Latest culinary star is just 15
NEW YORK — “Sam Stern has been a passionate cook for as long as he can remember. This is his first cookbook. It’s brilliant.”
That succinct review on the inside jacket of “Cooking up a Storm” is accurate, if somewhat immodest, for it was penned by none other than Sam Stern.
That it comes off as mischievous rather than arrogant is a tribute to the talents of this spiky-haired 15-year-old from England, whose self-styled “teen survival cookbook” is captivating multiple generations of readers on both sides of the Atlantic.
With its bright print, ample photographs, easy-to-follow directions and versatile menus, the book (Candlewick Press, $16.95) is the perfect gift for a college student. The recipes range from homey (pancakes) to exotic (Thai green curry), with plenty of vegetarian options. A front cover featuring an author as handsome as your dream prom date is a definite plus.
But what sets “Cooking Up a Storm” apart from other beginners’ cookbooks is its tone: blunt, humorous, enthusiastic and unmistakably adolescent. more…
