OP: Manifold Destiny

Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, New York, 2008. Paperback. Fine. Revised and updated edition.

All great ideas begin with a small, cockamamie one, like keeping a pound of brisket warm on the engine of an ‘84 VW Rabbit until a nice roadside picnic spot reveals itself. “If it worked for the teamsters, why not us?” ask the authors of the amusingly quirky book, Manifold Destiny (1989). After that first brisket success, artist Chris Maynard and journalist Bill Scheller decided to see what other culinary delights they could pull off under the hood of their car. It turns out there are quite a lot!

The recipes are organized by American regional cuisines (with a few international options, as well), and cooking times are given by mileage. A northeastern Hyundai halibut with fennel, for example, is a light, herbaceous, and sophisticated reward for a 55–85 mile drive. The candy-apple-red chicken recipe, good for an 85–110 mile trip, begins, “Why would anyone combine sugar with canned tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce? Don’t ask. A good midwestern guest eats what’s put on his plate.” And the safe-at-any-speed stuffed eggplant works well for a longer trip, requiring 165–220 miles worth of cooking time. 

The humorous introduction to this 2008 revised and expanded edition has enough cultural references to feel like a time capsule for the 30 years since the original publication and touts the virtues of car engine cooking, particularly its economical and environmental benefits: “What better way to get every penny of value out of the pump than to make gasoline do two things at once? And think how much less guilty you’ll feel about your automotive contributions to global warming if…you’re planting two feet at once in the same carbon footprint.”

As unlikely as it may be for one to cook these dishes as intended, they are practical enough to at least stir some curiosity.  We’re pleased to offer a Fine paperback copy for the inquisitive and adventurous cook.