Julian Barnes's musings on cookery form the perfect bite-size anthology for literary/foodie folk... with an introduction from <i>The Independent's </i>Mark Hix, <i>The Pedant in the Kitchen </i>is as crisp and tart (yes, yes, puns intended) a piece of writing about food as one will find anywhere... it makes for compelling reading... Did I mention that it's funny? Barnes hams up his own cack-handedness in the kitchen delightfully... a sequel would be most delicious.
- Lisa Markwell, Independent on Sunday
All those preoccupations of the keen cook are examined with a wry and truthful eye. His assessments of such writers as Richard Olney and Elizabeth David are spot on...
Spectator
Barnes identifies in scintillating style the true gulf that exists between food writers and their audience. Anyone who has eaten cooked food should read <i>The Pedant in the Kitchen</i>. When you have picked yourself, helpless with laughter, off the lino, it will save you a fortune in cookery books and kitchen gadgets.
Daily Express