Restaurant Confidential
Author: Michael F Jacobson
In May 2001, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) will break a major pizza story on the ABC television program 20/20 and once again capture front-page headlines, just as it did when it released studies on movie popcorn and take-out Chinese food. Published to coincide with this story is Restaurant Confidential, in which Dr. Michael F. Jacobson and his CSPI team do for sit-down meals what their Fast-Food Guide--with 247,000 copies in print--does for fast food.Belgian Waffle or Rib-Eye Steak? Bloomin' Onion or Mrs. Fields's Double-Fudge Brownie? Americans are now eating almost one-third of their meals outside the home, spending $222 billion annually doing so-and watching their waistlines balloon. What's in this food? To answer, CSPI performs across-the-board restaurant profiles that give straight-shooting scientific data on the fat, sodium, and calorie content of the most popular dishes. The information is organized by type of cuisine--Chinese, Mexican, steak house, and more--and covers all the major chains, such as The Olive Garden, Applebee's, and Outback. The book provides specific eating strategies for every kind of restaurant, as well as shocking facts: Did you know that a typical order of stuffed potato skins packs a whopping 1,260 calories and 48 grams--two days' worth--of saturated fat? A 10-point plan for ordering wisely, plus dozens of tips throughout, takes the information one step further by showing how to eat happily and healthfully. It's the nutrition book that reads like a thriller. Take the steak and brownies; a whole fried onion with dipping sauce has a blooming 163 grams of fat, and the seemingly innocent Belgian waffle with whippedtopping and fruit has even more fat and calories than two sirloin steaks.
Publishers Weekly
This book from the Center for Science in the Public Interest is a follow-up to the organization's expos on the dangers of fast food. This guide offers all imaginable nutritional details about restaurant food, including meals available at mall eateries, fast-food outlets and family-oriented establishments, along with ethnic eateries from Chinese to Italian. The material is first presented in a breathless, tabloid style designed to astound the reader ("It is not at all unusual for a typical restaurant meal to pack 1,000 calories, not counting appetizers or dessert, each of which could run another 1,000. Yet, most women need only about 2,000 calories per day, whereas men need only 2,500.") What follows is a practical list of the best and worst meal choices, according to calorie, fat and sugar content. After spelling out the calorie and fat gram content, the authors offer an alternative in "The Bottom Line." For example, after describing the amount of oil and sugar in sweet and sour pork, the authors advise, "No amount of adjusting will make this good enough to eat. Skip it." While the book probably won't change the way most Americans eat, avid dieters or anyone obsessed with eating healthy will find this book useful as they plan their meals. (May 17) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-The Center for Science in the Public Interest publishes the calories, fat, and saturated fats in America's favorite restaurant foods. This book is a compilation of those reports. It begins with a brief overview of the American habit of eating out, the study's methodology, and a basic guide to eating out in a healthy way. The reports are arranged by food type, e.g., breakfast, Mexican, Greek drinks, sweets, etc. Each item ends with a tip on eating it in the most nutritious way. Sidebars highlight special findings, which include the 10 best and worst restaurant meals, the foods highest and lowest in saturated fats, food contamination, etc. An appendix lists the major restaurant chains tested. The bad news is delivered in an easy-to-read style free of scientific jargon. Teens who spend so much of their time in restaurants and fast-food chains will find these reports highly informative and extremely helpful in planning a nutritional strategy when eating out.-Jane S. Drabkin, Chinn Park Regional Library, Woodbridge, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Booknews
Based upon laboratory analyses of popular restaurant foods, this text reveals their calorie, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium content. Information on fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients is not particularly emphasized. Each of the 18 chapters is devoted to a type of restaurant (Mexican, Italian, fast food, etc.) or food (breakfast, movie theater snacks). The authors are nutritionists with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Book review: The Sprouting Book or Tough Love
Martha Stewart's Pies and Tarts
Author: Martha Stewart
With more than 100 original recipes, this may be the most inspiring dessert cookbook ever published. Martha's recipes for such delights as Tartan Rhubarb Pie or Walnut Tartlets with Chocolate Lace are accompanied by creative ideas for spectacular presentation and stunning full-color photographs. More than 160 full-color photographs.
Publishers Weekly
This is the third in Stewart's Food & Entertaining series, following Entertaining and Hors d'Oeuvres, written in the informal, conversational style that attracts her readers and may assure them they can achieve the results displayed in Galton's photos. The author is a professional caterer and columnist for House Beautiful, and the elegant creations here bespeak learned skills, inventiveness and enthusiasm. Perfectly reproduced color pictures focus on pies, tarts and tartlets made from fruits (including the citrus types), berries, nuts, chocolate, vegetables. These ingredients are elaborately decorated, some baked in heart-shaped or other unconventional pans, most as rich as Croesus and a treat for the eyes as well as the palate. Stewart's instructions are complete, unmistakably clear and illustrated each step of the way. Still, a kitchen neophyte would probably be frustrated by attempts to make the Concord grape pie, garnished by a grape cluster, leaves and tendrilsall made of pastry; or a swirling, white-and-dark chocolate masterpiece surrounded by hand-fashioned chocolate leaves. The book is outstanding, and it should appeal strongly to people experienced in the art of fine cooking. December 2
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