Reviews
Praise for Cook & Celebrate
“I read Cook & Celebrate in bed, like a letter from a dear cousin - one who holds food and family in equal esteem, with what I can only describe as true Southern elan. Every recipe has its story (as it should) and every story is illuminated with a richness that simply warms the heart. The combination makes for a cookbook that is a treasure trove of exquisite food, from homemade pimento cheese to expert pointers on the craft of cooking wild game. Johnathon Barrett's delightful voice is that of a favorite country cousin who you adored as a child, who grew up and moved to the city and lived large, but never forgot their country roots. They are that cousin who not only returns for the family funerals, but brings the best cakes and hugs you for two solid minutes, and offers to pay for the casket flowers. He's a reminder of all that is worth celebrating in our beloved home.”
Janis Owens
Award-winning author of ‘The Cracker Kitchen,” “American Ghost,” and
“My Brother Michael”
“Beloved author, chef, and consummate host Johnathon Scott Barrett brings his love of Southern cooking and gift for creating unforgettable celebrations to your kitchen and your table. Within these story-and-recipe filled pages, you'll learn Johnathon's secrets for entertaining with Southern style and joy, from New Year's Day through the Twelve Days of Christmas. I can't wait to season my holiday gatherings with this book in hand!”
Nancie McDermott
Award-winning author of “Southern Cakes: Sweet and Irresistible Recipes for Everyday Celebrations"
“From the minute you open this book, you will step into Johnathan’s world of wonderful dinners, family gatherings, and elegant parties - and you will become fast friends. Johnathan, the consummate host, will guide you through every aspect of any occasion, from the invitations to the menu to the libations! He’ll make you want to start writing out your guest list (or multiple lists for multiple occasions) and planning your next soiree. This book is a must for every host and hostess!
Mary Martha Greene
Author of "The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All"
Rise & Shine at the Book Lady Bookstore (L), JSB at the Southern Festival of Books (C), Cook & Tell at the Atlanta History Center (R)
Praise for Rise and Shine!
“Johnathon Scott Barrett has mastered the Southern food memoir – it is both a delightful read and a scrumptious cookbook.”
-Natalie Dupree, James Beard-winning cookbook author and television host
“The fragrances of Georgia come to life in these pages – the recipes will bind you, stitch you into Barrett’s world with the effectiveness of the best cookbooks.”
-Matt & Ted Lee, Authors of The Lee Brothers Charleston Kitchen
“If you have this book in your hand, you are in for a rare treat!”
-Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of‘ Beach Town, Summer Rental, and Hissy Fit
“I love that Barrett’s work is as if he’s telling us a story on the porch on the farm – having to turn the page, more so, than await the next vocalized word. I hope y’all enjoy Rise and Shine! in the same manner I did – and it leaves you hungry for home!”
-James T. Farmer, Editor-at-large, Southern Living, and author of A Time to Cook and Dinner on the Grounds
“Johnathon Scott Barrett is the very model of that rare breed, the true Southern Gentleman – charming, thoughtful, kind, and generous – yet always ready and willing to laugh at himself. Rise and Shine! is a charming love song to all the best things about growing up, not to mention eating, in the South.
-Damon Lee Fowler, Author of Essentials of Southern Cooking and Beans, Greens, & Sweet Georgia Peaches
Praise for Cook and Tell
“A certified Southern gentleman and engaging storyteller, Johnathon has woven together a wonderful collection of not only recipes, but the stories behind them. Cook & Tell is more than a cookbook: it is a collection of heartwarming and funny essays. Just like the delicious food featured in this anthology, the stories are to be savored from one chapter to the next.”
-Michael Morris, Award-winning author of Slow Way Home, Man in the Blue Moon, and Wiregrass
“Cook & Tell is utterly delicious. The family stories and recipes shared are spiced with humor and sweetened by memories. Reading it, I felt like I was sitting on his front porch.”
-Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times best-selling author of Beach House and Low Country Wedding
“Johnathon Scott Barrett captures the subtle essence of outstanding cultural cooking. Readers will enjoy these recipes along with his sensitive narrative on life in the South. He is a charming storyteller who combines the distinctive Southern cadence of memories and stories of home and loved ones swapped across the dinner table with delicious Southern recipes.”
-Pat Branning, Author of the Shrimp, Collards, & Grits books series
“Chef, raconteur, and old-school bon vivant Johnathon Barrett celebrates the most glorious aspects of Southern life in Cook & Tell.”
-Janis Owens, Author of American Ghost and The Cracker Kitchen
“What’s the higher compliment – being called a great Southern writer or a great Southern cook?” Johnathon Scott Barrett is both, which I upsetting to those of us who are only one of those things. Cook & Tell is a high-calorie romp through the kitchen of memory. I ate it up. You will, too.
-Harrison Scott Key, Author of The World’s Largest Man and recipient of the 2016 Thurber Prize for American Humor