Summary:
Anne Burrell has rocked in some of New York’s best Italian kitchens, she’s rocked the Food Network, and now she’s gonna help you rock your kitchen with this book.”
–GUY FIERI

“Anne Burrell is the real deal. TV or no TV, famous or not, you put her in front of a stove and she will cook your ass under the table.”
–ANTHONY BOURDAIN

“Oh, baby, Anne has really knocked it out of the park with this book. It’s bold, fun, and full of the passion that people love about her.”
–EMERIL LAGASSE

“While reading these pages, I found myself almost transfixed by Anne’s strong literary voice and compelling (yet so simple!) recipes. . . I even looked over my shoulder a few times as I read or cooked, as if she were standing right by me, whispering hints and tips in my ear. Check out a new voice in Italian food—one that will make you want to bust out your pots and pans and give these great recipes a try. I guarantee that you will feel (and cook) like a rock star in your own kitchen!”
–ALEX GUARNASCHELLI

“Reading Cook Like a Rock Star will make you feel like you’re with Anne in the kitchen. You’re at the stove, she’s behind you, jumping up and down, cheering you on. Her one-of-a-kind voice is in every recipe—getting excited about porchetta (who doesn’t?), raving about deviled eggs, admitting her addiction to gnocchi. This girl loves Italian food. Loves it. She is down to earth, her enthusiasm is infectious, and the best part is that she knows what she is talking about—as if Marcella Hazan were an earthyragazza next door who invited you over to taste her latest pasta creation. Brava, Anne!”
–CESARE CASELLA

“Anne knows what it’s like to be mentored by the best and I’ve seen her continue this tradition with young professional chefs. It’s exciting that people will now have the chance to get this same advice and support at home by reading and using this terrific book.”
–MASAHARU MORIMOTO

“Anne’s food is as vibrant and fun as her personality—not everyone can party like a rock star, but with this great book, you’ll be cooking like one!”
–MICHAEL SYMON

“Anne’s cookbook reads just like she talks—funny, bawdy, full of energy, and rarin’ to cook. Cook Like a Rock Star makes you feel like you’re backstage with her at Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, just the two of you, learning the techniques and tricks she’s spent her whole career perfecting. Every line in this book tells the reader that you can do this! And every page inspires, encourages, simplifies, and demystifies the craft.”
–TED ALLEN

My Thoughts:
This is a great cookbook, there are a ton of pictures for the recipes so you can see what the finished product should look like. With each recipe Anne gives you a little talk sometime about what is good about the recipe, when is the perfect time to make the recipe, even sometime the correct way to pronounce the recipe. To me this just adds a very nice personal touch to the recipe, something that you don’t always see with cook books. The book is broken down into 6 different sections, Piccolini, (nibbles), Firsts (appetizers), Pasta, Seconds (main dishes), Sides, and Deserts. Anne also does a good job before she even gets into the recipes about what she thinks is a good idea to have on hand in your kitchen, for some reason this is something I really like to see since I tend to struggle with this myself I like to see how others stock their kitchen with foods and tools. The pasta portion of this book I think is my favorite, she shows you how to make your own pasta. I think that it is my favorite because since I was diagnosed with diabetes in ’10 we just don’t have to much pasta around here anymore. But after reading how to make my own I think I will plan to make my own the next time we do have pasta- one of the things I really do miss. This book is filled with additional tidbits to help you be a better cook, and I just love the tone of how these tips are given. Its like Anne is talking right to you, almost as your peer which I do find amusing because my cooking is adequate at best. The pictures peppered through this book are amazing, and while honestly most of the recipes her would not go over to well with my kids I must admit I do enjoy looking at the pictures, and trying to decide if I should just go ahead and try something from the book and let the kids raid the fridge if they really don’t care for it.

Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
************************************************************
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book to review.