4.70

4

Feb 21, 2017

After the success of Baton Rouge's classic RIVER ROAD RECIPES (Junior League, 1959), it seemed inevitable that other attempts by other Southern Junior League groups would follow. This TALK ABOUT GOOD! cookbook, from the Junior League of Lafayette (LA) in 1967, is too good to be called an imitation. According to a 2017 article in the Washington Post, TALK ABOUT GOOD! became as much a part of area kitchens as "the cast-iron pot, aluminum Magnalites and Chime-O-Matic rice cooker." Redoubtable Cajun After the success of Baton Rouge's classic RIVER ROAD RECIPES (Junior League, 1959), it seemed inevitable that other attempts by other Southern Junior League groups would follow. This TALK ABOUT GOOD! cookbook, from the Junior League of Lafayette (LA) in 1967, is too good to be called an imitation. According to a 2017 article in the Washington Post, TALK ABOUT GOOD! became as much a part of area kitchens as "the cast-iron pot, aluminum Magnalites and Chime-O-Matic rice cooker." Redoubtable Cajun and Southern recipes form the backbone of this very worthy effort. It also prompted a sequel by the Lafayette Junior League, TALK ABOUT GOOD! II, and two books of reminiscences that include recipes.

Although it's a little dated in spots (judging by the fondness for bright-colored Jell-O desserts), on the whole the contents have held up fine, and work just as well today as they did in the Sixties. As others have pointed out, the recipes here are really family recipes, not recipes gathered by editors, professional chefs or columnists. Spiral-binding makes TALK ABOUT GOOD! easy to use in the kitchen. It has never been out of print in its fifty-one-year history that I know of. Would make a great gift.

NOTE: As of this update (July, 2018) Amazon still carries the spiral-bound volume pictured above, but the Junior League of Lafayette, Louisiana (juniorleagueoflafayette dot com) informs me it has switched to a hardbound format with "concealed wire" inside. ...more

5

Jan 31, 2016

This book gets 5 stars because it is chock full of authentic Cajun food. It was written before the much-hyped Cajun craze of the 1980s, and its recipes are what the average southwest Louisiana family cooked every day.

5

Jan 24, 2020

I adore Junior League cookbooks, this one especially. My copy is from 2016, the 32nd printing. It is formatted with a handy spiral binding and a wonderful index. Sections include: Mardi Gras, Gumbos, Eggs Cheese Grits and Rice, Seafood, and Comidas de Mexico.

A wonderful resource.

3

Jan 04, 2012

My mom had this cookbook when I was growing up. When she and my dad divorced, I somehow ended up with it. I cooked out of it quite a bit when I was in college. I don't know what happened to it and don't remember when it disappeared. I didn't have it when I lived in Kansas. Mysterious.

5

Jul 28, 2012

This is a fabulous cookbook full of authentic Cajun and Acadian cooking.

5

Jan 27, 2009

That's it: I'll never waste my time with "Cook's Illustrated"/"America's Test Kitchen" publications again. Why bother, when I have this?

4

Aug 12, 2012

I'm a southern girl and this is the most authentic cajun cookbook out there.

5

May 04, 2019

This is fantastic. People just don't cook like this anymore. These recipes are down home cooking but don't mistake that for simple. They are complex and delicious.