Obsessed

The Cultural Critic’s Life in the Kitchen

Author: Elisabeth Bronfen

It is unique because it is the first cookbook by Elisabeth Bronfen, an internationally renowned literary and cultural critic, who is also a public intellectual in the German-speaking world. There are over 250 recipes, most of them for one or two people rather than the typical cookbook formula of 4 to 6. The last chapter is devoted entirely to cooking for oneself. It offers many explanations for why to do certain things, and why to avoid doing others, rather than simply offering descriptions of recipes It is the only book that has an entire chapter on the pantry, demonstrating what to store and where, including recipes for things to have ready at hand. There is a systematic discussion of what to do with left-overs, as well as a systematic discussion of all that can be salvaged in the kitchen; for both - leftovers and salvaging food - there are virtually no books available at the moment. It presents recipes not based on ingredients or courses, but based on how one cooks: Cooking with raw (or precooked) ingredients; frying in the pan: stewing in the pot: roasting in the oven. It inspires confidence and encourages a mixture of precision and experimentation. It is as much a book about culinary techniques and skills for home cooks, as it is a semi-fictionalized story about her family and the heritage of the displacements WWII brought with it. It brings together her very particular autobiography with her obsession with food, cooking, ingredients, sharing meals with friends. It brings the author's experience as cultural critic (in literary studies, visual culture, gender studies, film theory, and cultural philosophy) to bear on her discussion of cooking techniques

In this unique culinary memoir and cookbook, renowned cultural critic Elisabeth Bronfen tells of her lifelong love affair with cooking and reveals what she has learned about creating delicious home meals. As she shares her personal stories, and over 250 recipes, she also offers practical advice about tweaking recipes, reusing leftovers, and cooking for one.

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Winner of the 2020 Gourmand Awards, Translation Section, USA

Even the most brilliant minds have to eat. And for some scholars, food preparation is more than just a chore; it's a passion. In this unique culinary memoir and cookbook, renowned cultural critic Elisabeth Bronfen tells of her lifelong love affair with cooking and demonstrates what she has learned about creating delicious home meals. She recounts her cherished food memories, from meals eaten at the family table in postwar Germany to dinner parties with friends. Yet, in a thoughtful reflection on the pleasures of cooking for one, she also reveals that some of her favorite meals have been consumed alone.

Though it contains more than 250 mouth-watering recipes, Obsessed is anything but a conventional cookbook. As she shares a lifetime of knowledge acquired in the kitchen, Bronfen hopes to empower both novice and experienced home chefs to improvise, giving them hints on how to tweak her recipes to their own tastes. And unlike cookbooks that assume readers have access to an unlimited pantry, this book is grounded in reality, offering practical advice about food storage and reusing leftovers. As Bronfen serves up her personal stories and her culinary wisdom, reading Obsessed is like sitting down to a home-cooked meal with a clever friend.

Critic Reviews

“"Bronfen's gift for sensual descriptions of food is so vivid, reading this book gave me hunger pangs. Beautifully organized according to a taxonomy of culinary practice, Obsessed is much more than a cook book, although it is that, too. It an intimate exploration of food, memory, family, food, pleasure, and culture. I loved it."”

"As Julia Child once said, 'People who love to eat are always the best people' and reading this precise and passionate collection of recipes, I felt like I'd met a kindred soul. Obsessed by Elisabeth Bronfen is a magnificent spread of tastes and textures, family memories, and brilliant reflection. It also left me very hungry." -- Ann Mah bestselling author of The Lost Vintage and Mastering the Art of French Eating
"Bronfen’s gift for sensual descriptions of food is so vivid, reading this book gave me hunger pangs. Beautifully organized according to a taxonomy of culinary practice, Obsessed is much more than a cook book, although it is that, too. It an intimate exploration of food, memory, family, food, pleasure, and culture. I loved it." -- Siri Hustvedt author of Memories of the Future

About the Author

ELISABETH BRONFEN is a professor of American studies at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and Global Distinguished Professor at New York University. She is the author of many books, including Specters of War: Hollywood’s Engagement with Military Conflict (Rutgers University Press).

More on this Book

Winner of the 2020 Gourmand Awards, Translation Section, USA Even the most brilliant minds have to eat. And for some scholars, food preparation is more than just a chore; it?s a passion. In this unique culinary memoir and cookbook, renowned cultural critic Elisabeth Bronfen tells of her lifelong love affair with cooking and demonstrates what she has learned about creating delicious home meals. She recounts her cherished food memories, from meals eaten at the family table in postwar Germany to dinner parties with friends. Yet, in a thoughtful reflection on the pleasures of cooking for one, she also reveals that some of her favorite meals have been consumed alone. Though it contains more than 250 mouth-watering recipes, Obsessed is anything but a conventional cookbook. As she shares a lifetime of knowledge acquired in the kitchen, Bronfen hopes to empower both novice and experienced home chefs to improvise, giving them hints on how to tweak her recipes to their own tastes. And unlike cookbooks that assume readers have access to an unlimited pantry, this book is grounded in reality, offering practical advice about food storage and reusing leftovers. As Bronfen serves up her personal stories and her culinary wisdom, reading Obsessed is like sitting down to a home-cooked meal with a clever friend.