Book Review: bread&cup (beyond simple food and drink) by Kevin Shinn

bread&cup (beyond simple food and drink)
by Kevin Shinn (Biography Shinn)

Though filled with recipes that will make fans of this late, lamented Haymarket restaurant pleased, this “cookbook” is not cataloged in the libraries’ culinary section (the 640s), but is rather classified as a biography.

This is wholly appropriate, as it is more a look back at the experiences of establishing and running a restaurant, told from Kevin Shinn’s point-of-view, than it is merely a collection of recipes. Shinn shares multiple entries directly from the “foodie” blog that he maintained over more than a decade, and supplements those blog posts with all-new essays. The book is filled with absolutely gorgeous photos of the foods served at bread&cup over its ten-year existence, as well as of the people who made it the memorable restaurant that it was.

And the section looking back at the cancer battle that Shinn’s wife Karen fought and ultimately lost, is heartbreaking.

Beautiful book. Beautiful writing. Beautiful memories. Captivating recipes. Read this for the personal story. Refer back to it for all the unforgettable dishes the Shinns served over the years!

[ Lincoln Journal Star newspaper article about this book’s release ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

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