Mennonite Man, Willard Roth, reared on Iowa farmland, has a long career as
Journalist
Author
Church leader
World traveler
. . . and always a Cook and Entertainer
Mennonite Men Can Cook Too (2015) is a compilation of recipes from eight men, including Roth, and three nephews. Unlike many traditional Mennonite cookbooks, several of his recipes feature an alcohol ingredient as in a PBS broadcast where hard cider is the beverage of choice. Roth notes that his menus are “simple but elegant,” part of his Mennonite value system, he says. The author interlaces memoir with recipes and appetizing photos, a satisfying concoction. It’s a “travel through time looking at the stages of Roth’s life through food.”
Book Blurb
Willard Roth is a topnotch cook who grew up in a sprawling Iowa farm family. He has always loved food—growing it, preparing it, eating it. As a Mennonite church leader and journalist, he is as well-known for the dinners he prepares as he is for his sermons or editorials. The man has traveled North America and much of the world, always making notes about the great meals he’s eaten. Then he’s routinely gone home and fiddled around in the kitchen until he can make the dishes he’s loved eating.
In this book are recipes inspired by the food made by his Mennonite mother and grandmothers. Other recipes are inspired from the monasteries he’s visited in Ireland and England. There are recipes of the food he’s eaten in Ghana, Jamaica, Cyprus, the Netherlands, India, and Nepal.
Willard Roth, now retired, breathes hospitality and gives us the tools to practice it ourselves, along with unforgettable, easy-to-prepare recipes.
Willard cooks with host Gail Martin on Dinner & a Book. Click to see Willard with host Gail in the kitchen: PBS special
Book Blurb, continued
Roth mixes his keen food memories with his years of experience in the kitchen to create recipes that work for the home cook. Among his Soup recipes are Thai Coconut Shrimp, Chilled Melon Mint, and Hawkeye Corn and Chilies Chowder. His Small Plates recipes include Cheese Grits with Chunky Tomato Sauce, and Corn Leek Bake. Among his Mains are Lemon Turkey Stir-Fry with Pasta, Monastery Cornbread Casserole, Hearty Polenta Florentine, and Pecan Crunch Salmon Bake. Plus Beer-Braised Short Ribs and Balsamic Honey-Glazed Lamb Chops.
Cooks will also find Chutneys, Cordials, Rum Sauces, and Relishes. And lots of Vegetables and Salads. You’ll love the tons of Cakes, Candies and Cookies, Pies and Puddings, and Fruit and Frozen Desserts.
Mennonite Man Crafts a Valentine Menu
Note that his Valentine menu includes fresh fish cakes, roasted red potatoes, wilted baby spinach, and boozy Black Forest cake.
* * *
Alert! You many remember my 2015 blog post, Mennonite Girls Can Cook, which probably inspired Willard Roth’s book title. 😉
Have you heard of author Willard Roth?
Do you have a favorite cookbook? Or recipe?
Many famous chefs are men, like Jacques Pepin and Wolfgang Puck. Do you admire any famous women chefs, besides Julia Child or perhaps Ina Garten?
Author Roth features fish cakes for his Valentine. What would you choose as the main menu item for Valentine’s Day?.
Good morning, Marian! We’re having cheese fondue for Valentine’s, and something chocolate for dessert. 😀
Maybe an aphrodisiac folded into those menu items?
Thanks, Merri! 😀
Always the unexpected, Marian. 😏
Willard Roth is a true renaissance man and amazing in so many ways (and I know other Mennos who will also claim him). I first learned to know him just out of high school when I was entering the Mennonite Voluntary Service program and he was working or Mennonite Board of Missions. I admired his work in journalism etc. So I was also a colleague with his wife Alice after I joined the staff.
I’m so glad you’ve brought attention to this cool book, and I might have to do a review as well at some point. At one point he consulted with me about this idea for a book, and the title take off on Mennonite Girls (this was actually at my mom’s 90th birthday party where he apologized for crashing without an invitation) when he saw me in the dining hall enjoying festivities. So…. thanks for resurrecting these memories and inspiring something for me … at some point!! Nice post here!
You are one of the few here who can answer “Yes” to the first question, and you actually know Willard and his wife as well.
I’m glad this post resurrected a blog post idea for you. As always, thanks for your thoughts here, Melodie!
Yum!!! What a great post, Marian! What a great set of skills Willard has. God has blessed him.
My favorite recipe is coq au vin. I don’t make it often, because it requires so many ingredients. But it is tasty! 😊
The only ingredient I can detect from your recipe is that it contains wine, which reminds me of the unused cooking wine bottle in my pantry. Thanks, Linda Marie and happy Valentine’s Day to you! <3
Good morning Marian, ahh food my favorite subject. I love cooking and admire all who share my passion. Pablo and I are eating no carb meals. Wow my creative juice have soared to a level I never expected.
My favorite female chef is Giada, Italian. Rick Bayless is a favorite of mine also. Watched him for years cooking all over Mexico. I didn’t know he had a restaurant here in Illinois saw him on the news of reopening. I looked up his restaurant made reservations for this Saturday Nikko and his girlfriend Jasmine will come with us. I’m so excited. Can’t wait and praying it won’t be a let down. That’s what’s bad about being a cook even if I don’t want to I critique all food. Can’t wait to get this cook book Mennonite men cook, you know I love Mennonite food. Have a nice day.
I hope Rick Bayless’ restaurant lives up to your expectations this weekend. I found another Mexican chef that I think you’d like: Patti at Patti’s Mexican Table. I see her on PBS Saturdays and along with recipes she often adds family stories: https://patijinich.com/ I believe you’d like her website; I notice her recipes are printed in both English and Spanish.
Bon appetit, Gloria!
Thanks I’m going to look her up. Let you know if Rick bayless lives up to my hope. I’m going to make the coq au vin. I’ve already looked up the recipe.
🙂
I just last night made meatloaf from a recipe in an old Mennonite cookbook that my mother had. How timely is this post? I’m going to make noises directed toward my husband so that he can decide to buy me/us this cookbook for VD. I’m sure by the time it arrives here he’ll think it was his idea to get me this present. 😜
Thanks for the chuckle here, Ally! If Chef Roth reads this post, he’ll be thrilled that his cookbook may be a Valentine’s Day present.
Looks like another great cookbook. I´ve had to stop buying them as I have so many but those I have, I treasure. One Valentine’s Day I made hubby an Australian Chocolate Apple Cake in a heart shaped tin. He loved it! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Well, Darlene, I’ve made an apple cake, but never one with chocolate, and not based on Australian cuisine either.
I believe you had an anniversary recently. I wonder what was on the menu. Hmmm!
Hi Marian, I’m not familiar with Roth Willard. He looks like a lovely man. We have favourites here in SA. I believe that cookbooks are the highest selling genre of books. I remember I gave many away years ago. I’ve been the recipient of meals prepared by eg my sister who follows instructions to the t, and they are masterpieces. Occasionally I’ll catch a master chef Australia on the box which I always enjoy. I love ANYthng to do with food, glorious food.
Susan, you snuck in here when I wasn’t looking – ha! I did not know that cookbooks are the highest selling genre. I wonder if that’s true worldwide or just in South Africa.
Unlike your sister, I never follow instructions to a “T” either. This morning I made a new recipe for fish with soy sauce, sesame oil, and honey. Because of the honey ingredient, it carmelized on too high a heat, which probably wouldn’t have happened if I had followed the instructions to grill instead of pan fry.
I’m glad you have an Australian chef you enjoy. Saturday afternoons I usually watch an Italian and a Greek cook on our PBS Food Network. Here’s to delicious food – bon appeptit!
Len always makes my favorite dessert for Valentine’s Day — Creme Brulee!
Lucky you, Laurie. I wonder if the use of FIRE is one appeal of Len’s offering you Creme Brulee – ha!
Marian — Count on it! He has one of those little “flame thrower” things that he LOVES to use!
Excellent, as always. Thanks, Marian!
You’re welcome, Jack. I remember some time ago you contributed some soup recipes for my blog: https://marianbeaman.com/2020/01/15/a-souper-day/
So thanks to you as well!
I love your sharing this cookbook discovery. I spent time with the show, and it was balm for the soul in one way and repulsive, dare I say it, in another way.
The balm: watching Willard’s hands prepare the bread, egg and cheese mixture that would be baked and his memory of his father’s hands husking corn. And, sensing more tenderness towards man/men/my father.
The horror: the show was almost totally disconnected from labor and where each item came from and then actually eating and enjoying the food. Who chopped the onions and prepared the greens? Did anyone eat the food? All this and then making the show happen fast seemed so against Mennonite values.
Anyways, I appreciated the chance to watch. Thank you. And, Happy Valentines Day.
You are welcome, and thank you for speaking your mind here, Dolores.
I’m guessing the show had a limited time frame and overlooked (maybe even edited out) important parts like the provenance of the food, with which you and I are very familiar. His cookbook includes what you found missing in his reference to his roots on an Iowa farm. Also, in the cookbook, he mentions Willard Swartley, one of the cookbook’s contributors, and his memory of fruit from the mulberry tree and cherries from the sour cherry tree as good ingredients for a pie his wife Mary made.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you too! 🙂
I am always interested in cookery books, Marian. This one sound lovely.
Robbie, I am sure your expertise goes well beyond the fondant we see on your Sir Chocolate series. Probably, like quite a few authors, you find comfort and creativity in cooking, one activity fueling the other, perhaps.
I have always loved cooking. When I took a home economics course in high school I would bring home recipes and several of them became favourites.
As a new Canadian and eager to adapt and learn, my mom was happy to add them to the family menu, especially if I was willing to prepare them. Later in life I had lots of opportunity to practise hospitality and kept menu books of what I had served and to whom. Willard’s book sounds fascinating!
Reading this I can picture you in your kitchen, perhaps from a photo I’ve seen on Facebook or on your blog. You are just beaming! I’m impressed with this remark here: “I kept menu books of what I had served and to whom.” I keep the odd note of what I have served for Thanksgiving dinners in the past and Christmas brunches, perhaps so I choose something different the next time.
These days, no menus for guests. When we start up with sharing food again, it will probably be at our children’s homes. Hospitality has shifted to the younger generation, fine by me!
Thanks, Elfrieda!
Good for them! Have a lovely Valentine’s day. ❤
Thanks, Fatima, and the same to you and Peter!
Marian, I have to add something. I just watched the link with Willard on the cooking show. Delightful! Now I want the book for sure!
Happy to hear this, Elfreida! And if Willard gets to read these comments, he’ll be doubly happy. I’m always glad to make connections between writers and readers here. 🙂
Love it and sharing… 💞
You are so kind! Thank you, Bette. 😀
That was fun and interesting to learn about the Menonite Men cooking. We used to go out for Valentine’s Day dinner, and after a few years we both admitted the food in our favorite restaurants didn’t taste the same, the menus were changed with less choices and the time allotments for various seating. I began making just as nice dinners at home, and maybe a few dinner parties. The good old days. <3
I wonder about the size of Willard’s portions – ha! I notice his dishes, except for the entre, don’t take long to fix, especially the wilted spinach prepared with olive oil. Mennonites in our PA community usually added vinegar to greens for a little extra punch, at least Grandma L. did.
May you have a pleasant Valentine’s Day. You know I’m keeping you both in my heart, mind and prayers these days! 🙂
Aw, thanks so much Marian. I appreciate you <3 And for the record, I much prefer Willard's version with olive oil 🙂 x
What an interesting story, Marian! Roth has a captive audience —who doesn’t love food? I enjoyed the video , too. It reminds me of the photo album with attached stories of special family and friend memories that I have Leigh Ann fir her bridal shower.mixing recipes with memoir makes his book even more enticing. Thank you for introducing us to Roth and his recipe memoir.
You’re welcome, Kathy. You have always had an eye (and heart) for preserving heritage and passing on a legacy. I’m glad this post reminded you of that gift. Thank you!
I don’t know the gentleman and his cookbook but it sounds like he has some great recipes..Typos often make me smile and your one did just that… I know you don’t really store your ccoking wine there…One of my favourite chefs is Nigella Lawson…Our Valentines meal will be salmon and something chocolate not sure what yet …I best get a wigggle on…Have an enjoyable week, Marian 🙂 x
The added “r” makes all the difference. Thanks for the tip to go back and fix it – ha! It shows you read the comments!
You have a great Valentine’s menu: healthy with a bit of sweet. I like your expression “best get a wiggle on.” I know what it means, but it’s not an expression we use in the States. Thanks for all this, Carol! 😀
Yes I read all the comments, Marian…No its a Britsh comment we all have our own don’t we ? Until next time have a great week and stay well and safe 🙂 x
I had to go back and look for Marian’s typo (in a comment). A great laugh here too. We know Marian is a very careful writer. I’m still chuckling.
May all the mistakes I make cause a chuckle! 😀
I like that readers catch errors, which means that they read comments, making this a real conversation. On almost every post I find comments (not yours) with technical errors, which I can fix in “edit” mode. I wish they’d do the same for me; maybe they don’t notice.
Thanks again for your efforts to track down Willard, so appreciated.
I like the idea of Black Forest Cake for Valentine’s Day. Now that the thought is in my head, I think I’ll have to make it happen!
Black Forest Cake tastes yummy and RICH. If ever there was a day to splurge on dessert, it’s Valentine’s Day. Good luck with the baking. Let us know how it turns out, Arlene! (Maybe even a blog post – ha!)
I love this! I’ve always liked to bake since my mom used to give me lessons when I was a kid. One of the new traditions my wife (head cook) and I (sous chef) have started during the pandemic is we’ve begun cooking together after 34 years of marriage. Got to be creative during a pandemic.🤣 I’ll bet Willard gets this a lot, but in that photo he looks like the actor, Alan Alda.
My daughter-in-law insists both of her sons will learn to cook. “It’s a manly thing to do,” she says, and I agree!
My husband has spent more time in the kitchen than usual during this past year. Makes sense: If we couldn’t go out, why not cook IN. (We are not the Door Dash types.)
About his resemblance to Alan Alda. They have a similar smile and I believe they are about the same age.
Thanks for your enthusiastic response here, Pete!
I can claim the singular pleasure of having been invited to Willard and Alice Roth’s home years ago. Willard already was an excellent cook and the meal was wonderful. I think he made the Caesar salad with dressing made at the table. Yum!
I haven’t purchased this book, but my son might need to have it. Luckily, Stuart enjoys being in the kitchen too. His specialty these days is soup.
When I saw Willard was from the Elkhart area, I thought you may have known him from your years at Goshen. And so you did. And enjoyed a meal in his home. What a treat!
I didn’t know about him or his book until I found it in a store right before getting our first dose of the vaccine, so I’ll always remember two good things happening that day.
Thanks for offering your unique memory here, Shirley.
So here’s my question. Is your man going to use this cookbook to cook a Valentine’s Dinner for you? 🙂
Looks like a lovely book. I’d buy it for my guy, but he turns a paler shade of white if I suggest he turn on the burner to get the rice started (which he’s supposed to do tonight!) 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your man. xo
You’ve seen Cliff in the kitchen a few times, probably on Facebook, or on my blog. He’s not averse to cooking, but we are venturing out this year. (We’ll be masked going in and social distancing but with a little less trepidation since we’ve both gotten the vaccine.)
How I love your description: “. . . he turns a paler shade of white . . . ,” so descriptive, so Pam like. Thank you and Happy Valentine’s Day to YOU too!
Lovely! My husband does the cooking in our family. He doesn’t follow recipes, though, he makes up his own as he goes along. I microwave occasionally. It works for us!
What a lucky duck you are, Linda Lee! Though I usually like meal-making, sometimes I say to Cliff, “It’s your turn now!: Then he usually comes up with grilled cheese, hot dogs, or hamburgers. I guess I’d say the same, “It works for us!”
Thanks for swinging by today! 🙂
When my husband asked me to marry him 18 years ago, he said “I’ll do all the cooking and the laundry!” How could I say no, with an incentive like that?
He was fibbing about the laundry, though. 😉
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read “LAUNDRY” too. Quick as a blink though, he said he was fibbing. Still, I have a feeling he is of the helpful sort. Thanks for the followup here and Happy Valentine’s Day to you both! 🙂
My son who lives a few miles away has a Valentine’s birthday. I’ll keep it simple and he’ll buy a cake in town if he wants one. He’s not much for sweets. I’ll make more than my usual soup, so pasta with Marinara sauce frozen from the summer garden and a creative salad with a few varieties of fermented vegetables (both my sons ferment vegetables) and some kind of fish. My sons are excellent cooks and more creative and inventive than their mom. Vic was not a good cook, but he was great at cleaning up the kitchen, prepping vegetables, and sweeping floors.
“Garden of earthly delights” seems to describe the Valentine & birthday exchange here. How fortunate you are to have a son near and one far who love their mother.
Every kitchen needs a good sous chef, and it sounds like Vic was that and more. And what price can you put on cleaning up after meals. Enjoy your weekend Elaine. May it be memorable! 🙂
Now you are talking my language Marian …Food ! I love cookery books , cookery programs anything food related . I have to be honest I haven’t heard of Willard Roth but I do watch Ina Garten and I have heard of Julia Childs through the brilliant film Julia Julia . I have recently started to watch The Pioneer Woman….really good.
I Love Nigel Slater , not just for his recipes but for his beautiful play on words . The Christmas Chronicles is a must . I like Nigella Lawson , again , for her play on words and the way she presents herself on telly . As for cookery geniuses , that recipe books always work . Delia Smith and Rachel Allen . Fabulous Darling !
Sorry I could go on but I’ll run out of paper 😃
As for our valentine menue Colin always cooks a roast on Sundays it’s tradition in our house . So it’s Roast pork , roast potatoes, sage and onion stuffing apple sauce and a selection of seasonal veggies …delicious!!
Cherryx
Now you are talking my language Marian . I have to be honest I haven’t heard of Willard Roth but I do watch Ina Garten and have heard of Julia Childs from the brilliant film Julia Julia . I have recently got into The Pioneer Woman …really good .
I really like Nigel Slater , not just for his recipes but his way with words . The Christmas Chronicles are a must . I also like Nigella Lawson equally for her way with words and the way she presents herself on T.V. Food writers that recipes actually work , have to be Delia Smith and Rachel Allen …brill !
Colin always cooks a roast on Sunday , which is tradition in our house , and it just happens to be Valentine’s Day . This week it’s roast pork , roast potatoes , sage and onion stuffing , cauliflower cheese and seasonal veggies. Yum!
Cherryx
Good afternoon, Cherry! I haven’t heard of Nigella Lawson, Delia Smith or Rachel Allen. They must be brilliant if you say so. I do like Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, who smiles all through her cooking and often involves her kids, which is nice. I’ll bet her rancher husband doesn’t mind her being handy in the kitchen at all.
I am impressed with the menu your Colin has planned. It all sounds yummy AND healthy. Cliff tells me his dad often made a roast beef on Sunday, flavored with cloves of garlic stuck in the flesh. My dad didn’t cook, but he did help with the dishes on Sunday.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Colin! <3
Happy valentine back to you and Cliff ❤️ Sorry about the two different versions of the same message , I lost the first one in cyberspace.
Cherryx
Cherry, this is what happened: Somehow WordPress didn’t recognize you automatically even though you comment here frequently, which is strange. In other words, I had to “approve” it before it became visible, which seems odd. TIme passed before I logged into WP, so it looked like I didn’t acknowledge you. So, sorry!
However, here you are . . . all’s right with the world! oxo
Not your fault at all! WordPress should have recognized you here because you comment often here on my blog. ‘Tis a mystery . . .
No worries, Cherry!
Always in the mood for a new recipe – thanks for sharing this, Marian!
You’re welcome, Barbara – thanks for visiting!
Looks like a terrific cookbook and would make a fantastic gift for the men in our lives… thanks for the review.
You’re welcome, Sally. This cookbook is just down “your alley.” I believe. Unless they are high-profile chefs, men don’t usually publish cookbooks. I appreciate your stopping by!