'Outlaw Cook' was a revelation. Folks like Jeff Smith and Marcella Hazan got me interested in cooking, but John Thorne pushed me into the path that I follow to this day. This is the only cookbook I've ever read that understands how men really eat: over the sink, in the dark, greasy to the elbows.
Alton BrownGood service can save a bad meal, but there is no level of food that can save bad service.
Alton BrownAll that [replacing of fat] does is lead to dissatisfaction and I think that dissatisfaction results in overeating.
Alton BrownButter typically melts around, you know, 90 Fahrenheit, as opposed to about 20 degrees higher for lard. So what that means is that when you're working with it, the lard is going to stay more solid, which is great for flakiness.
Alton Brown