Bobby Flay's Grilling For Life: 75 Healthier Ideas for Big Flavor from the Fire

Comment: He starts out by telling you in the introduction its not a diet book. I pat of butter is "heathier" than using two pats of butter. You can eat the steak, but its "healthier" if you only eat half the steak. I think this was a 'healthy' band-wagon book, if you read the recipes, there is nothing healthy about them.

I'm not a Bobby Flay fan. I think he puts too many high end ingredients in one recipe and the only thing they add at the end is an increased cost per serving without adding a difference in taste. Too many expensive ingredients, or ingredients period, in a dish, does not make for a better dish. (And, I am a person willing to spend money on ingredients) Overly-complicated without purpose. That is how I describe his cooking style.

This is a deceptive book and I got rid of it. There is a library of better grilling books. I highly recommend any of the Weber Grilling Cookbooks.

Comment: Having had great success with recipes from Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill Cookbook: Explosive Flavors from the Southwestern Kitchen and also being interested in healthy cooking, this cookbook appealed to me.

Bobby's philosophy in this book, as he explains in his introduction, is about showing people they can make healthy choices when grilling while still maximizing flavor. This book also seems to be a response to the Atkins Diet as several times throughout the book it is called out that Bobby is interested in carbs and wants to show people that good carbs can be healthy and delicious. It is also pointed out that the recipes are low in simple sugars and refined carbs. If this is one of the aims of your diet or lifestyle you will appreciate the focus of the book. It is worth noting though that this is not necessarily a low fat or low calorie cookbook. Many recipes are well above the recommended limit of 20 to 35 percent of calories from fat. However, most recipes are low in saturated fats and high in good fats. Many of the recipes could easily be lowered in fat by reducing the amount of olive oil used.

That said, if you don't mind that many of these recipes are not necessarily low fat you will enjoy a diverse selection of recipes based around fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, and seafood. The recipes are all very unique and pack the strong soutwestern flavors that Bobby has perfected. The recipes are not difficult to prepare and similar to other Bobby Flay cookbooks in the time and skill level required. I'm particularly fond of the Grilled Chicken Tenders with Spicy Chipotle Sauce and Blue Cheese-Yogurt Sauce, Grilled Duck Breast with Black-Pepper Sweet Mustard Sauce, and Grilled Portobello Mushrooms Stacked with Spinach and Manchego Cheese. All are perfect for a delicious weeknight meal.

Thus, this is a great cookbook to turn to if you're looking for healthy (but not necessarily low fat) grilling recipes. It's great for when I want recipes that are healthier than average fare, but am not necessarily seeking low cal/low fat recipes. However, if you are specifically looking for low fat recipes I highly recommend books like Canyon Ranch Cooks: More Than 200 Delicious, Innovative Recipes from America's Leading Health Resort, Conscious Cuisine: A New Style of Cooking from the Kitchens of Chef Cary Neff, or The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life. All three are great examples that low fat cooking can be flavorful and enjoyable.

Comment: I bought this book on a whim for my father for father's day. I couldn't have made a better choice. Every recipe he's tried has been fantastic so far and it's really sparked his passion for cooking.

Flay gives easy step-by-step instructions and great advice on purchasing grill accessories, etc. I cook all the time and was able to glean some interesting information from the text as well.

I couldn't recommend this book enough. It's the best grilling book we've found (and we've tried a bunch).

Comment: The recipes were easy to follow, his descriptions and advice were awesome and the food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommended.

Comment: This is an exceptional grilling book. The information about how to grill is as important as the recipes. Mr. Flay deserves his excellent reputation.