Magnolias: Authentic Southern Cuisine

This is a good overall book, for those who want to cook Magnolia's, Barickman's restaurant's Lowcountry inspired Southern-style foods. It's ideally for those who want to have a selection of Donald Barickman's "Southern style" recipes, that are generally easy to cook, at hand. This is not a text for "really" authentic Southern recipes, overall-that's just a fact, not a plus or a minus for the book.Start with crab cakes with panko crust, cleverly formed in long tubes within plastic wrap, then cut to create a more compact crab cake. The recipe is basic, not "messed up" with superfluous ingredients that mask the sweetness of blue crab, which is lightly skillet sauteed.There's plenty of "common" recipes, such as macaroni and cheddar cheese, creamed corn, collard greens, okra, Hoppin' John, black beans and rice, and creamy grits- slow cooked in water and heavy cream. To dress things up, there's Pimiento cheese grits with seared scallops shrimp, tasso and grits, or salmon over grits, and even lobster and grits. Grits galore! Things get an Asian/Latin twist with Coriander-seared tuna with jalapeno and mango vinaigrette and sauteed escarole. Barickman also offers squash blossosms stuffed with scallop and lobster moussse, or a steak topped with pimiento cheese and madeira sauce.I was mildly disappoined that this lacked the "kick" in its selection of recipes to get it up to a 5 star rating, however with it's simple to moderately complex Southern recipes, good color photos, and almost too brief instructions, it will be more than sufficient for a lover of Charleston's Magnolias Restaurant to duplicate many of the older recipes. I do favor "chattier" cookbooks that give a local flavor in the side notes; this is "just the facts, ma'am" on its recipes. Other Southern cookbook authors- John Martin Taylor, Edna Lewis, James Villas, the Lee Bros., and Frank Stitts -have classic cookbooks books that clearly rate "5"'s in my opinion. Check these out first, and see what you prefer to buy.This version is said to be the original 1995 book, Magnolia's Southern Cuisine, from over 10 years ago, it was updated in 2006 with 50 or so new recipes. Now, why he subtitled this as "Authentic Southern Cuisine" and then put a photo of a clearly non-Southern Chinese style sliced eggroll on the cover, is beyond me. A warning? Too much sake, perhaps? Let's just say that while he has a good number of definitely non-Southern recipes, he balances it in the quality of the Southern style ones he shares.Visit Charleston, and try this and several dozen excellent restaurants, to sample many variations of classics such shrimp and grits, fluffy biscuits, and all around great food!

My husband could eat his way through this cookbook! Fabulous restaurant, fabulous cookbook!

Replacement for one lost in a flood. Recipes are near and dear to my heart. I'm glad I could replace the one I lost.

- a beautiful book, which arrived in pristine condition. -too good to use in the kitchen, so i'll just keep it on the coffee table. ps. if i want to try a receipt, i'll make a xerox copy.

I had the pleasure of dining at Magnolia's on a recent trip to Charleston, SC.(May, 2012)The experience was, to say the least, wonderful. The presentation,the ambience and the delicious food made for a truly wonderful meal. I'd noticed the cookbook in the gift shop in my hotel. Beautiful photography, simple, available ingredients used in inventive ways make for a decadent book. Recipes you can truly make successfully at home.The book lets you bring a little southern hospitality home with you. I've enjoyed it, and have made a few of the recipes already! I'm a BIG fan!!!!DRP Dallas, TX

I always have lunch at Magnolias when I am in Charleston and the recipes in this new cookbook from Chef Donald Barickman are absolutely wonderful. I am so glad to have more of his recipes. There are quite a few lovely pictures of his luscious creations and the instructions are clear and precise. This is a great book to add to your collection if you are a cookbook collector or if you are a cook, serious or otherwise, it will be a blessing to you and your family.

great cookbook - and those egg rolls on front - AMAZING! there are tremendous recipes in this cookbook including the shrimp and tomato gravy on grit cake, the macaroni and cheese (2 versions both great), collard greens, crab cake roll, etc. Wonderful.

This cookbook is everything and more! The ingredients are basic and easily obtainable. Instructions simple, direct and each and every dish is beyond words. The grits recipe alone is worth the price of the cookbook. Personal favorite(s) the shrimp and grits is to absolutely die for. The fried chicken and collard greens!!!!!! Need I say more. Enjoy each recipe. Haven't found one too difficult nor one that doesn't work.