Book Review: Biker Billy Cooks With Fire

The first time I heard of Biker Billy was on a Sunday morning on our local PBS, my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I watched his show. Biker Billy was in a dark basement (I think) and he was cooking. It was so strange, as usually, on cooking shows, you see these culinary experts, dressed in their chef clothes in a well-lit kitchen and cameras everywhere. This was totally the opposite. Biker Billy was wearing his trademark Biker Billy black T-shirt and dark sunglasses. He had on a leather vest and looked like he just rode in with the Hell's Angels!

I was so surprised to find out that Biker Billy actually had a cookbook out. I bought it when I was pregnant with my first child, more as a novelty, but opened it up and saw a very interesting person in Biker Billy.

His cookbook is vegetarian. So, if you are looking for meat, it's not here. Also, which I knew from the TV show, he uses a lot of hot peppers. AND, as his name implies, he loves to ride motorcycles. He has fused all three of his loves into this one book. Shocked? I was! But it is here!

I sampled a few of the recipes and definitely fell in love with this cookbook. My favorites are: "Kiss of the Devil Cocoa" which shows you how an innocent, yehabaneroul habanero can change your ideas on hot chocoGarbanzoot Garbanzo Bean Patties" (AKA Falafel) were evenly textured; they melted in my mouth with the heat of the chiles afterwHummus"Hot Hummus" adds spice to thhummusnary hummus, which seems just that after Biker Billy's entire version, ordinary.

His book also explains about the varieties of Scoville the Scoville Units of each pepper and resources on where to buy them if they are unavailable in your area.

If you keep your eye open, you can even see him. He is on other television shows aSigningss Book Signings and Events across the country. Check out his web site below for where he will be next.

Would I recommend this book? Sure! It's a hot!

"Biker Billy Cooks With Fire"
by Bill Hufnagle
Hearst Books; (August 1995)

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