My Beverly Hills Kitchen: Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist: A Cookbook

A fabulous cookbook. At least half the recipes are classics, and the rest should probably be treated as such. Alex Hitz is a genuine southern blue blood, and his writing reflects his personal charm. In the introduction to recipe after recipe, he states that execution of the recipe is easy if you will just read and follow directions. And that sums up the philosophy of a good cook, I think. Buy quality ingredients, work with good quality recipes, follow the directions, and the rest is easy. Anything more complicated is probably not worth the effort and expense. One of the things that I like best about this cookbook is that it doesn’t have a heavy emphasis on main course meat dishes. Tons of soups, side dishes, salads, and egg and cheese dishes. That’s the way I like to eat... Mostly vegetarian but with meat on the side or occasionally in the forefront. I love too that he frequently adds 2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger root to dishes, which adds a lovely level of flavor. Truly, nothing in here is terribly difficult to make, and most dishes are so very good. Have fun. Highly recommended, this cookbook is bound to be the backbone of your cooking style.

Fantastic cookbook

Imaginative, approachable and taste fabulous. Keeps things real. His stories that accompany the recipes are great reading!❤️

I just received this book in the mail yesterday and immediately sat down to look it over. I am usually considered to be a "healthy eater", but could never serve people the bland food I eat on a daily basis. When I go out, I am looking for something I would never fix for myself, and that is what this book is all about. My Bevery Hills Kitchen is full of recipies anyone would love. Yes they contain butter, etc...but when attending a party at someone's house that is exactly what people will want to eat. (A point the author makes several times).This book contains something for everyone. Some of the recipies are more complex than others, but each one is accompanied with step-by-step instructions to make them easy to undertake. There are plenty of simpler ones that even the most inexperienced cook can attempt immediately. (Alex's cheese straws contain exactly two ingrediants, very few steps, and sound AMAZING!)I also like the fact that Alex is not snobby about all ingrediants. While he says to use the highest quality you can obtain, he also recommnends Land-O-Lakes butter and Morton's salt. He has a good section on kitchen supplies that is also helpful.My favorite part of the book is the stories of all of the people who have enetertained, or been entertained by Alex. (I was surprised to read how many fancy people serve some bacon as an appetizer!) Unilike most cook book authors, I found Alex to be an entertaining writer with a flair for storytelling.I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes to entertain, as well as people who collect fun, readable cook books.

I wasn't sure what to expect here as I am not particularly interested in Beverly Hills. The reviews intrigued me and the blending of Southern Cusine with French cooking was a cool concept. What I found was the book was well written, full of interesting stories and wonderful recipes. Not pretentious at all. Mr. Hitz seems like a man who was raised with enough wealth that he could have just ****** off & done nothing with his life. Instead he developed a great curiosity and love of cooking. We are all the beneficiaries of his passion. A fine book. I recommend it highly.

The best and most personal cookbook I’ve ever owned!! Love all the history behind the recipes!! Please write another one. I have both of your books!

Having grown up in the south with a grandmother and mother who had a taste for good food, family,friends and cookbooks, I have relished every page of this book. Alex has captured the best of good taste not only with his receipts but with the enticing photographs and stories of the people who contributed to his love of entertaining and preparing delicious food.I have been the recipient of many of these receipts and the preparer of the poached pears and the pumpkin flan, both of them perfection.Your friends will enjoy this book as a present but be sure to give yourself one also!!

I have 200 cookbooks but couldn't resist this one. The recipes are delicious and like many gracious Southerners, Mr. Hitz has a way with words. I enjoyed cooking with this book and I especially appreciated the author's culinary advice and recollections. Mr. Hitz clearly loves to cook. He also understands how hospitality and feeding those you love help reinforce the ties that bind in the best possible way. This is a wonderful book for aspiring or proficient cooks.

Since I received it in November 2016 I've made many recipes that are very good.

This cookbook is such a keeper! Great recipes that I cannot wait to try!