Man About The Kitchen
No doubt all male readers of this newsletter fancy themselves as a bit handy in the kitchen. But Alistair Williams still has something to offer. Clearly his primary audience is the young male newly liberated from home and, if not exactly eager to cook, certainly keen to make a decent meal for himself when he can. And, of course, no man can afford to overlook the power of cooking when attempting to impress females that have been lured back to the nest. Williams assumes nothing, leading off with some useful tips on how to handle a sudden fat fire and what to do to avoid giving everyone food poisoning. He also gives plenty of advice on basic store cupboard essentials, a glossary of some cooking terms and tells how to prepare most vegetables. Recipes vary from good old favourites, now sadly out of fashion such as toad in the hole, to ones that raise the bar a little in complication but are still easily achievable even when back from the pub and a little unsteady. (You should have read that section on fat fires!). No glossy photos means the price is very reasonable and it’s a great gift for any young(ish) man you know casting off into the uncharted waters of student living or living on his own. At least you know he won’t starve.
Publishers Summersdale £4.99 ISBN 1840243619
Rude Food
As you can see from the cover, this book has a clear agenda. Food as a prelude to luuuurve. The great thing is that all the recipes are, naturally, for two. This saves all the usual mathematical problems involved in cutting down normal dinner party recipes. Luke Cox’s basic premise is not just that certain foods physically fuel the libido, although that is touched on (if you’ll pardon the expression), but that it’s also the act of eating that can be erotic. Mind you anyone who has seen Nigella Lawson gobble an asparagus knows that. So he chooses dishes that look and feel sexy, as well as ones that encourage you to use your hands. There are no pictures, so you need to use your imagination but that’s not a bad thing and at least you won’t get seduced (ho, ho) into trying to recreate some photographer’s stylish effort. For just a fiver, there’s a lot of fun between these covers.
Publishers Summersdale £4.99 ISBN 1840242779
Masterchef Goes Large
The television series that had us all ashamed of our feeble cooking skills has returned. But with a brand new flavour. 100 contestants put through their paces to find the ultimate Masterchef 2005. The old series was sometimes a bit slow, so the new version turns up the heat and makes the recipes more relevant to the way we live today. Most importantly the contestants have had to learn to learn – to listen to experts and see how to work in a professional way. This accompanying book has all the recipes, which vary from simple to complex, but are always fantastic. What elevates it are the Masterclasses, a backbone of basic cookery techniques that aim to have you walking before you attempt to run. Because most of us have bitten off more than we can chew with fancy recipes that have turned into culinary disasters, John Torode takes time out every few pages to give expert advice on basic sauce making, fish filleting, mash making, egg poaching and much more. You might think you know it all already, but you don’t. It’s a book to inspire you with confidence and the quality of the photography is as good as the writing. Definitely a first choice for a practical cookbook that also raises the bar for what you can achieve with just a little effort. From home cook to expert chef.
Publishers Ebury £14.99 ISBN 0091905575
