Recipes for Disaster: A Memoir - Hardcover

Rafferty, Tess

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250011434 ISBN 13: 9781250011435

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, 2012

Synopsis

Starting with the Thanksgiving turkey that never quite finishes cooking, then moving to the polenta that unceremoniously goes runny and the guests that arrive a day early―there is no topic Tess Rafferty fails to encounter, or hilariously recount. Recipes for Disaster is as though Bridget Jones wrote a culinary narrative―the most pristine of intentions slowly disappear, as does the wine along with any hope of a seamless and well-orchestrated dinner party.

Told with heart, humor and honesty; this memoir goes beyond culinary catastrophe and heartwarmingly unveils the lengths we go to in order to please our family, friends, and ourselves―and proves that it's not the food that counts, but the memories. Aptly timed for all the Thanksgiving chefs about to enter the holiday gauntlet; or the guests headed to their dinners―this is the perfect book to read and then savor.

About this title

About the Author

For 7 ½ years TESS RAFFERTY wrote on the cult comedy show, The Soup, where she skewered pop culture, parodied celebrities and helped her co-workers pick out gifts for their wives. She has frequently been seen on camera as herself, Posh Spice, a Succubus, a "Guidette" from Jersey Shore, and perhaps most notably "The Dancing Maxi Pad." Her first feature film, Thicker Than Water, is scheduled to begin filming in July 2012.

While at Emerson College, Tess started performing stand up comedy at the clubs and Chinese restaurants around Boston, Massachusetts and continues to perform stand up in Los Angeles, when not holding herself to ridiculous standards at dinner parties or learning to speak Italian. Tess is also a regular performer at the storytelling show, Public School, and frequently reads her essays at the Pez show. She can also be seen discussing pop culture on the TV Guide Channel and VH1.

A drinking "enthusiast," Tess enjoys wine, specifically good wine. She's tasted wine from the Napa Valley to Long Island to the island of Ischia, and at every airport bar in between. Her travels have led to an appreciation for good food, which she attempts to bring home and recreate for her friends, with varying degrees of success.

She lives in Los Angeles with her boyfriend, husband, (SIC) their 3 ungrateful cats, a modest wine collection and a pool. So, nothing bad can happen here.

Reviews

Between her book’s title and several statements in the introduction like Cookbooks should have a whole chapter on dealing with disappointment, Rafferty may trick readers into thinking she’s a comedy writer (TV’s The Soup) first and foremost before she reveals she’s equally talented in the kitchen. In this part entertaining manual, part memoir of the entertainment industry that will please entertainment junkies and foodies alike, Rafferty touches on the L.A. stand-up scene, her early exploration of which drew her attention to cooking out of pure necessity. She includes basic tips that no one ever tells you—choose one soda option for guests, don’t attempt a new recipe when you have a crowd to impress and a canon of tried and true favorites—and advice that seasoned entertainers will find useful. Recipes, from braised short ribs over polenta to apple pie (because store bought is for people who don’t love their boyfriends), come with conversational, detailed descriptions. Rafferty, who herself can’t have fruit or many vegetables, also includes tips for accommodating food allergies. --Annie Bostrom

Edition details

• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250011434
• ISBN 13: 9781250011435
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288