Posted by cany on December 24, 1998 at 16:36:55:
In Reply to: BULL COOK by George Herter posted by Brian on December 21, 1998 at 22:28:11:
I found these comments about it at amazon.com:
moutona@acadian.net from South Louisiana (we know something
about cooking here) , August 3, 1998
Cookbook a la social commentary
I have all three volumes of this book - the best review of cooking and life
in general I have ever read. My volume 1 is so tattered and torn I am
trying to get another one. From what I remember the author was the
brother of Christian Herter, a member of Eisenhower's cabinet. I am
buying copies for both of my sons as their cooking (and living) bible.
amu@abest.com from NYC,USA , January 15, 1998
"BULL", and how!
This is simply the funniest, strangest cookbook I've ever owned. The story
of St. Anthony's world famous sandwich put my boyfriend into such a
state of hilarity that I thought he'd stopped breathing. Of course, it's just
one among many bizzare blends of ancient history and rustic American
home cookin'. Some recipes, ostensibly from original, ancient sources, use
such things as ketchup and luncheon meat. I had no idea the book had
been re-published in 1995, so I was shocked to find these reviews! My
edition is 1969, Vol. I, gold hardcover, self-published by Herter's store.
In back, it lists some other titles by the Herters, such as, "How to Live
with a B****", "George the Housewife", and "How to Get Out of the Rat
Race and Live on $10 a Month". If anybody finds these, I'd love to know
how they compare to old "Bull Cook".
ramonam@earthlink.net from California , August 11, 1997
One of the funniest cook books I've ever read
This is hilarious, and I am sure it is unintentional. The author (the book lists
husband and wife as joint authors, but I am sure it was the Mr. who wrote
the cookbook, and the Mrs. who typed it) claims to know the only
correct version of numerous recipes, as if he had talked to the creators of
the recipes in person. However, the funniest part of all is near the end, in a
recipe for homemade soap. The author sneers that modern women are
too good to make their own soap, but a hydrogen bomb would take care
of that! The text is so dense, and full of information, that reading it is like
mining - and you never know when you'll come across another priceless
nugget like the soap recipe.
A reader , February 2, 1997
Berthe and George Herter are Insane
But their book is fabulous. Where else could you read that "it's a
well-known fact" that the Virgin Mary's favorite food was spinach? The
authors even include Mary's favorite method of preparing it, a recipe
called "Spinach Mother of Christ." And the chapter on preparing for
surviving a nuclear holocaust is indispensable.
A reader , February 10, 1996
The Bull Herter Rules!
This is man's book and not for those who wear leotards and balance tea
cups on their knees.