGee's tome than it is to zip through 380 pages of scientifantastatistical adventure novel. I also spent a lot of time playing puzzle games and interactive fiction. Oh, and there's a synchronized review blizzard coming May 11th; I'm pondering what I have to say for that one.

So, McGee: it is too long to explain, so let me sum up: take any one-and-a-half column-pages from this book and you can derive the complete science content of a half-hour episode of _Good Eats_. It's written in a similar style, too -- I think Alton's been cribbing. Alton does have better puppets and skits, though.