Book Review: THE ROM-COM COOKBOOK
Thank you to Insight Editions for a copy of The Rom-Com Cookbook in exchange for an honest review. The Rom-Com Cookbook
The Rom-Com Cookbook by Tara Theoharis with Kristen Mulrooney and illustrations by Sarah Long. The book includes over 50 recipes inspired by your favorite romantic comedies from The Wedding Singer to Wedding Crashers . Any iconic rom-com you can think of is more than likely in this cookbook. Image courtesy of Insight Editions.
From savory to sweet, the recipes are categorized into seven clever categories like The Morning After (breakfast) or The Break Up and Makeup (Dessert). My favorite of these categories is Meat-Cute, which features meat-centric recipes like 'The Lost City of D(eliciousness) Charcuterie,' inspired by The Lost City. Image courtesy of Insight Editions.
Of course, there is an entire chapter filled with fun and fruity cocktails perfect for a rom-com binge-watch. For example, try out 'The Colonial Woman', inspired by Annie Walker's sky-high meltdown in Bridesmaids. Or mix up the 'Thirteen Going on Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving Daiquiri' while you watch 13 Going on 30. Here's some food for thought. Is it illegal to drink alcohol as your 13-year-old self in your future 30-year-old body? Or does being under some strange, magical rom-com curse exempt you from the law?
RELATED: Book Review: Behooved
If you are feeling adventurous, check out the Long-Term Relationship category that features cuisine from all over the world, like the 'Crazy Rich Dumplings' recipe inspired by the coveted family dumpling recipe in Crazy Rich Asians. Image courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
Are you planning on hosting for the holidays? Make them extra special with several dishes from beloved holiday classics like Last Holiday and Love Actually. The Rom-Com Cookbook features a wide range of fun and accessible recipes accompanied by charming illustrations by Sarah Long.
RELATED: Book Review: Gastronogeek: Cult TV Series 'Make a Wish…' Birthday Cake
My mom has always been a huge John Hughes fan, and I grew up watching those movies with her. So when I saw the recipe for the cake from Sixteen Candles , I knew I had to make it for her birthday. This is a pretty basic chocolate cake recipe with the addition of coffee, which complements the chocolate perfectly. The icing on the cake (literally) is a simple but rich buttercream, which I preferred over my usual recipe. So thanks to The Rom-Com Cookbook, I now have a new and improved go-to buttercream icing. Image courtesy of Cassie Holguin.
Making the cake was a breeze, and the recipe makes it so that even a novice baker could throw it together. It wasn't perfect, especially after the long car ride to the party, but I think that added to the homemade charm. Besides, I doubt Jake Ryan had professional baking skills and his cake in the movie looked pretty damn good. Image courtesy of Insight Editions and Sarah Long.
When I walked the cake out with sixteen lit candles on top, my mom immediately recognized the iconic confection. She even teared up a little. Everyone at the party got a kick out of the cake, and I even got several compliments on the taste. I have to agree that it was delicious, and I will be adding this recipe to my favorites list. Next, I've got my eye on the 'Tiramisu…You'll See' recipe inspired by Sleepless in Seattle.
RELATED: 8 LGBTQ+ Books to Keep Pride Going for the Rest of 2025 Extras
The first fun little tidbit that I noticed was a timeline of the films included in the book from Roman Holiday (1953) to Always Be My Maybe (2019). This cute little diagram demonstrates the wide variety of films included in The Rom-Com Cookbook.
Every good movie has a post-credit scene, so why shouldn't a cookbook? Theoharis includes small collections of recipes from the book to create a well-rounded spread, including a drink, an entree, and a dessert. There is a complete dining experience for every occasion, from an afternoon picnic to brunch with the family. Finally, there are a few pages of helpful information, including dietary considerations, measurement conversions, safety tips, and a glossary.
RELATED: GGA's Favorite Fandom Cookbooks Gift Guide To Read or Not to Read
The Rom-Com Cookbook is such a fun concept, which Theoharis and Mulrooney executed perfectly. I never really thought about food in relation to romantic comedies until I read this cookbook. It captures all the charm of our favorite rom-coms and presents creative recipes in an accessible way. Additionally, there is such a wide variety of dishes and drinks that there is something for every palate and occasion. Image courtesy of Insight Editions.
I can easily see The Rom-Com Cookbook being the center of a romantic comedy movie marathon get-together. Everyone could bring a recipe from their favorite movie and create a rom-com buffet to enjoy while watching their favorites. Or pick a dish and watch the movie while you prepare the recipe. Actually, that sounds like something the main character in a romantic comedy would do. While there are plenty of reasons to pick up The Rom-Com Cookbook, the most important is that you now have another excuse to rewatch your favorite rom-coms (as if you need it).
RELATED: Book Review: In the Garden of Monsters
Get your copy of The Rom-Com Cookbook at your local bookstore. Who knows? You may run into the love of your life! Or get your copy here from the Simon and Schuster website.
Book Review: THE ENCHANTED FEAST COOKBOOK
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bruce Springsteen Says Goodbye to Brian Wilson & His ‘Otherworldly Ear' for Music: ‘Farewell, Maestro'
Bruce Springsteen has shared a thoughtful tribute to Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys legend who died this week at the age of 82. Posted on Instagram Thursday (June 12) — one day after Wilson's family announced that he had passed away following a difficult battle with dementia — The Boss' tribute began by calling the late singer-songwriter 'the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony.' More from Billboard Bob Dylan, Gracie Abrams, Paul McCartney & More Remember Brian Wilson: 'Hero In Every Sense of the Word' Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Head to Florida for Stanley Cup Final Twenty One Pilots Drop New Single, 'The Contract,' Detail North American Tour Dates 'He was also the visionary leader of America's greatest band, The Beach Boys,' Springsteen continued. 'If there'd been no Beach Boys, there would have been no 'Racing In The Street.' Listen to 'Summer's Gone' from The Beach Boys' last album That's Why God Made The Radio and weep.' 'Farewell, Maestro,' added the rocker. 'Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.' Springsteen is just one of many living legends who has shared remarks following Wilson's death. Elton John, Bob Dylan and Carole King have also posted tributes, while several younger stars — Clairo, Gracie Abrams and Maggie Rogers, to name a few — have also paid respects. Paul McCartney, who inducted Wilson into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, wrote on Instagram, 'Brian had that mysterious sense of musical genius that made his songs so achingly special … I loved him, and was privileged to be around his bright shining light for a little while.' Springsteen has long maintained his appreciation for Wilson's work. 'There's no greater world created in rock and roll than the Beach Boys,' the guitarist said in 2021 documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, according to Far Out. 'The level of musicianship, I don't think anybody's touched it yet.' In 2015, Springsteen made a surprise appearance at Wilson's concert in New Jersey, joining the icon on stage. Two year's later, Wilson's official Facebook account shared a photo of the two men together, with the caption: 'Bruce Springsteen makes it a point to see Brian when he's in New Jersey. Here's Brian and Bruce before tonight's show at the Count Basie Theatre.' See Springsteen's post below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jeremy Allen White Strips It All Down in First Trailer For Bruce Springsteen Biopic ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere'
Fans will have to wait until Oct. 24 to see the eagerly anticipated Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. But they got a teaser on Wednesday morning (June 18) when the first trailer for the film starring The Bear's Jeremy Allen White as the Boss dropped, revealing the shape and mood of the film that will follow the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's introspective sessions for his stark, 1982 acoustic album Nebraska. The two-and-a-half minute preview opens with White as Springsteen sitting in a Camaro on a car lot as he tells the salesman that he's never owned a new vehicle before. 'It's awfully fitting for a handsome devil rock star,' the salesman says, tipping his hat that he knows exactly who his low-key, famous client is. 'Well that makes one of us,' White replies. More from Billboard Bruce Springsteen Says Goodbye to Brian Wilson & His 'Otherworldly Ear' for Music: 'Farewell, Maestro' Sunscreen, Speakers & More Pool Party Essentials to Help Heat Up Your Summer How 'Elio' Composer Rob Simonsen Married Space Disco, Choir Dolls & Talking Heads to Bring Pixar's Sci-Fi Adventure to Life We next see Springsteen in his New Jersey bedroom with his guitar tech Mike Batlan (Paul Walter Hauser) as he works out the stripped-down sound of the Nebraska title track. 'Don't need to be perfect,' he tells Batlan, 'I want it to feel like I'm in the room by myself.' Director Scott Cooper's movie also features Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jeremy Strong as Springsteen's longtime manager and confidant Jon Landau, who is seen telling a record exec that his client's deeply personal album is 'not about the charts. This is about Bruce Springsteen and these are the songs that he wants to work on right now,' as White moans out the lyrics to the album's haunting title song. Over images of White looking at old pictures, Strong tells a story about the singer's childhood bedroom, which had a hole in its floor. That hole becomes a metaphor for Springsteen's complicated relationship with his withholding father (played by Adolescence's Stephen Graham). 'Bruce is a repairman,' Strong says. 'And what he's doing with this album is he's repairing that hole in his floor. He's repairing that hole in himself… and once he's done that, he's going to repair the entire world.' The two-and-a-half-minute trailer ends with triumphant footage of a sweat-drenched White howling 'Born to Run' on stage with the E Street Band, the veins in his neck strained to the extreme as he pulls off one of the rocker's signature stage hops. Springsteen spent time on the set of the film earlier this year and he professed to be very impressed with White's work. In a chat on SiriusXM's E Street Radio in January, the 75-year-old rocker was asked if it felt weird to see White play him on screen. 'A little bit at first, but you get over that pretty quick and Jeremy is such a terrific actor that you just fall right into it,' Springsteen said. 'He's got an interpretation of me that I think the fans will deeply recognize and he's just done a great job, so I've had a lot of fun. I've had a lot of fun being on the set when I can get there.' In high praise from the singer known for his signature raspy, emotive voice, Springsteen said White was nailing it. 'He sings well,' he said. 'He sings very well.' Springsteen gave his full blessing for the adaptation of Warren Zanes' book of the same name and in an interview earlier this year White said he'd studied hours and hours of video and worked with a vocal coach to nail Bruce's vocal tone and speaking cadence. The film also features Odessa Young (A Million Little Pieces) as Springsteen's girlfriend, Gaby Hoffman (Transparent) as his mom, Adele, Marc Maron (Sticks) as record producer Chuck Plotkin and David Krumholtz (Oppenheimer) as a Columbia Records executive. Check out the Deliver Me From Nowhere trailer below. Best of Billboard Kelly Clarkson, Michael Buble, Pentatonix & Train Will Bring Their Holiday Hits to iHeart Christmas Concert Fox Plans NFT Debut With $20 'Masked Singer' Collectibles 14 Things That Changed (or Didn't) at Farm Aid 2021
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bruce Springsteen Reflects on ‘Painful Days' Depicted in Upcoming Biopic ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere'
Bruce Springsteen is opening up about his upcoming biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, the 75-year-old rock icon shared his thoughts on director Scott Cooper's upcoming film, which is set to hit theaters on Oct. 24. More from Billboard Rachel Zegler Serenades Crowd Outside Theater for Free in a New London Production of 'Evita' Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to Receive Vanguard Award at The Guitar Center Music Foundation Gala & Benefit Concert Shakira Announces Two More Dates in Mexico, Extending Record to 28 Though Springsteen's touring schedule limited his time on set, he said The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White and the crew were gracious during his visits. 'Jeremy Allen White was very, very tolerant of me the days that I would appear on the set,' Springsteen told the publication. 'I said to him, 'Look, anytime I'm in the way, just give me the look and I'm on my way home.' So the days that I got out there, he was wonderfully tolerant with me being there. And it was just fun. It was enjoyable.' Still, The Boss admitted that he avoided being present for certain emotionally intense moments during filming. 'I mean, there's some unusualness to it because the movie involves, in some ways, some of the most painful days of my life,' he said. 'If there was a scene coming up that was sometimes really deeply personal, I wanted the actors to feel completely free, and I didn't want to get in the way, and so I would just stay at home.' Deliver Me From Nowhere is based on Warren Zanes' book of the same name and chronicles the making of Springsteen's 1982 acoustic album, Nebraska. Check out a recap of the film's first trailer here. The film features Allen as Springsteen, Jeremy Strong as longtime manager Jon Landau, Stephen Graham as the musician's father, Odessa Young as his girlfriend, Gaby Hoffmann as his mother, Marc Maron as producer Chuck Plotkin, and David Krumholtz as a Columbia Records executive. Earlier this year, Springsteen told SiriusXM's E Street Radio that seeing White play him on screen took some getting used to. 'A little bit at first, but you get over that pretty quick and Jeremy is such a terrific actor that you just fall right into it,' he said. 'He's got an interpretation of me that I think the fans will deeply recognize and he's just done a great job, so I've had a lot of fun. I've had a lot of fun being on the set when I can get there.' For his part, White has said he spent hours studying video footage and worked closely with a vocal coach to capture Springsteen's unique voice and cadence. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
