300 Sandwiches

April 20, 2015
Smith, a senior reporter for the New York Post, had her 15 minutes of fame in September, 2013, when the Post ran an article on her attempt to woo her boyfriend into marriage via his stomach. "Honey, you are 300 sandwiches away from an engagement ring," he told her. Thus began a marathon of meats and cheeses, which led to a blog (300sandwiches.com), which in turn led to feminist and anti-feminist responses, an appearance on the Today Show, and now to this memoir-cookbook hybrid with a release date conveniently set two and a half weeks before Smith's wedding. As memoirs go, this one is easily digestible in one or two sittings, and involves a lot ofânot surprisinglyâsandwich making, along with healthy doses of engagement anxiety and envy-inducing vacationing. The froth is counterbalanced by the poignant tale of Smith's relationship with her dying father, which effectively hijacks the narrative for the better. The recipes, a handful of each at the end of every chapter, include pheasant sliders, gingerbread cookie sandwiches, sweet and sour Sloppy Joes, and a chicken and waffle BLT. There is also a collection of "Forbidden Sandwiches," made with ingredients her fiancé despises. These, of course, prove irresistible to Smith when she gets to make them for herself.

May 1, 2015

When New York Post writer Smith went public with an arrangement she had with her boyfriend--he'd propose once she made him 300 sandwiches--the Internet response was swift, snarky at best, and vituperative at worst. Here she chronicles the courtship saga; her parents' struggle with her father's cancer; her relationship with boyfriend (now fiance), "E"; and observations on the heated reactions to her blog. Sandwich recipes appear at the end of each chapter; some traditional and others a culinary stretch, such as the beet pesto/roasted artichoke grilled cheese. Since it lacks the sandwich photos that were a key part of her blog, the book will be of most interest to readers who want to know more about Smith, E, and their seemingly anachronistic relationship roles. Readers may be surprised to read that E does most of the cooking (just not sandwiches!) and that the couple isn't as stereotypical as they might seem. While some readers will roll their eyes, an equally justified reaction is that these two seem made for each other, and isn't it nice they ended up together? VERDICT Suggest this honest and readable book to those looking for a memoir more than a cookbook, and those who want a book that will spark lively debate.--Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX

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