Some Acquired Tastes: A Recipe Album

Christy Conte is a member of the Parents Advisory Committee at the
YMCA’s Parent and Child Enrichment Centre and a journalist.

West-Coaster resident Jurgen Gothe is passionate about food.
Fortunately, his passion lacks that deadening solemnity that often
spoils food books by “connoisseurs.” Some Acquired Tastes is an
eclectic medley of recipes offered to cooks “for whom food is serious
fun.” This is not a book for those who hold Canada’s Food Guide up
as a sacred law, nor for those ranking Sunday pot roast among their
boldest culinary adventures.

Gothe’s 101 recipes are grouped under fairly conventional headings:
Soups, Bread, Pasta, Fish, Fowl, etc. Notable departures include the
chapters on Oysters and Stuff. Recipes are preceded by a brief anecdotal
chat, usually including information about the genesis of the dish and
memorable circumstances under which it was consumed. Gothe’s cats’
impressions are sometimes recorded. The recipes themselves are
wonderful: Chopped Lamb with a Trinity of Garlic, Grilled Salmon with
Rum and Brown Sugar, Duxoup’s Dux.... Gothe doesn’t forget the
kiddies, either. How about The Bart Simpson, a drink for ’90s
sophistikids (“Say ciao, Shirley, and let her sink”) or the
Chocolate Cake Sandwich for Kid’s Lunches? Wine notes, suggested
accompaniments, and a practical index are included.

Some of the ingredients suggested here—goodies such as Trappey’s
Hot Jalapeno Sauce and Ava Tahiti eau de vie de pamplemousse—might be
a little difficult to locate; this is not a serious problem (see Rule
#11: “Feel free to adapt and alter anything, anytime”). This is a
fun cookbook and a good read.