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.

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.

I was SO excited when my wish on NetGalley was granted to see this cookbook. I wish I could visit the restaurant, but until then, I have the cookbook! 

What I did was test two recipes - Cheshire Cat Sauce and Edward Scissorhands Burgers.

I did have to make some changes due to item not available, and a budget. The Cheshire Cat Sauce was delicious! I've never made actual cheese sauce and I definitely didn't imagine putting mustard in it. I didn't put enough whipping cream in it, so the sauce was a little runny, but it was still delicious. The mustard really stands out and it's not so overpowering. 

I didn't go all out showy for the burgers, but I followed the spices (including adding one of my own) along with bacon. I ate a lot of the sauce and bacon that I was too full to add the egg. That's okay, because I put the sauce over the burger and it was just AMAZING!!

I know there is an Edward sauce in the book, and I will definitely try that next time, but the cheese sauce on the burger was the perfect end to a long day at work. Thank you NetGalley and Zach Neil for the wonderful cookbook! I love Halloween, and Nightmare Before Christmas!

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.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and Race Point Publishing for an honest review.
I was very happy to receive a copy of this wonderful Halloween inspired book as I love the movies that have Halloween and  The recipes look wonderful. I live in the Southern Hemisphere so I am a long way away from the Beetle Restaurants that feature this wonderful fare. The brilliant recipe names are enough to inspire all persons who love the cook as well as eat great food. I was also very pleased to find that the recipes cater to the vegan diet. The very colourful illustrations are also welcome as I always like to know how a dish is supposed to be served. My Favourite recipe is the Bloodbath Cobbler. This is one cookbook I know will be one I will buy for myself.
I recommend this book

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.

Fun idea but lacked substance. The pictures were great and the recipes seemed interesting but overall they felt disjointed - instead of doing the recipes by category and then outlining party ideas they should've just been organized by party ideas since that's clearly how they were developed.

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.

Fans of Tim Burton movies will be head over heels happy with these inspired dishes & drinks.  If you’re  planning a Goulish Party this year you’ll want to include ”The Beetle’s Juice”, “Franken Martini”, and “This Is Halloween”.  Be the hit of the Summer BBQ or get together and serve fun “Big Fish Bowls”. And for an over the top over the hill birthday party whip up some glasses of Willy Wonka inspired “The Golden Ticket” which will bring out everyone’s inner Veruca Salt.

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.

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.

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.