GREAT READS

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Moira Hodgson.

Who would want to read about someone who lived all over the world, dined in some of the fanciest restaurants and hobnobbed with the high society of another era? I would! Once in a while you just need a little escapism in your life. Food critic Moira Hodgson tells her life story as she grew up in an age when one cruised across the Atlantic and women wore gloves and hats to the cocktail hour.  Born in England and raised in foreign service settings such as Egypt, Vietnam, Berlin, Sweden, and having a sharp memory for all the memorable food she encountered, Hodgson's journey is a delightful dip into a lifestyle most of us will never experience.  Recipes are even included throughout the book. After a watching a glut of Food Network shows dealing with simple preparations, it is utterly refreshing to  read how she managed to cook massive dinners such as a whole suckling pig for 24 in her tiny Manhattan apartment.   Shades of Julia Child will overcome you as you pour over classic and exotic recipes you will never cook but nevertheless will find fascinating:  Queen's Pudding for the Family (153 Coronation recipe,) Wartime Cream, and Shrimp Mousse Wrapped in Sugar Cane with Peanut Sauce, and many more.  If you enjoy food and travel, this will be a bit of a feast for you.

Recommended by Betsy Schroeder