Friday, June 6, 2014

Review: The Donut by Michael Krondl

Title: The Donut
Author: Michael Krondl
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Publish Date: June 1, 2014
Source: I received a copy from the publisher; however, this did not affect my review.


What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "The love for the donut in the United States is longstanding and deep-rooted. Gourmet donut shops have popped up in trendy neighborhoods across the country and high-end restaurants are serving trios of donuts for dessert, while Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and Tim Hortons have amassed a devoted following. In this captivating guide to the delectable dessert, culinary historian, chef, and donut lover Michael Krondl has put together an entertaining social history of the donut throughout the ages and from around the world. Among the interesting facts Krondl brings up are the donut's surprising role, not only as a traditional prelude to Lent, but in Hanukkah and Ramadan as well; the serving of donuts to American doughboys in the trenches of World War I; and the delivery by Red Cross Clubmobiles of essential comforts of home to World War II soldiers such as music, movies, magazines and--what else?--donut machines. Mindful that the information might have readers itching to run to their nearest bakery, Krondl also offers a baker's dozen of international donut recipes--with accompanying color photos--including those for Chocolate-Glazed Bismarcks with Marshmallow Filling, Nutella Bombolocini, Frittelle di Carnevale, and Dulce de Leche Raised Donuts with a Salty Caramel Glaze, among others."

My Two Cents:

Oh, Donuts, why are you so delicious and tempting? In "The Donut," Michael Krondl tries to show why donuts are yummy and their storied history. And it is fitting that I am reviewing this book now as June 6th happens to be the illustrious celebration of National Donut Day (what a delicious and delightful day to celebrate)! This is a really fun book for all my fellow foodies that are looking for the story behind how donuts came to be and how you can make some of this doughy lusciousness in your own home. This book would make a great gift for the sweet lovers in your life!

The book is broken down into history and then  a section of recipes. I liked both parts. The history section was really interesting because I did not realize how many different cultures and countries had some form of donut. It was also amazing to me how many different kinds of donuts there are and how many different ways there are to prepare them. Donuts seem to play a role in many celebrations throughout many different cultures and I thought it was interesting to see how different all of the celebrations were. I'm always very interested in learning about different places and different people so the book fit the bill to that degree.

I also really liked that this book included recipes. My husband and I looked at the recipe part of the book together and decided that we would definitely be making some of these donuts in the future! The recipes look like they would be good for those that don't mind getting their hands dirty in the kitchen. The pictures of the donuts in the book are fantastic and drool-worthy!


Overall, this was a very fun book and the perfect way to celebrate National Donut Day!


1 comment:

Hi! Welcome to A Bookish Affair. If you leave a comment, I will try to either reply here or on your site!

As of 6/6/2011, this book is now an awards free zone. While I appreciate the awards, I would rather stick to reviewing more great books for you than trying to fill the requirements.

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