Everything Tastes Better with Bacon

Sara Perry is a resident of Portland, Oregon, and a columnist for The Oregonian,[1][2] a radio restaurant commentator[3] and a cookbook author. Before Everything Tastes Better with Bacon she wrote four books: The New Complete Coffee Book, The New Tea Book, Christmastime Treats and Weekends with the Kids.[3] Her editor at Chronicle Books suggested bacon as a cookbook subject. Bacon's popularity and usage was increasing, but Perry believed that a paucity of recipes would make writing the book difficult. Recalling her fondness for honey-baked ham, she combined sugar and bacon to create dishes.[4] Perry realized that bacon could be used to add seasoning in flavoring dishes, including salads and pastas.[5] She observed that bacon increased the sweet and salty tastes of food.[6] Everything Tastes Better with Bacon was published in English in paperback format by Chronicle Books on May 1, 2002.[7][8] The book sold for a retail price of US$18.95 in its initial publication.[9][10] A French paperback edition was published in 2004 by Les Editions de l'Homme, as part of its "Tout un plat!" ("What a dish!") series.[11][12]

Sara Perry in 2009

Perry explains her feelings about bacon in the book's introduction, observing that its smell while cooking helps start her day and provide her with a sense of calmness.[13] The beginning of the book provides background on the phrase "bringing home the bacon", introduces the reader to types of bacon and describes storage methods.[14] The book offers 70 recipes for bacon-flavored dishes,[15][16] in nine chapters organized by topic, including breakfast, leaf vegetables, pasta meals, side dishes, party servings, desserts and appetizers.[17][18][19] Recipes include a bacon sandwich using other ingredients,[20] a bacon crunch topping for ice cream,[21] a bacon concoction to top a fruit crisp,[16] and a pie crust that incorporates bacon.[22] Methods are offered for cooking bacon on a stovetop, in an oven and under a griller to maximize its flavor and appearance.[19][23][24] The book is illustrated with photographs by Sheri Giblin.[25]

Everything Tastes Better with Bacon was positively received by reviewers and food critics. The Chicago Tribune reported that it sold 30,000 copies in its first month.[22] Janet F. Keeler of the St. Petersburg Times commented positively on the book's title.[26] She noted the work was covered by food critics, who included its recipes in articles about the subject.[26] Keeler interviewed Fran McCullough, author of The Best American Recipes 2003–2004, who posited that the Atkins diet (which emphasizes higher meat consumption as part of a low carbohydrate plan[27]) had helped increase the popularity of bacon usage.[26] She classed it among the "most interesting and unique cookbooks" published.[28] Giblin's photography received favorable commentary from Cindy Hoedel of The Kansas City Star.[25] Literary critic Dwight Garner of The New York Times included the book in a list of favorites among recent cooking publications.[29] The review was critical of the author's dessert recipes, but agreed with her overall argument for increased use of bacon in cooking.[29]

The Arizona Daily Star highlighted the book in their "Hot Reads" section.[30] Assistant Texas Taste Editor for The Dallas Morning News Laura H. Ehret wrote that the book successfully conveys the experience of consuming bacon.[31] Marty Meitus wrote for the Rocky Mountain News that the book had increased his appetite for bacon dishes.[32] Meitus recommended dessert recipes, including Hazelnut-Bacon Candy Crunch, Peanut butter Cookies with Bacon Brittle, Pear-Apple Crisp with Brown Sugar-Bacon Topping and Ruby Raisin Mincemeat Tart.[32] Steve Smith, executive chef at Dixon's Downtown Grill in Denver, was inspired by Perry's "Maple Sundae" recipe and used it to create his own macadamia-bacon crunch ice cream dessert.[33]

Writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Marlene Parrish gave the book a favorable review, highlighting it in her article "Favorite Cookbooks for 2002".[34] She wrote that she enjoyed sampling the recipes from the book.[34] Parrish added that Robert Atkins, creator of the Atkins diet, would think favorably of the "Gorgonzola Cheeseburgers with Bacon" dish.[34] The Denver Post included the book in a list of best cookbooks of 2002.[35] Another article for the same newspaper highlighted recipes in the book, including Spaghetti Alla Carbonara and Cobb salad, Pear-Apple Crisp with Brown Sugar-Bacon Topping and Bacon Brittle.[36] A review in the Toronto Star criticized Perry's lack of creativity in her choice of recipes.[37] The review concluded the book was a good deal compared to other cookbooks on the subject while noting its lack of comprehensiveness with the small number of total recipes included.[37] Michele Anna Jordan of The Press Democrat recommended Perry's work, and commented that the author's zest for the subject was contagious.[38]

According to the Chicago Sun-Times and the St. Petersburg Times, Everything Tastes Better with Bacon is a niche work in the cookbook genre.[18][28] Perry stated that bacon had undergone a renaissance period.[10] Christian Science Monitor noted in a 2003 article that bacon was becoming an increasingly used cooking ingredient, despite having been maligned by nutritionists.[10] Recipes from the book were selected for inclusion in The Best American Recipes 2003–2004: The Year's Top Picks from Books, Magazines, Newspapers and the Internet.[39][40] Perry's recipe for "Succulent Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp" was referenced in the 2003 book Smoke & Spice: Cooking with Smoke, the Real Way to Barbecue.[41] Fran McCullough, the author of The Best American Recipes, commented that the book was a surprising addition to the field.[26] The Atlantic said that three years after the book's publication, bacon had become as popular as chocolate or olive oil.[42] Leah A. Zeldes observed in a 2006 article for the Chicago Sun-Times that the book contributed to the body of works that display the adaptability of bacon in recipes.[18] In his 2009 book Hungry Monkey, author Matthew Amster-Burton commented on the phenomena involving bacon and books on the subject in prior years, listing the book along with The Bacon Cookbook and Seduced by Bacon.[43] A 2013 article in the British newspaper The Independent cited the book as an example of increasing interest in pork.[44]

• Bacon Explosion
• Bacon mania
• List of bacon dishes
• List of books about bacon
• National Pig Day

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sara Perry.

• Everything Tastes Better with Bacon, at the official website of the publisher
• SaraPerry.com, official website of the author