The Food Writer of the Year (Bon Appetit, 2003) Takes You on His Quest for the Ultimate Culinary Experiences . . . "[This book reveals] . . . the positively Sherlockian discipline and brilliance of Mr. Villas on the scent of any culinary mystery he feels possessed to unravel." --From the Foreword by Jeremiah Tower Praise for James Villas: "One of America's greatest journalists." --Emeril Lagasse "There are not many writers around who are as much fun to read as James Villas. In his intensely personal style, he is elegant, quirky, opinionated, precise, and lyrical." --Paula Wolfert "James Villas is a man of stature. He travels widely, he has a keen eye, and a keener palate, he knows the arts and times, and has many interests, which makes him all the sharper when he writes about food." --James Beard

What is the perfect bite? When I cook or eat, I look for a balance of flavor in a dish, or in a combination of foods. It might combine all of the aspects together—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and sometimes pungent or aromatic. “The perfect bite” is how I describe profound flavor—a balance of tastes on the palate—many of these are traditional dishes or family comfort foods. These might include herbs or spices, which add flavor. I am passionate about this approach to cooking and eating. I grow many of my own vegetables, herbs and greens, buy locally, eat seasonally and organically—this is the way that I like to eat. Anyone who likes to eat good food will appreciate this book with over 200 recipes that feature flavor at its best. The stories surrounding them create a kind of comfort food/flavortherapy story. “Flavortherapy” is a term I coined to describe how each recipe satisfies me in a different way; some make me feel happy, while others stimulate me, or make me want to take a nap. Just as aroma works in aromatherapy, flavor works in flavortherapy. There are specific foods that we desire because they make us feel good. Each individual can use flavortherapy to make their own perfect bites.

A nose-to-tail guide to the very best Southern pork recipes, from award-winning food writer James Villas Though beef, poultry, and fish all have their place in Southern cuisine, one animal stands snout and shoulders above the rest—the mighty pig. From bacon to barbecue, from pork loin to pork belly, James Villas's Pig: King of the Southern Table presents the pride of the South in all its glory. 300 mouth-watering recipes range from the basics like sausages, ribs, and ham to creative ideas involving hashes, burgers, gumbos, and casseroles. A North Carolina native, Villas doesn't just provide great pork recipes but also brings the spirit of Southern cooking alive with tasty cultural and historical tidbits and favorite recipes from beloved restaurants like Louis Osteen's on Pawley's Island and Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill. With gorgeous full-color photography and recipes from Maryland to Louisiana and everywhere in between, Pig is the definitive take on the South's favorite animal. Includes 300 recipes for pork dishes of all kinds, including appetizers, soups, sides, rice dishes, and even breads Features recipes like Cajun Boudin Rice Sausage, Bacon-Wrapped Pork Loin with Dates and Walnuts, Mississippi Spice-Stuffed Baked Ham, and Collard Greens with Pork Belly Offers more than just recipes—the book includes a pig-parts primer, a glossary of pig cooking terms, and cooking tips and sidebars throughout Written by James Villas, winner of two James Beard Journalism Awards and former food and wine editor of Town & Country magazine for 27 years Whether you're planning the perfect summer barbecue or just looking for new ideas for family dinners, Pig shares the secrets of great Southern cooking with every corner of the nation.

Let Great Reading Fuel Your Writing Great writers read–voraciously and across many topics and genres. They read to learn, to research, to study the style of others, and to improve their own work. They read because they love the written word. But becoming well read takes time, dedication, and patience. The thought can be daunting–especially when you're eager to get to your own writing. Fred White, author of The Daily Writer, helps you sort through the plethora of reading material available by providing you with 366 engaging excerpts from ancient poetry to modern science, on topics from allegory to food to writer's block. Each thoughtfully chosen excerpt is followed by a brief reflection and a prompt that allows you to integrate elements from each piece into your own writing. The Daily Reader makes broad reading accessible, invigorates your thirst for the written word, and equips you to put the power of the pros behind your writing.

Describes the lives of six Americans who wrote extensively about food and wine as they traveled, explored, immersed themselves in culture, and struggled with their writing careers in France between 1945 and 1974.