Wednesday, January 6, 2010

In Bacon And In Health, Til Bacon Do Us Part

Dear readers,

Did you know bacon was used to promote matrimonial harmony in medieval England? Nothing like a little pork to put the snap crackle and pop back into a relationship, right? Sizzle! That's the kind of couples counseling we hostesses would like to see more of.

For more fun facts about bacon, check out Zingerman's Guide to Better Bacon: Stories of Pork Bellies, Hush Puppies, Rock 'n' Roll Music and Bacon Fat Mayonnaise.

How James Beard award-winner and author Ari Weinzweig managed to compile so many of our favorite things into one beautiful hardcover is beyond us. He follows the history of bacon in the United States and believes bacon is to the U.S. what olive oil is to Italy. In short, a national treasure.


The fatty tome includes interviews with celebrated bacon makers from all over the US of A, as well as singer Andre Williams whose penchant for bacon is almost as strong as his love for the blues.


And if that isn't enough, it's got these strange R. Crumb-like illustrations, a bacon glossary (pancetta versus rasher?) and over 40 recipes, including ones for Grits and Bits Waffles and Bacon Fat mayonnaise. If that doesn't kindle your heart-fire - and your marital bed - then we don't know what will.

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