The Nightmare Before Dinner

The cookbook you never knew you needed.
Our family is kind of obsessed with Tim Burton movies. To the degree that one of my daughters had a Nightmare Before Christmas Birthday party when she turned 5.
I can't wait to surprise my kids with themed meals and movie nights.

Even if themed food isn't your thing these recipes sounds delicious! The "graveyard noodles" are first up on my list to make. A delicious sounding "zoodle" dish. Second up in my plans will be the "Love It Pot Pie". My younger kiddos aren't ready to see Sweeny Todd yet. They will devour a new take on a chicken pot pie though. Anything that involves chicken, creamy sauce and "Halloepeno Honey Cheddar Cornbread" will surely be a hit around here.

Delicious looking photos. Easy to read recipes.. A wide array of recipes from sauces, apps, meals, desert and even cocktails. The bonus is suggested menus for parties and other tips. Such a fun book to flip through and will be even more fun to actually cook from.

If you're a BEETLEJUICE/Halloween fan, you may have heard of Beetle House (located in both NYC and LA). Zach Neil explains why he created the restaurant/bar: "THE IDEA WAS SIMPLE. CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO LOVE HALLOWEEN, HORROR FILMS, AND GOTHIC DARK MUSIC CAN GATHER FOR A MEAL AND DRINKS. A SAFE SPACE WHERE IT REALLY FEELS LIKE HALLOWEEN ALL YEAR ROUND AND PEOPLE CAN COME AND ENJOY GOOD FOOD, GOOD DRINKS, LISTEN TO GOOD MUSIC, AND FEEL COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE TO BE AS FREAKY AS THEY WANT TO BE. THIS WOULD BE MY HOME FOR THE FREAKS, WEIRDOS, AND GROWN UP GOTH KIDS OF THE CITY."

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE DINNER is a collection of recipes from the menu, and would make a great present for every friend you have that's addicted to Halloween (in my life, there are many of us who celebrate year round).

This is a must have cook book for any fan of Tim Burton’s beautifully weird and wonderful world.
Using puns a plenty, the book whips up everything from sauces to all courses. It’s easy to follow and has some switch tips to help included those who are vegan.

Zach Neil has provided the unique recipes from Beetle House Restaurants. I like the ability to convert the recipes into vegan as well. Many original recipes with a Halloween theme!

Review to be posted tomorrow on all sources mentioned in my profile.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Eeeeeeeeeeeep! That is my reaction when I spotted this book on Netgalley. I am an absolutely fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and I just love Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, and also some other Tim Burton movies. I just had to have this one and read it. See what kind of recipes there would be!

I didn't even know there was a Tim Burton/Salvador Dali-inspired restaurant. Too bad I am not in the US, or I would have gone and visit, all these foods do sound delicious! And yes, I could make them myself, now at least, but I would also like to taste how a real chef makes these.

We start off with sauces (as expected, that is the one thing most cookbooks start with), and then slowly build up to the main course. If I wasn't hungry already, well, those main courses would have made me hungry. Dang, they all sound so delightfully delicious.

I loved the introductions to each recipe, especially those with references to movies or horror stuff.

Nice that they added a Go Vegan! option. I am not vegan myself, but I still love it when cooking books go the extra mile to add something like this.

I am delighted that most of the recipes don't use nuts. I have read many cookbooks and so many have nuts in them, this one just has a couple of them, and mostly it means almond milk, which I will be replacing with normal milk.

The recipes are all clear and easy to follow. Sometimes even with tips to make things easier or to change certain ingredients.

I was already wondering what the last chapter would be about, and but it is all about themed parties! With what recipes go well with the party, what kind of items would be best to decorate everything with. I loved it!

All in all, this was a delight! I am quite hungry now. :P I would definitely recommend this one to all the fans of the restaurant or, if you are like me, fans of Tim Burton!

Not going to lie, as a fan of the classic Tim Burton films, I had an eye on this book and wasn’t disappointed at all.

The layout is gorgeous, and the recipes seem straight forward even for a beginner. I liked the humour running throughout as it gave the book a very fun feel. The food photography is also stunning, helpfully attached to the slighter tricky dishes and drinks, to give any inspiring cook an idea of what they should be working towards.

Perhaps my favourite part of the book is the list of suggested ingredient substitutes for vegans, which a lot of cookbooks don’t bother to include, making life a bit more difficult if you’re preparing a meal for a vegan or vegetarian. Bit of a life saver to be frank.

Highly recommended.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review, with thanks to Netgalley and Race Point Publishing.

Any major fan of Tim Burton might be familiar with Beetle House, a restaurant where it’s always Halloween. While taking inspiration from Burton’s work, proprietor Zach Neil has crafted a menu that always hints at the fall season, with fresh and generous ingredients. Here, these recipes are collected in a sleek tome with a beautiful layout any Burton fan will love.

Any good cookbook needs perfect recipes and a great hook. Fortunately, The Nightmare Before Dinner delivers on both. It is light on recipes, with approximately 60, but it’s the perfect amount before the Tim Burton theme gets spread thin. Edward Burger Hands. Wonka Wings. Big Fish. It’s all here, and it never feels like the theme is shoehorned in. These are delicious sounding, often autumnally hearty, recipes with a fun twist.

The photographs are gorgeous and include lots of visual references to the Tim Burton aesthetic. The book is light on photographs, though, with only around half the recipes represented. As well, the portion on party planning is a little thin. The few parties mentioned include a menu and recommended decorations, but they are light on information. However, the recipes are solid, and many include vegan substitutes for animal-derived ingredients, which is a nice addition.

Perfect for Halloween! The recipes are inspired by a Tim Burton and horror themed restaurant. The recipes all have cute names, such as Sweeney Sauce, Evil Dead Shrimp, and Silence of the Lamb Chops. The page borders are lovely, spooky, and make for an aesthetically pleasing design.

There were color photos of about every other recipe. I would have given this cookbook 5 stars had there been a good photo for every recipe. I mostly read cookbooks for the food porn, and google recipes when I’m actually cooking, and this one really is lovely to browse.

If you’re looking for something to inspire your next Halloween party, this is a fun place to get ideas.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.

I’m a Tim Burton freak, so I’m very glad to have received a review copy. The recipes within are all allusions to Burton’s movies, so it was mindblowingly awesome to see each one and reminisce. I especially love the Beetlejuice ones. Looking forward to making many of these! I would highly highly recommend to fans of Burton’s movies.

I only had to see the title of this book to know that I wanted to read it! When I saw it was by The Beetle House I was even more excited! I have always wanted to visit one o locations. Until I can do that, this cookbook will tide me over.

I enjoyed the spin the chefs and mixologists did on particular dishes. Creepy up your hamburger or add a little zest to your macaroni and cheese with these recipes. The directions were easy to follow and most everything seemed like something I could cook. I also really liked that party themes were added. That was a great touch. I also loved the artwork through the book.

The only thing I didn't like was there wasn't a picture of each dish. I am very visual so it helps me to see the dish and how it is presented. I was annoyed that in the theme section they just repeated photos from earlier in the book. I would have rather had photos from the other dishes!

As a fan of Tim Burton and anything spooky I just had to try out this book and it really does not disappoint!

I'm really excited to try out the brain and chips with my son, I can't wait to see his reaction!

Other recipes that really stand out to me are Edward Burger Hands and Beetle pie!

The section on cocktails is very good as well and I have chosen a few drinks from there to make on Halloween. Big fish bowl looks really cool!

Not only has the book got all these fab recipes but there is a section on throwing themed parties with decor and menu ideas which is what gives the book that little something extra.

This cookbook is amazing! As a huge Tim Burton fan, this book was right up my alley. Not only is it full of amazing recipes, there is a section for themed parties, which is an awesome touch! And the pages were fantastically decorated, with cobweb headers, pumpkin borders, and other fun spooky details. It's the little details that really help bring everything together.

The Nightmare Before Dinner by Zach Neil
Recipes to Die For: The Official Beetle House Cookbook

Fun, quirky and intriguing sounding recipes with the emphasis on movies that have weird and perhaps death related topics this cookbook provides some insight into the restaurants in New York and Los Angeles that are named after the movie Beetle Juice. Having seen the movie long ago I thought, “Why not see what is inside this book?” and thus this review.

With options for meat eaters and vegans the recipes are versatile and different. Some are spicy and others perhaps less so. I can see these dishes being served in the restaurant or for a party but did not see many if any I would try at home on an average day. The index includes headings for salads, burgers and some ingredients so it is easier to look for ideas and recipes should one wish to use what is at hand.

Which recipes might I try??
* some of the dips and sauces
* cheesy recipes
* burgers
* breads
* vegetable based dishes
*desserts – they looked divine!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Race Point Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

Inspired by Tim Burton's stories and the Beetle House restaurant, this book is perfect for the Halloween season.

The recipes have fun names, there are very interesting ingredients in the mix and there are a lot of substitute foods offered to make the recipes vegan if needed.

For the classy Halloween enthusiast, this cookbook boasts high end, beautiful dishes (with vegan alternatives for those interested) with adorably themed names. Going into the book, I was expecting recipes that would appear Halloween-like... bloody fingers (mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce), eyeballs (white chocolate truffles)... that sort of thing. It's not like that at all though. The book is just classic dishes with an upscale flair and cutesy names. I loved the explanations of the dishes - definitely the most thematic part of the book. If you want to have a fabulous Halloween themed dinner party, there are suggestions in the book but just know that the Halloween themes will have to come from your decorations and storytelling and not visually from the food. Not a bad thing at all! I definitely enjoyed this cookbook and found its approach to be a very pleasant surprise. It would make a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys Halloween themes and all of the dips/sauces look scrumptious. Plus I will definitely be making the lamb one day soon.

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

Zach Neil is the successful proprietor of The Beetle House, a Tim Burton-themed restaurant in New York and Los Angeles. In his new cookbook The Nightmare Before Dinner, he gives readers the chance to be able to make the most popular appetizers, meals, desserts and drinks from the restaurant. The book includes pictures of both recipes and the restaurants. 

Each recipe has a appropriate title, such as Frogs Breath & Nightshade Risotto, Sweeney Beef, and Edward Burger Hands. Check out desserts like Red Velvet Cake with Glass Candy Shards, Beetle Pie, and Blood Orange Cheesecake.  Most recipes have vegan versions, and the way the recipes are written makes it easy to follow directions.

Anyone who loves Tim Burton and his quirky, dark movies will love this cookbook. From Beetlejuice to Edward Scussorhands, recipes in this book celebrate Burton's style. The photographs of these culinary creations are unbelievably beautiful! Highly recommended.

So I'll admit, I have a thing for cookbooks that tie into movies, tv shows, and books. Needless to say, when I saw this one up on NetGalley I just knew that I had to make it mine. I am a HUGE fan of Tim Burton, and one of my favorite movies is THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Making this cookbook a match made in book reviewing heaven for me.

This was an entertaining cookbook to flip through. It had a nice array of photos, colorful graphics, and fun fonts that made it visually pleasing.

This cookbook is divided into the following chapters...
-- Introduction: This Is Halloween
-- Beetle House Must-Haves
-- Sauces & Dips for the Recently Deceased
-- Nightmares Before Dinner
-- Herbs, Plants & Cauldrons
-- Platos de Los Muertos
-- Tricks & Treats
-- Poisons, Potions & Elixirs
-- Put the FUN Back in Funeral

Each chapter includes a plethora of exciting recipes that include a little introduction to the recipes. Followed by well laid out and easy to follow instructions on how to make the dish. All finished off with an extra TIP or GO VEGAN.

Here is just a small taste of the yummy recipes you will find inside...
-- Edward Sauce
-- Veruca Sauce
-- Brains & Chips
-- Beetle Bacon Bread
-- Giant Peach Salad
-- Cheshire Mac and Cheese
-- Sweeney Beef (I love that this one is served with a switchblade knife (lol).
-- Silence of the Lamb Chops
-- Shrimpy Hollow
-- Bloodbath Cobbler
-- The Beetle’s Juice
-- Alice’s Cup of Tea

I enjoyed this one a lot, and I think it would make a fantastic gift for any Tim Burton lover who enjoys cooking!

Zach Neil’s The Nightmare Before Dinner is a beautiful and unique themed cookbook filled with a range of deliciously spooky recipes that are fun and easy to follow. The book features everything from sauces to cocktails. There is even a section with ideas for hosting your own funky themed parties. If you love food, Halloween, and anything Tim Burton, this is definitely the cookbook for you!

This is the official cookbook of The Beetle House, the Tim Burton-inspired restaurant with locations in New York and Los Angeles. I’d never heard of the restaurant before but now I cannot wait to visit!

I love the book’s layout. Almost every page has a colourful or spooky element which is definitely eye-catching. I love that the cookbook features a wide range of recipes including sauces, appetizers, main courses, desserts, and cocktails. Everything has wonderfully fun names. The book is divided into sections with great names like Poisons, Potions & Elixirs and Platos de los Muertos. There are also many full-colour pictures of the finished products. I like that the pictures are tastefully spooky rather than over-the-top gory. But, I would have liked more pictures of the food.

I cannot wait to try dishes like Boozy Mango Sorbet with Pop Rocks, Edward Burger Hands and fun cocktails like Sparky’s Minty Margarita and The Coco Skellington. The recipes are well-detailed and easy to follow. However, some are a little complicated with many components and steps. I really like that many recipes feature ingredients that are pantry staples or are fairly easy to get. Although I am not vegan, there are vegan swaps for almost every recipe which is a nice touch.

The book’s final section features ideas for themed parties. This is a fantastic idea and I like the fixed menus and decorations. However, I wish the section featured much more ideas and some new pictures rather than featuring pictures of food that already appeared earlier in the book.

The Nightmare Before Dinner is a lovely themed cookbook with well-detailed recipes and fun party ideas. I love unique cookbooks and I would definitely buy this for myself. This cookbook is perfect for fans of unique themed cookbooks, Halloween, and Tim Burton’s fantastical movies.

Ok I have never heard of The Beetle House but after seeing this book I want to visit one of their locations as it looks amazing and I love the likes of Tim Burton and fantasy type films.
The bright colours and beautiful photos in this book make it really exciting and makes me want to throw a party as soon as possible.
I can’t wait to try the Beetle Jam recipe and the graveyard noodles just for starters but there are loads of menus in here that appeal to me.
The cocktail recipes and party ideas are a great addition to the book as well.
This is a book that is out of this world and full of magic and wonder like a Tim Burton movie.

What a great book for the person in your life that loves Halloween! Between the clever names of the recipes and the beautiful illustrations you can not go wrong for a Halloween party or Halloween fan Birthday Party. Chapters include Sauces and Dips for the Recently Deceased with Sweeny Sauce and Beetle Jam. Nightmares Before Dinner with Brains and Chips and Graveyard Noodles. Herbs, Plants and Cauldrons with Giant Peach Salad and The Butchers Stew. Platos de los Muertos with Edward Burger Hands and Evil Dead Shrimp. Tricks or Treats with Bloodbath Cobbler and Beetle Pie. Poisons, Potions and Elixirs with This is Halloween and Bio-Exorcism. Put the Fun Back in Funeral with Willy's Candy Bar and Nightmare Christmas Party. There are many more with more fun names. I love Halloween and plan to use some of the recipes for our Halloween night dinner. I love this creative and fun book.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received a free e-copy of The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes and Drinks from The Beetle House, the Tim Burton and Salvador Dali-Inspired restaurant by Zach Neil.

Such a fun cookbook written with so much imagination and thought inspired recipes just in time for Halloween. Anyone can write just a normal cookbook. I hand it to Zach Neil for putting so much love, passion and time into these fun, imaginative recipes for the world to enjoy. I loved Zach Neil's introduction letting us, the reader, get a peak of his up-bringing. He was raised in a very religious family who didn't celebrate Halloween but he always dreamed of dressing up and having fun, like the other kids. Such a wonderful story of how he is so thankful for the opportunity to write these recipes and share them with other people who love to cook, as he does.

Wonderful, creative recipes such as the Edward Sauce, Cheshire sauce, Sweeney sauce, Beetle Jam, Hallowpeno Honey Cheddar Cornbread, Beetle Bacon Bread, Giant Peach Salad, The Butchers Stew, The Willy Burger, Cheshire Mac and Cheese, Frog's Breath and Nightshade Risotto, Shrimpy Hollow, Boozy Mango Sorbet with Pop Rocks, The Beetles Juice, The Golden Ticket, Alice's Cup of Tea and so many other creatively brilliant recipes. I tip my hat to you Zach Neil. Wonderfully and brilliantly done.

4 1/2

I knew nothing about Beetle House when I was invited to review The Nightmare Before Dinner; however, I did know Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetle…(just kidding 😉 ). And what more incentive does the paranormal- and Halloween-loving person need to review a book when it contains recipes like “Frog’s Breath & Nightshade Risotto” or “Bloodbath Cobbler?”

First off, I know some of you who are friends to this blog are vegans, vegetarians, or pescetarians, so I just want to mention that this cookbook is perfect for you. The author has provided a list of vegan substitutions, but in addition has offered a suitable substitution or variation for most of the recipes that contain meat.

However, I do have a qualm about recommending a cookbook in which the author says that cilantro is disgusting. (Kidding.) Granted, cilantro is one of those things that people don’t seem to be indifferent over; you either love it or hate it. I, however, LOVE cilantro and will continue to put it in my guac or even its variation in The Nightmare Before Dinner: “Brains & Chips.” This would be a definite recipe to munch on while watching The Walking Dead.

Many of the recipes sound delicious and/or intriguing. “Diablo’s Arenas Crostini (aka Devil’s Grits Crostini)” looks like the perfect comfort food with spicy, cheesy grits on crostini and “Hallowpeño Honey Cheddar Cornbread,” which also incorporates the yumminess that is spice and cheese.

The photographs are gorgeous and compelling. Compelling? One word: “Beetle Pie.”

Here’s how it’s described:

"The colors and textures of this pie are inspired by one of my all-tie favorite films, Beetlejuice. I wanted the look of it alone to somehow remind you of Tim Burton and his marvelous, memorable goth-com. The brilliant green color of the homemade pistachio pudding and the crunch chocolate crust evoke the corpse-fed grass and rich soil of a graveyard, while the seedy and sweet blackberry jaw mimics the texture of blood and bugs.”

Erm. The pie in the picture looks delightfully edible, the description not quite as much.

The content covers the gamut from snacks/appetizers to main course, to dessert and cocktails. Near the end, a section with menu and props will help you throw an inspired party regardless of the time of year.

While this might seem a very niche cookbook, I think the recipes are interesting enough to pass beyond pigeon-holing.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a fun of The Nightmare Before Christmas, you must absolutely get this book. It is only about 167 pages and it is divided into seven chapters: Sauces & Dips for the Recently Deceased; Nightmares Before Dinner; Herbs, Plants & Cauldrons; Platos de los Muertos; Tricks or Treats; Poisons, Potions & Elixirs; and Put the Fun Back in Funeral. Some of the names for the recipes are Dead Sauce, Beetle Jam, Brains & Chips, Giant Peach Salad, Sweeney Beef, and Silence of the Lamb Chops among many others. It has a nice list of general ingredients and their vegan substitutes. The recipes have clear ingredients and directions, also a prep time and a cook time which are very helpful to know during hectic days. The book contains many pictures and they are bright and crisp. There are menu ideas and suggested decorations for parties. There is also an Index on the back of the book. This is a great book to buy for a friend or to just get for personal use and enjoyment. I received a free copy via NetGalley.

I have been waiting for a cookbook like this for a while since our patrons, community, and myself are huge fans of Tim Burton and to know that there is a restaurant with all the Tim Burton movie dishes such as the Edward Scissor Burger, beetle sauce and the charlie corn bucket. All of these dishes are so appetizing that not only are we going to consider this title for the collection but I might just buy a copy myself. This will circulate so well in our collection.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. We can't wait to add this to our collection and use it for our cooking demo program. That is why its an honor to give this 5 stars!

If you love Tim Burton, Beetlejuice and/or Halloween this is the cookbook for you. If you're planning a party this Halloween you will not be disappointed by what's inside the ghoulsome cookbook. There' plenty to choose from and in the side notes there are ways you can make the recipes vegan too which is a great touch.

The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes to Die for is brought to us by entrepreneur and chef Zach Neil, and is based on his Halloween themed Beetle House restaurants in Los Angeles and New York. This is a very fun book to add to your cookbook collection. The theming is perfect: definitely halloween-y...lots of black, purple, orange, red...the fonts are vaguely reminiscent of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. The graphics evoke pumpkins and tentacles...it definitely puts you in the Halloween mood. Many of the recipe descriptions also contribute to the Halloween theme...Ingredients are often referred to as "Deadly Ingredients". It's all very fun! The author offers tips, both at the beginning of the book, and in some of the recipes themselves, to convert many of the recipes to vegan--so this cookbook can be a great option for vegan cooks as well. The recipes are shared in a variety of themed sections: Sauces and Dips for the Recently Deceased [Sauces], Nightmares Before Dinner [Appetizers], Herbs, Plants and Cauldrons [Soups, Salads, Stews], Platos de los Muertos [Entrees], Tricks and Treats [Desserts], Poisons, Potions and Elixirs [Cocktails and beverages], Put the FUN back in Funeral [Party theme ideas and planning suggestions]. The book includes an Introduction, Tips for Veganizing Recipes, Table of Contents, and a detailed Index. The recipes themselves are clearly written; many are fairly simple. Some are pretty complicated, but the directions are clear. There is no nutritional information provided. If you or someone you love is a Halloween fan, a Tim Burton fan, or loves Nightmare Before Christmas, I definitely recommend you check this out. I think you will find it fun and you will find some unique recipes you'll want to try this Halloween.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Quarto Publishing in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is an amazing recipe book from the creator of the eaterie The Beatle House. This is perfect for Halloween parties and is full of a selection of recipes relating to various spooky movies such as Beatle juice and Edward scissorhands. There is a wide array of recipes for burgers, cocktails and salads. The final section of the book is something slightly different and has ideas for throwing particular theme parties from Willy Wonka to Nightmare Before Christmas. It goes throw what items you could have on your menu and what props and decorations you need also. . This is a different and beautiful collection of recipes.

Plenty of fun and easy to make Halloween themed recipes sure to give your Halloween party an extra boost. Many of the recipes play on favorite Halloween movies like The Deetz Shrimp Cocktail and The Edward Burger Hands. I also love when I'm flipping through a cookbook and feel like I can make the recipes. The Alice in Wonderland inspired Cheshire Mac & Cheese was another must try recipe. I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Grab this cookbook for your Halloween, Nightmare Before Christmas fanatic it is the PERFECT Gift!

I really like how the book starts out with the basic Tools & Ingredients that you should have in your kitchen for these recipes. AND if your Vegan the author gives you ways to substitute ingredients to accommodate your dietary needs. I am definitely making the sorbet & pop rocks as a dessert staple in my house along with several of the cocktails. I really enjoyed the theme meals along with suggestions for props and a menu. This book is a fun cookbook that will make a great hostess gift to give.

The Nightmare Before Dinner is a new theme restaurant inspired cookbook from Zach Neil and the Beetle House. Due out 16th Oct 2018 by Quarto group's Race Point imprint, it's 192 pages and available in hardback and ebook formats.

Whilst I've never generally been a fan of 'theme' restaurants, I do adore Tim Burton and whimsy along with the Gothic aesthetic. This cookbook is full of all of the above along with genuinely delicious recipes for appealingly presented food with a lot of humor.

I tried one of the very first recipes in the book, Edward Sauce, and it's wonderful. It's a sour cream and mayo based dipping sauce with a fair bit of kick from the sriracha and other ingredients. Really delicious.

A lot of restaurant based cookbooks, and indeed quite a percentage of restaurants are unbelievably pretentious and recreating the recipes takes a lot of specialist ingredients which are difficult to source alongside a lot of eye-wateringly expensive equipment. This cookbook is afflicted with neither problem. The ingredients are easy to find and the equipment is likely to be had in any home kitchen.

The chapters are roughly arranged in meal order: sauces & dips, appetizers, soups & salads, main courses, desserts, drinks, with a chapter of fun theme menus at the end.

The author has included tips for making the dishes vegan friendly (mostly consisting of using vegan friendly ingredients). All these dishes could easily be 'tamed down' somewhat and incorporated into a regular meny that wouldn't scandalize your elderly auntie. There are a number of dishes with a decidedly spicy twist, chipotle, cayenne, and sriracha sauce figure large in many of the recipes, so proceed with caution if you have a gues who doesn't tolerate a bit of heat in their foods.

Appealing, irreverent, funny, and tasty. As an example... here are the how-to instructions for the aforementioned Edward Sauce:

To Make It
1. Place all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk the shit out of them. Your finished sauce should have the consistency of mayonnaise.

Four stars, I'll be making a lot more of these recipes regularly.

Really great quirky cooking book, I wish I had one of these restaurants close enough to visit. Looks so amazing. If I ever visit USA this will be on my list of things to do and see!

I love, love, love this book! I am very obsessed with all things Tim Burton and this cook book was perfect! it covers everything from decorating your table to the food and drinks you prepare to set on it! It also covers more than just Nightmare Before Christmas! It covers many, many Tim Burton films. be sure to pick this up and try out all the fun, food, and party ideas listed within!

"Features more than 60 recipes from the popular the Beetle House, the Tim Burton-inspired restaurant with locations in NY, LA, and more. The ideal cookbook for Halloween lovers, and movie buffs who love Tim Burton. Includes full color photography as well a bonus chapter on how to host a Burton-inspired theme party at your home complete with inspired table settings, costumes, and more."

There is so many recipes in this cookbook with fun and theme fitting title's like Sweeney Beef, Edward Burger Hands, The Beetle’s Juice, and my favorite, Alice’s Cup of Tea.
This cook book is one that anyone could use because it also has vegan options. I loved the photos and the fonts that was used for this cookbook.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of #TheNightmareBeforeDinner from #NetGalley!

Thank you Quarto for allowing me to review The Nightmare Before Dinner.
This cookbook is fantastic and the pictures are gorgeous. The recipes are all from their restaurant so they are quite elaborate and richer than I would normally make at home. I would say this one is a special occasion book. All of the recipes are themed and perfect for a Halloween party or for any fan of Nightmare Before Christmas or similar movies.

This is a great cookbook. It will inspire you to want to through your own Halloween party. I really like how the book also gives you ideas on how to do a themed party. The pictures of the food are lovely and made me want to try them all!

If you like entertaining for Halloween this is the book for you. This cookbook plays off some of the classic Halloween and horror movies. The chapters have titles such as Sauces and Dips for the Recently deceased and Poisons, Potions and Elixirs. It gives list of the kitchen gadgets you will need for each section and list of ingredients. There are Vegan substitutions for those that need those. I love the recipe names like Silence of the Lamb chops. Even if you didn't want to have a Halloween party these would be great movie night dishes. This might be one of those cookbooks you don't use every week but it is a fun one to add to your collection. Have fun with food.

Something different! Great ideas for dinner parties/ themed events, most of the recipes look devilious 😉

An absolute must have for any Tim Burton fans. The recipes are reasonably easy and it would make a lovely addition to any film lover's bookshelf.

Race Point Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Nightmare Before Dinner. I was under no obligation to review this cookbook and my opinion is freely given.

The Nightmare Before Diner is a cookbook with recipes inspired by the author's love for everything dark and lovely. As the celebration of Halloween was forbidden in his childhood, the author has opened a series of Tim Burton inspired restaurants called The Beetle House. Author Zach Neil clearly has had a great deal of fun in concocting both the recipes and the names for the finished dishes. Separated into sections such as: Beetle House Must-Haves, Sauce and Dips for the Recently Deceased, Nightmares Before Dinner, Platos de los Muertos, and Poisons, Potions, and Elixirs, readers are teleported into the dark but happy place of Halloween. Don't let the theming fool you, these are bonafide recipes. The author has also included vegan substitutes for those who follow a non-dairy diet.

There are sauces such as Edward Sauce (p. 17), a cream-based sriracha sauce that is designed for the Edward Burger Hands (p. 62) but can also be used for sandwiches or a dipping sauce. The Hollow Sauce (p. 21), made with homemade ketchup and gochujang, is great for chicken, fish, or shellfish. In the Nightmares Before Dinner section, my hands-down favorite is the Charlie Corn Bucket (p. 43). This cheesy casserole can be adapted for vegan eaters and is a great side dish with its cheesy sauce and sprinkling of bread crumbs on top. Herbs, Plants, and Cauldrons includes soup and salad recipes, such as Barbarous BBQ Beef Ramen (p. 54), a delicious and hearty ramen that will satisfy and nourish. Platos de los Muertos has main dish entrees, like Cheshire Mac and Cheese (p. 61) and Sweeney Beef (p. 66). Love It Pot Pie (p. 78) is a hearty dish that includes a cornbread base and a beetle jam. Tricks and Treats has dessert offerings to die for, such as Bloodbath Cobbler (p. 92-93), with its dark cherry and blood orange filling. Poisons, Potions, and Elixirs has deadly drinks and cocktails that are great for any Halloween party. Put the Fun Back in the Funeral shows readers some themed parties that they can throw, with photos of the previously listed dishes to inspire.

Although the theme to The Nightmare Before Dinner may be Halloween inspired, the recipes contained within will be phenomenal any time of the year. I would definitely recommend this cookbook and I look forward to visiting one of the author's restaurants in the future.

As a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas fan i really loved this cook book. I loved the idea and illustrations. It was definitely a collection book.

Fantastic cookbook! It has a lot of creative, in-season, twist on old recipes to give that NBC feel. Plus I love the ideas on how to make a recipe vegetarian/vegan!

This is a wonderfully creative cookbook. It provides a great start with everything you need from a material list to vegan substitution suggestions. Then you get creative chapter titles and recipes titles that you'd expect from such a cookbook -- the talented author and chef does not disappoint. Recipes are easy to understand with some being a little in depth for the cook, but well written, which helps makes the entire process easier. Beautifully colorful pictures throughout help create a delightfully visual cookbook.
You'll find recipes for sauces, jams, appetizers, sides, soups, salads, main dishes, desserts, beverages -- and they look delicious! Not every recipe is ghoulish such as the Giant Peach Salad and Barbarous BBQ Beef Ramen, which look fairly tame and just right for anytime. There are fun items too included in this cookbook. You'll find ideas for creating themed parties, which are fun. He provides menu ideas, decoration suggestions as well as help for invitations. I recommend this cookbook especially if you are looking for some spooky recipes and creative fun.

Completely over the top and representing well its restaurant! Funky and fun and much more practical than expected, despite headings like "deadly ingredients".

Making great recipes in the theme of spooky!!!!

I LOVE that this cookbook is truly dedicated to the fall season. Each recipe starts off straight to the point! Title of the recipe, prep time, cook time, servings and what the recipe is all about!

There are many Vegan options for a lot of these recipes.

There’s a great chapter dedicated to sauces!!!

I LOVE this author’s sense of humor! They get serious about the inspiration about a recipe and then BOOM, say something incredibly joyously funny just out of the blue! (Thank you for that!!!)

Occasional bad words are used perfectly and beautifully!!!!

Not a ton of photos, but the photos that ARE in this book offer great ideas for spooky inspiring presentation. In some recipes, they also give serving ideas within that particular recipe theme-major plus!

Pro Sriracha sauce!!!!

What really PULLS me into these recipes are the short intros to each one. Not only do they explain what sauces might be used for, but they also include inspiration for what to expect from that particular recipe. In other words, WHY should I make this recipe is ANSWERED!!! 😀

Bonus is that it starts with Beetle House Must-Haves…tools, ingredients, a whole page on how to “Veganize it”-great call on including that!

Their chapter on drinks “POISONS, POTIONS & ELIXIRS Deadly Drinks, Creepy Cocktails is really fun and super creative!

…or get this book just for the picture of their recipe called Big Fish Bowl…Hahahahahaha!!!! 🐟🐟🐟
The “Themed Parties” chapter is a nice touch to this book! Seriously, loved that chapter!
And now…what is it that I actually made from this book? Well, since I’m completely obsessed with sauces and cocktails, I went with the following….

I’ll start with the Soul Sauce
This sauce is supposed to be a Southern BBQ-ish sauce to haunt your dreams! A BBQ meets basting sauce.

The ingredients and recipe were very simple and includes bourbon and 1/2 a tangerine, which for me is already very adventurous and a must try!
Here is the sauce as it breaks down, cools off, and gets stored in to jars for our taste test later!

I also made the Edward Sauce. This was a sour cream/mayo type of sauce that I thought would be fun to sample with…well, french fries, of course!

Next, I created their cocktail The Beetle’s Juice.

This one uses blackberry schnapps and tequila (How very spooky of them!)
I couldn’t resist so I went out and bought most of the ingredients …apparently I forgot the cranberry juice that was supposed to go in it! I also left out the blackberries…oh, and since I had lemons on hand, I used lemon juice instead of lime juice.

Now on to the sampling….

The Soul Sauce (BBQ sauce) turned out to be a bit more on the Asian side-like a hoisin sauce. Husband said he would love this sauce with dumplings or egg rolls.

The Edward Sauce…oh wow…THIS one is especially YUMMY!!!! Husband said it tasted very classy and old school. To me, it tasted like an old school burger sauce.

Not but a moment after this sampling had I realized that I had forgotten to add in the freakin’ sriracha sauce!
The Edward Sauce was still amazing without the sriracha and after it was added in, husband said it went from it’s previous classy delicate English/French flavor to a more Southwestern type of sauce. Both ways certainly are winners and perfect to serve with french fries!

Not long after, I decided to mix the two sauces together (meaning the soul sauce and the Edward Sauce), and found the Edward Sauce brought a really nice flavor to the Soul Sauce so…

We are going to make burgers this weekend using BOTH sauces, either mixed together or layered! What fun! They will go perfectly!

As for The Beetle’s Juice…A WINNER WINNER WINNER for an inspiring and delightful aperitif!!! The flavor is spectacular, although I got a pretty big buzz from that little glass, lol!!! Husband said The Beetle’s Juice (without the juice, lol) tasted complex and sweet, spicy and mysterious!!!

This will definitely be our go-to cocktail for this fall/holiday season….WITH the cranberry juice!!!

So big kudos to author Zach Neil (and his mom!) and to ALL the co-creators that were a part of this very fun, wild and wonderful cooking/cocktail/party planning themed book! Definitely worth giving as a gift!!!

Whether you Halloween all year long, or just during its season, this cookbook is for you. Zach Neil creates Tim Burton inspired recipes such as Frog's Breath & Nightshade Risotto, Shrimpy Hollow and Edward's Lemonade can now be enjoyed at home.

Love this unique book. Great for anyone who is a fan of Tim Burton films or the Beetle House. Great cookbook for display and hosting your not so average dinner party. Recommended for public libraries as well as schools with culinary programs.

An absolutely fabulous book for themed and halloween type parties. The recipes are all styled around Tim Burton characters and films. It provided a great talking point over the dinner table.

The Nightmare Before Dinner by Zach Neil features recipes from the Beetle House. The book features everything from sauces to desserts. I found the sauce section to be most interesting. A large section of the book is cocktails which did not appeal to me. Only one includes directions for a non-alcoholic version. I did expect to see a few more recipes for main dishes. My husband quickly nixed the burger which included chocolate covered bacon. That might work well in a theme restaurant but not in the average home. If you are a Halloween fan, you would enjoy this cookbook though.

This is awesome! I love it, the photos are mouth watering but I would have liked more through the book to be honest.
The recipies have brilliant names and are tasty.
The drink combinations are fabulous too.
I love the fact you have the option to change each recipie vegan.
The menu plans and table decoration are a wonderful addition to help you throw a quirky, unique and unforgettable dinner party.
This is a really original book and would make a great gift.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Quirky and unusual cookbook with some very fun recepies... great book. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through it although I haven’t yet cooked anything from it.

This is a must-have cookbook-for not only fans of Tim Burtons but in general. Easy to read/make recipes. Will be using a few of these for Halloween coming up.

Not only is it a fabulous and informative cookbook, but it also includes how to throw your own Burton inspired party. Such an added bonus to an already great book.

I especially loved that each recipe could be made vegan-and even included how and what to include to do so.

I will be picking up a copy myself. Highly recommend this one.

The Nightmare Before Dinner by Zach Neil is a recipe book that is sure to spark some creativity into your kitchen. This whimsical Tim Burton themed cookbook has so many fun and tasty ideas that can be created for any occasion. However, those seeking inspiration for a Halloween party will find everything they need to set the stage for a bash suitable for the King of Halloween himself.

Having never heard of Zach Neil’s restaurant chain, The Beetle House, I am even more excited to make a trip to New York to experience what sounds like an amazing culinary adventure. Neil starts the book off with a bit of personal history as to how he became the owner of these unique restaurants. It is truly an inspiring story that sets the stage for these yummy dishes.

Inside the book are quite a few recipes for the food and drinks offered at The Beetle House. If you are already a fan of the restaurant, favourite menu items, such as Brains and Chips, are all revealed for you to create at home. The ingredients are simple and easy to source, as are the directions. Vegans will also be happy to discover that many of the recipes offer alternatives for the dishes included in the book.

If you are after some tips for your next Halloween party, The Nightmare Before Dinner is one book to check out. At the end of the book, you will find specific theme parties for many of Tim Burton’s films. The author pulls all sorts of recipes together based on each movie and gives some advice on decorations as well. I am really excited to put one of these parties on myself.

I was excited to receive a Kindle ARC of The Nightmare Before Dinner from NetGalley.

As a Tim Burton fan, I can't believe I wasn't aware of Beetle House but, judging from the reviews on Yelp, I'm not missing much.

The Nightmare Before Dinner, however, is great. Its dark, lurid, goth, creepy, puny and morbidly humorous.

Each recipe is an ode to director Burton's imaginative and original movies like Beetle's Juice and Edward Burger Hands.

I'm a mediocre cook, but I would make these recipes just so I can say the recipes hilarious names aloud.

I loved the introductions to each recipe, especially when it referenced movies and horror and the pictures are bright and gorgeous, though it featured less photos than I expected. I love food porn and I wanted more photos!

The cookbook has a nice touch in that it ends with instructions on how to throw your own theme party though it was a bit light on details and repeated photos from previous pages. I can tell.

Additional point for the author in adding vegan substitutions for those inclined.

A fun cookbook with easy to follow instructions but light on photos makes this a four star read but definitely a book to add to your collection, even if you're not a Tim Burton fan.

This is a fun, spook-tacular recipe book from the restaurant "The Beetle House Restaurant", I enjoyed this book, it's not too big, about 60 recipes in all, with some pictures. While not all the dishes are photographed, there is a fair amount and they are spook-tacular! Definitely, Halloween themed, but with delicious recipes that you just have to try! Have fun with this one, it's un-boo-lievable!
"I voluntarily reviewed this book for an honest review"

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. What a unique book this is. I haven’t tried to cook anything yet but really enjoyed flipping through all the recipes. Many titles made me giggle. Thanks to the author and publisher for the free copy. I see some Nightmare dishes on my table soon!

Firstly this book is very American centric. Its hard to find grits and other assorted items outside of the US so some of the recipes would be very hard to duplicate. That said the fact that most recipes offered a vegan alternative was great, its nice to have variations on the dishes so to appeal to all.
I loved the drinks section and thought the concoctions were intriguing.
I will probably try several of the recipes as they looked delicious.
The aesthetic of Tim Burton-esque choices was a huge selling point for me. The names evoked the films and I would love to go the restaurant in question. The names of the dishes was on point and the unique "party planning menus" at the back was a great addition.
The only real criticism is that there were not enough pictures of the food, some I wasn't sure what they were supposed to look like so illustrations would have been nice.

Perfect for All Hallows Eve. You're going to some weirdly good food that will both surprise and delight your guest at your Halloween banquet. Beetlejuice is one of my favorite characters from a child to now. I always catch it every year and now I can have make some of these frightfully delicious treats.

After being raised in a religious family that didn't allow Halloween celebrations, Zach Neil grew up to love the holiday so much he wanted to celebrate it every day.  That dream became a reality when he opened Beetle House, a Tim Burton-inspired restaurant full of creative and hearty autumn comfort food.

This cookbook contains seven chapters with clever names, covering everything from sauces (Sauces & Dips for the Recently Deceased), appetizers (Nightmares Before Dinner), soups and salads (Herbs, Plants, & Cauldrons), entrees (Platos de los Muertos), desserts (Tricks & Treats), drinks (Poisons, Potions, & Elixirs), and dinner parties (Put the FUN Back in Funeral).

Neil includes a list of must-have tools and ingredients, all common enough you probably already have them in your kitchen pantry. Most recipes include substitutes to make the dish plant based and vegan-friendly.

The book design, layout, and color photographs are well done, fitting the Burton/gothic vibe of the restaurant and its menu.

Some of my favorite recipes included:

-Sweeney Beef (filet mignon served with Sweeney Sauce and garlic mashed potatoes)

-Shrimpy Hollow (sauteed shrimp covered in Hollow Sauce, served with cheesy grits in chorizo oil)

-Victor Van Pork (southern style pulled pork in Soul Sauce with jalapeno coleslaw)

-The Butcher's Stew (richly flavored chili) *I'm already making this a second time!  A new favorite chili recipe for sure.

-The Beetle's Juice (a cocktail of tequila and blackberry schnapps that has non-alcoholic substitutions)

-Edward Sauce (cream based sriracha perfect for burgers and fries)

If you love food, film, fall, and most importantly Halloween, you'll love this cookbook full of classic dishes with unique twists.

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group/Race Point Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.  The Nightmare Before Dinner was released September 4, 2018.

This book made me so hungry! So thank you for that. I love the food in the book and I am planning to make some perhaps for a party... hmmm maybe a winter party. So many ideas so little time!

I could think long and hard before coming up with a movie that I love more than The Nightmare Before Christmas. Tim Burton is and always will be one of my very favorite directors and Jack Pumpkin.. well, I just wish I was Sally! <sigh>  So, when my Goodreads friend, RedemptionDenied, recommended this cookbook based on the movie, I literally begged to read and review it!

The Nightmare Before Dinner is a collection of over 60 (!) recipes that are featured at the Beetle House Restaurant in LA and NY. The theme of the restaurant is, of course, based on Tim Burton’s amazing works of genius from Edward Scissorhands to Beetlejuice and, naturally, Nightmare. The recipes feature ghoulish names based on the movies from which they were inspired, but the dishes themselves are amazingly marvelous and, well, they don’t technically have to be dressed up for Halloween.   Each recipe comes with non-vegan and vegan options and creative suggestions for making the dish more delightfully goth. They are relatively simple to prepare but magnificently gorgeous to behold – and devour!

My daughter and I had a blast preparing several of the dishes during her visit here at The Wisteria House Inn. Each one that we cooked was perfect and delectable! There are appetizers, finger foods, soups and main dishes as well as drinks and desserts. It is so rare to find a cookbook by restaurant owners or chefs that actually replicate the dishes in their establishments, but this one does and the recipes exceed all expectations for authenticity and taste! My favorite? Edward Burger Hands, of course.

Regardless of your cooking skill level, I wholeheartedly recommend giving The Nightmare Before Dinner a peek. You and your taste buds will be glad that you did!
My eternal gratitude to #Netgalley, #QuartoKnows, #RacePointPublishing and Zach Neil for my copy of this cookbook!

Liebevoll gestaltet mit Zeichnungen und Fotos (Gerichte und es Restaurants) kommen tolle Rezepte daher (ein paar schon nachgekocht und für sehr lecker befunden!). Abgerundet durch alles, was sonst noch zum Gelingen eines Mahls gehört...
Zum selber nutzen oder verschenken.
Nicht nur für Tim Burton Fans.

Perfect for fans of the Nightmare before Christmas film. This book has wonderfully illustrated pages and recipes to die for. The recipes are easy to follow and many are quick to make. A perfect cook book for any spooky party.

I've collected cookbooks for more than 40 years and have read them all. I have so many now that I only collect unusual cookbooks. This one definitely qualifies as unusual! I've watched the Beetlejuice movie a few times...well more than a few...but did not know there were restaurants. The recipe names in this book might be unusual, but the recipes are undeniably restaurant quality while a home cook could easily recreate them. All around a great book and a great cookbook.

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me realize 2 things:
1. How hungry I was and
2. That I need to find and eat at the Beetle House (conveniently, locations are at the back)

What a great collection of Halloween inspired recipes. I love the themes, photos, descriptions, and definitely the drinks! I also thought it was cool that the author took the time to plan out several very awesome themes complete with drinks, food, and suggested props!

Really enjoyed this one

As a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, I loved everything about about this cookbook. It is fun and whimsical. The the cocktails were delicious and this book would make for an interesting conversation starter as a coffee table book.

The Beetle House is a restaurant located in both New York and Los Angeles, and advertises that “every day is Halloween.” If you love Halloween, you’ll love The Nightmare Before Dinner: Recipes to Die For: The Beetle House Cookbookby , even if you don’t live near either Beetle House restaurants. The names of the dishes are clever (Hallowpeño Honey Cheddar Cornbread, Edward Burger Hands), and actually sound appealing (as far as Halloween dishes go, that is). Even though they have clever names, the recipes are for down-to-earth bonafide good dishes, that, in reality can be served year round. Especially impressive are some of the sauces; Sweeny Sauce, a wine and mushroom cream sauce is delicious, as is Cheshire Sauce (a creamy cheese sauce). There is also Dead Sauce, Hollow Sauce (with homemade ketchup and a favorite Korean chili paste, gochujang), and Love It Sauce (similar to the ever popular Alfredo sauce).

Other favorites from this book include Beetle Bacon Bread, Sriracha-Roasted Butternut Squash Death Soup, Bloodbath Cobbler, and Beetle Pie. The book includes fun recipes for beverages (regular and alcoholic), appetizers, breads, salads, soups, main dishes, and desserts, which are helpful when planning a great Halloween BOO-ffet. The recipes are well-written and easy to understand; most are easy to make, too. They are also appealing in a macabre way. Really good cookbooks must contain photographs, and this book doesn’t disappoint; the photos are beautiful, and will make readers want to make every recipe.

Anyone who loves Halloween, and plans to cook for it, will love having this delightful cookbook. There are so many fun, good recipes, though, it would be a good idea to start celebrating on October first.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

A very good book for anyone who likes Night mare before Christmas, or Beetle Juice, the Author even makes a little reverence to Willy Wonka. The recipes from beginning to end are great, the book with pictures, easy to follow instructions, and how to change a recipe if you want to make it vegan was a good touch even though I am not. What really sets this book apart from most of the other cookbooks’ that I have read is that at the end of the book the author shows some ideas with how to set up different parties. With menu, invitation, decorations and all keeping with the theme you want. My family loves Halloween, and Nightmare before Christmas. This gives ideas for parties, and food. You get what I am trying to get across. This is a very good book.

This was a fun cookbook! The ideas sounds delicious and most of the recipes do not require expensive, one-time use ingredients. I especially loved the themed party ideas in the back of the book. My only real piece of feedback is that I wish there had been more pictures and a picture to go with all of the recipes. Otherwise, the book just makes me want to check out Beetle House even more!

A wonderful book of recipes inspired by film and television. Easy to understand recipes. A good edition to any horror fans cooking book collection

A super cute recipe book for "Nightmare before Christmas" fans :) Could be a bit longer… I liked that it had ideas and substitutes for veganizing the recipes!

Sooo need to buy this book!!! Fans of Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Willy Wonka, etc... will want to own this ghoulishly tasty book. Where else are you going to find treats such as Silence of the Lamb Chops, Evil Dead Shrimp, or Sweeney Beef? The recipes in here would be good anytime, but Halloween is a must! I look forward to owning this book and making the foods. Kudos Zach Neil!

The Nightmare Before Dinner is a dream come true cookbook. The theme is all things Halloween and Tim Burton. The dishes are amazing and inspired, the layout is perfect and the pictures are amazing. The colour format works wonderfully to make you feel like your in a Tim Burton film. A must have cookbook.

I was fourteen when the movie Beetlejuice hit theaters. I tried my best to recreate Lydia Deets' wardrobe but in the corn belt of America that was difficult. My daughter has a new found love for all things Beetlejuice and I still wear styles reminiscent of the movie. When I saw a cookbook was coming out that honors for themes present in Tim Burton movies I was very excited to say the least.
The recipes in this book are amazing and imaginative and delicious. Fans will be rushing to buy this book for holiday entertaining. I am giving a copy to my daughter.

Beetlejuice!

I love that this book is a celebration of Halloween, horror culture and all things Burton-esque. The recipes are from Beetle House, a restaurant that’s now on my bucket list because I need to experience the atmosphere and food, but more importantly its owner wasn’t allowed to celebrate Halloween as a kid and has found a way to make it a daily occurrence. I celebrate people finding ways to triumph over any kind of repression, especially when they can turn it into creative expression, so it fills me with joy that this restaurant exists.

All of the recipes can be veganised; there’s a page dedicated to vegan alternatives to specific ingredients before you make it to the first recipe. While I obviously want to try most offerings on the menu I decided to give myself the daunting task of choosing my ‘Most Want to Taste Test’ item in each chapter. Here goes…

Sauces & Dips for the Recently Deceased: Dead Sauce - with butter, honey, garlic, sea salt, lime juice, sour cream, mayonnaise and sriracha sauce, this “super-tasty citrus sauce is spicy, sweet, and garlicky.”

Nightmares Before Dinner: Beetle Bacon Bread - “a hearty sundried tomato and bacon “pizza” with a sweet balsamic reduction, soft mozzarella cheese, and crisp scallions.” Mmm, bacon! 🥓🤤

Herbs, Plants & Cauldrons: Fall Salad - this includes such yummies as butternut squash, roasted red peppers and dried cranberries.

Platos de los Muertos: Big Fish - salmon, sweet corn succotash, roasted red pepper purée, basil oil and micro shiso leaf.

Tricks & Treats: Willy’s Mango Panna Cotta - “topped with passionfruit foam and served with diced kiwi, fresh strawberries, and Cocoa Puffs”.

Poisons, Potions & Elixirs: The Franken-Martini - “combines vanilla vodka with a double chocolate liqueur” and topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and a chocolate bar.

There’s also a Put the Fun Back in Funeral chapter with ideas for menus, props and accessories for themed parties.

Beetlejuice!

I loved the photos of the droolworthy food with accessories including skulls and scissors, and the fun gothic touches in the layout. I was disappointed that not all of the recipes come with photos, although a higher proportion were pictured than most of the other cookbooks I’ve seen. The best compliment you can give the majority of my cooking is that it’s edible so I like to have a reference to show me what the final product is actually supposed to look like. I was glad to discover that the recipes in this book don’t need a bazillion ingredients or dozens of steps to make them, and I’m pretty sure I could even give some a whirl.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Race Point Publishing for the opportunity to drool over this book.

B-! On second thought, maybe I don’t need him in my life right now.

What a fun book! Think "Beetlejuice writes a cookbook". The recipes are from Beetle House Restaurant and are fun during the Halloween season and all year long. The author, Zach Neil, covers sauces, appetizers, soups & salads, main dishes, desserts, and drinks. There are even suggestions for parties. For those of you who simply adore Halloween, this is the cookbook for you. There are tips and tricks as well as pairing suggestions. Ingredients are real, recipes are easy to follow, and some of the recipes are even vegan. You know you have a friend that absolutely NEEDS this cookbook.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had fun reading this cookbook. The photographs accompanying the recipes are stunning. There are vegan and special diet variations for many of the recipes. The author also includes party suggestions. The book is not just for Halloween. Enjoy.

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I am a massive Halloween lover, I can not wait to have children to celebrate the month of Halloween with, it's going to be so much fun. In the meantime I do my best to spread Halloween cheer in whatever ways I can. :D   Which is why I decided to give this cookbook a try! 

The Nightmare Before Dinner is a collection of recipes themed around Tim Burton's movies. Which is a cool idea, despite the fact that I think his movies are overrated. I was excited to find some fun stuff to cook with. Sadly I didn't get time to actually cook anything from this book before it was unavailable.  But I don't think I missed much. So many of the recipes were just normal recipes but they had a spooky or fun name. Like the "Love it Sauce" which was just Alfredo sauce. Which was not what I was looking for. I expected a lot more creativity from this book. Also the author had some anti-cilantro rhetoric which made me look down him just slightly. I'm joking....Mostly. ;) 

Maybe this is a cookbook I would like more if I did have children who were able to cook with me, but as it is I was mostly just meh about it.  I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads.

I love themed foods. I love Tim Burton. This is a great recipe book - well designed and chock-full of creepy (but delicious) recipes. Divided into chapters of 'Sauces and Dips for the Recently Deceased', 'Nightmares Before Dinner', 'Herbs, Plants and Cauldrons' 'Platos de los Muertos', 'Tricks and Treats', 'Poisons, Potions and Elixirs' and 'Put the FUN back in Funeral'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Race Point Publishing for the review copy of this cookbook. I was interested in this book because my young son loves to cook and loves The Nightmare Before Christmas. We both love this cookbook! It has interesting and fun recipes related to gothic movies. I especially like the party menus and tips in the last part of the book. We'll be purchasing a print copy of this one, too.