Best Eats…or Rachael Lovefest

Ray, Rachael. Best Eats in Town on $40 a Day. New York: Lake Isle Press. 2004.

I’m an on again, off again fan of Rachael Ray. In other words, in small doses she is wonderful. Too much of her peppiness can kill you. I watch most of her shows, flipping back and forth between something a little less sweet during the commercial breaks, (or when she gets to be too much). I’m not sure if $40 a Day the book is a spin off of $40 a Day the show because of popularity or a crazed attempt to saturate the market with all things Rachael. I’m banking on the second notion because the book is a Rachael Ray lovefest. I have never seen so many pictures of RR in one place. It’s like looking at her personal photo album with commentary. Rachael looking dreamy at a coffeehouse table, Rachael snuggling at the Grand Canyon, Rachael in a helicopter, Rachael with a glass of wine…you get the point. But, the book is more than that. It’s Rachael’s commentary on the places she’s been, the food she’s tried. It has recipes and travel advice. Contact information for the restaurants listed…Here’s why I’m not buying: the book. Not only does she succeed in finding 3-4 places to spend her $40 (and always comes in under budget), but each and every single time the food is orgasmically fantastic. What are the chances of that? Cheap and mind-blowing? I doubt it. If I was really curious I would take this book with me to a RR traveled city and test it out. Go to the places she mentions, order the food she samples and see/taste for myself. In the meantime, I’m returning the book.

Edited to add: I had the opportunity to eat at Becky’s in Portland, Maine (one of Rachael’s picks). I had the basic egg/cheese sandwich and mom had the fruit bowl. Her meal definitely looked better than mine, but my sandwich was less than $3 and worth every penny. My biggest gripe? Only one refill on the coffee.