Share this:
Rating: 
I first had the pleasure of reviewing young Sam Stern’s Eat Vegetarian (see AWO’s review here) back in June and I must admit, I was instantly hooked. Publishing his first book at the age of 14 (okay, with a little help from his mum), this young food-lover has released an astonishing five books – and he’s still a teen!
Cooking up a Storm, his inaugural book, was released in 2005, quickly followed by Real Food, Real Fast in 2006. In 2007, he put out Get Cooking, followed by Sam Stern’s Student Cookbook in 2008. In 2010, after a short and well deserved-break! he put our Sam Stern’s Eat Vegetarian – perfect for an increasing population of young people who are turning to vegetarian food.
But Stern’s books are not just for young people. Indeed, anyone in need of inspiration will surely be chocked to the gills with culinary motivation when they open this young lad’s books. His passion for food and cooking floods every page.
In his first book, Cooking Up A Storm, the [very] young Sam has subheaded this tome ‘the teen survival cookbook’. What does that mean? Well, it means that inside you’ll find a gaggle of specially-written recipes for kids, just like Sam, who love to cook.
The intro is mouth-watering in itself. In it, we learn why Sam likes cooking – “…the feel of pastry, the smell of melting chocolate and fresh bread… the sound of a fry-up or popcorn exploding… I like it that you’re in touch with your good when you do things yourself…” And indeed, he does.
Inside, kids will be shown how to make brilliant breakfasts, cool and quick lunches, school ‘recovery’ snacks, evening chill-out food, even dishes that will impress the girls. There’s also puddings, party food, exam survival nosh, weekend family meals and what to have when your mates are round.
I love how Sam pads this book out with a chapter called ‘essential extras’ and ‘top tips’ which encourage young cooks to make it work.
In Real Food, Real Fast, Sam appears on the Jamie-Oliver-endorsed cover – and he’s starting to grow up. His second book features really cool tabs that separate the recipes into quick-find sections – 5 minute, 10 minute, 15 minute, 20 minute and 30 minute meals.
Yes, mum, you better believe it (and don’t you want to borrow your kids’s cookbook right now?!). For fast results or those with a short attention span, this book is great for young cooks on the run. There is also a helpful section on leftovers, essential extras and a shopping list.
Ok – so what can you make in 5 minutes? Plenty! Several cool variations on toast, for one. There’s also smoothies and shakes, fruit yoghurt combos, nifty fruit and veg and fast fish options.
Next up on the plate – Get Cooking – focuses on friendship. The book is peppered with sections on what Sam’s friends best love to eat.
In Tomatoes, we meet Jess who loves to eat well – so it’s no surprise this chapter is dedicated to her. Sam talks about how tomatoes are vital for the immune system, eyes and skin (who needs makeup!?) and follows the intro with plenty of ways this humble fruit can be used, from bruschetta to soup, tarts and sauces.
Other chapters include Cheese, Meat, Veg, Potatoes, Pasta, Chocolate and Sweet Stuff – all featuring a friend and all resplendant with deliciousness. The dishes are both simplistic and sophisticated yet totally do-able – a really nice blending that will allow kids the confidence to do something a little ‘out there’.
Recipes include roast pork with apples and trimming, sweet potato gnocchi, whole orange cake, sherbet lemon jelly, spinach avocado and bacon salad, mushroom curry and sleepover breakfast brioche (oozing with chocolate).
In Sam Stern’s Student Cookbook, parents can rest easy as send their kids off to uni – simply hand over spare socks and undies, a wad of cash and this book. Endorsed by none other than Gordon Ramsay (this kid has friends in hot places!), this smaller format book is jammed with easy-to-make but highly creative and nutritious meals that will impress mates and girls and lecturers alike, which still keeping your child’s teeth in their head and immune system functioning.
There is also a heavy focus on foods that offer brain empowering effects – perfect for long hours of study. Once again, the book opens with encouraging, totally-kid-relatable advice on cooking before being sliced up into useful sections from Equipment and Storecupboard, through Basic Techniques, snacks, eggs, soups, pasta and pizza, noodles, rice, grains, lentils, meat, fish, salads, puddings, cakes and breads – it’s all here. Well-rounded and most-importantly, mighty attractive to young adults.
The book’s recipes are given a Legend treatment with small markers on how many it feeds, how cost-effective it is, whether it’s a vegetarian meal and if it’s fast to cook, and accompanying photos bring everything to life.
All Stern’s books are packed with cool dude photos of kids doing their thing. The photos are not overly stylised, meaning kids are not alienated – and nothing is made a fuss of – equally important.
Unpretentious, simple, straightforward and totally unintimidating, if this doesn’t get your kids cooking, I’ll be a monkey’s toasted sanger. This series is all about encouraging independence and competence in the kitchen – and also encourages kids to eat well and make something of a gourmet – as opposed to pig – of themselves.
I hear you, parents. Perfect.
Learn more about Sam Stern’s Eat Vegetarian here.
Title: Cooking up a Storm
Author: Sam Stern
Category: Cookbook
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781844287741
RRP: A$24.95RRP
Publication Date: 1 November 2005
Title: Real Food, Real Fast
Author: Sam Stern
Category: Cookbook
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781406302493
RRP: A$24.95RRP
Publication Date: 1 October 2006
Title: Get Cooking
Author: Sam Stern
Category: Cookbook
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781406305609
RRP: A$24.95RRP
Publication Date: 1 October 2007
Title: Sam Stern’s Student Cookbook
Author: Sam Stern
Category: Cookbook
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781406308181
RRP: A$24.95RRP
Publication Date: 15 October 2008
Title: Sam Stern’s Eat Vegetarian
Author: Sam Stern
Category: Cookbook
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781406319750
RRP: A$24.95RRP
Publication Date: 1 June 2010