Book reviews
Something for the weekend by Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy
(Quadrille, £12.99)
Lovejoy, a TV sports presenter, has helped to make the BBC programme of the same name hugely popular with the lads. And its appeal does extend to this book with phrases such as ‘make this for your mates’, ‘you shouldn’t make these if you’re after a snog’ etc. This clever positioning extends to the recipes which are achievable lazy brunch dishes, including posh beans on toast, kebabs and coronation chicken. Given the ease of most of the recipes, it was a surprise to find pork pie in there – not the easiest of dishes to perfect. A good gift for a male who’s just left home?
Click here to buy a copy for just £8.44
The Italian Cookery Course by Katie Caldesi (Kyle Cathie, £30)
In this weighty book Katie Caldesi has captured the definitive versions of Italy’s most loved recipes, while respecting the regionality, history and variations of each one. As owners of Caffe Caldesi in London, she and her husband Giancarlo champion the best of Italian cooking. This book is packed with sound advice, great tips and irresistible recipes, as well as invaluable advice on techniques and ingredients. A must for anyone who realises there’s more to Italian cuisine than spag bol, tiramisu and pizza.
Click here to buy a copy for just £17.50
4 ingredients: over 340 quick, easy & delicious recipes using 4 or fewer ingredients by Kim McCosker and Rachael Bermingham (£8.99)
This basic paperback by two Aussie mums – which sold over 2 million copies within two years – will appeal to those who don’t know how to cook and need easy recipes (many use tinned or prepared foods) or those who have very little time to get a meal on the table. There are no illustrations yet I did find myself warming to the concept: after all, we all want easy yet delicious food. Some of the recipes sound just a little too basic or slightly odd but others –Salmon & Spinach Filo, Beef Samosas, Honey Mustard Chicken Breasts, Bacon-stuffed mushrooms – would work.
Click here to buy a copy for just £5.45
Larousse Gastronomique (Hamlyn, £60)
Described by Heston Blumenthal as ‘the definitive culinary reference bible’ and by Gordon Ramsay as ‘the first recipe book I took seriously’ this heavyweight (in every sense) volume certainly packs a punch and is utterly engrossing – one page will feature cocktail recipes, another expounds on French wines, yet another has photos of edible flowers, cuts of meat, wild mushrooms... With its roots in classic French cuisine, Larousse has broadened its remit so you can also find out about feta or fugu; shepherd’s pie or shitake. Covering chefs, techniques, culinary history, recipes and cooking terms this book is truly a salmagundi of everything food-related.
Click here to buy a copy at half price for £30!
The Silver Spoon for Children (Phaidon, £12.95)
Forty recipes have been adapted from The Silver Spoon – a classic tome found in most Italian households. Starting from the basic premise that all children love pizza and pasta, it moves on to such delights as tuna frittata, risotto, potato gnocchi and roast leg of lamb in a herb crust. All recipes are nutritionally balanced and have been tested by children, so anyone over 10 will be able to tackle them. As a mother I find some books aimed at children to be pretty patronising collections of smiley face veggies and Rice Krispie cakes, but this one is like a child portion of the real deal. The only disappointing factor was the rather uninspiring photos, but the quirky illustrations made up for this.
Click here to buy a copy for just £10.65!
Kids' Kitchen by Fiona Bird (Barefoot Books, 14.99)
This boxed set of recipe cards would make a great gift for children or grandchildren who show an interest in cooking - and are fairly adventurous eaters, as guacamole, dahl and paneer are on the menu. The illustrations are fun and the instructions are explained well, with What to Find and What to Do replacing the more usual ingredients and method. There is useful advice on vitamins, veggies and minerals and the recipes - all vegetarian - aim to be nutritionally sound: hummus dippers, pesto presto, tropical milkshake, gooey chocolate brownies etc. The recipes were tested by children in a primary school in the Outer Hebrides, so are proven to work!
Click here to buy a copy for just £9.21!
The Silver Spoon Pasta (Phaidon, £24.95)
Pasta fans will think they’ve died and gone to heaven: 350 recipes divided into long and short dried pasta, and cut and filled fresh pasta – logical, as Italians would only match certain sauces to certain types of pasta. Techniques and tips help you to get it right every time and lesser-known pasta shapes (zite, gomiti, stracci) get a look in. Pappardelle with chicken livers and sea bass ravioli are both reasons alone for buying this sumptuous book.
Click here to buy a copy at half price, just £12.47!
The Soup Book, edited by Sophie Grigson (Dorling Kindersley, £16.99)
A wonderful paean to the humble pottage that’s perfect recession food: cheap, nutritious, makes the most of seasonal veg and is a brilliant way to your five a day. This excellent book opens with a chart showing when British veg are in season, month by month (a nod to the fact that the Soil Association has backed the book). Contributors include leading lights in contemporary cookery and the recipes back this up: maple-roasted carrot and ginger soup, hearty fish soup with fennel and pork vindaloo broth all sound like just the thing to warm up a winter’s day. You’ll certainly never be lost for a good soup recipe again.
Click here to buy a copy for just £11.01!
Cook Express – over 700 quick recipes...after work ideas...easy entertaining (Dorling Kindersley, £25)
Like 4 Ingredients (above), this presses the right buttons for time-pressed cooks who need inspiration. A clever recipe chooser categorises the recipes for easy selection (desserts in under 15 minutes, vegetarian in under 30 minutes etc) and there are useful menu planners, and a great section called batch and freeze. For the main part, the recipes are fairly run-of-the-mill family fare (toad in the hole, patatas bravas, beef stew with orange and bay leaves) although there are also more adventurous dishes (mackerel roasted with harissa and lime, pearl barley and borlotti bean one pot, wasabi beef with pak choi). A good choice for someone who hasn’t yet built up a repertoire of favourite recipes.
Click here to buy a copy for just £14.97!
A Taste of Relais et Chateaux: 97 recipes from some of the finest chefs in the UK and Ireland, £30
The first time that all Relais et Chateaux chefs have collaborated on a book, this is a showcase of some of the best - and most technically advanced - cooking in Britain, from chefs including Raymond Blanc, Heston Blumenthal, Michel Roux Jnr and Michael Caines. Not surprisingly it's rather cheffy, with towers and reductions of this and foams of that, but the book does claim to cater for all levels of expertise. So while Baked Creme Brulee, Poached Rhubarb, Ginger and Advocaat Ice Cream and Heston Blumenthal's Sound of the Sea may be reserved for very special occasions, Treacle Tart or Steamed Mussels with Wild Garlic, Spring Onions, Fennel and Curry are more achievable. Buy direct from any Relais et Chateaux establishment, or via the link below.