http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com collaborative book reviews about all things food and wine Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:58:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/12846_made-in-sicily-giorgio-locatelli-2011-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/12846_made-in-sicily-giorgio-locatelli-2011-uk#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:56:58 +0000 Alison Vincent http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=12846 Giorgio Locatelli is often referred to as one of the world’s best Italian chefs (or words to that effect) so it goes without saying that he knows a thing or two about Italian food. In this book he takes the reader on a most enjoyable journey around Sicily as he explores and explains the traditions and history of Sicilian food, meeting growers, producers and restaurateurs along the way. Locatelli’s enthusiasm and personality and the collection of recipes which admirably demonstrates the simplicity and strong flavours of Sicilian food make Made in Sicily both a good read and a good resource for anyone wanting to capture a little bit of Sicily for themselves.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/12846_made-in-sicily-giorgio-locatelli-2011-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/11773_the-art-of-eating-cookbook-edward-behr-2011-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/11773_the-art-of-eating-cookbook-edward-behr-2011-us#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:50:44 +0000 Gfron1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=11773 Recipes that are timeless. Recipes that have endured. Recipes that hold enough cultural significance that they’ve adorned the pages of Art of Eating magazine. The Art of Eating Cookbook is a no fuss, no frills anthology of recipes that work, taste great, and are doable by any level of cook.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/11773_the-art-of-eating-cookbook-edward-behr-2011-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/11258_odd-bits-jennifer-mclagan-2011-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/11258_odd-bits-jennifer-mclagan-2011-us#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 02:54:51 +0000 Gfron1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=11258 Jennifer McLagan’s final stage of her trilogy, including the much lauded Bones (2005) and Fat (2007), is a comprehensive exploration of those animal parts that are ignored or tossed in the bin, and the word fascinating would be the ultimate understatement in describing this book. Odd Bits is her final manifesto to the world of daring or squeamish cooks to take a new look at less common parts of the animals, and is one of the best cookbooks of 2011.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/11258_odd-bits-jennifer-mclagan-2011-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/10461_modern-cookery-for-private-families-eliza-action-2011-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/10461_modern-cookery-for-private-families-eliza-action-2011-uk#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2011 08:09:47 +0000 Alison http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=10461 Publishers Quadrille have produced a version of Eliza Acton's famous Modern Cookery for Private Families, first published in 1845. Essential reading for anyone interested in food and history, so much of what Eliza Acton had to say is as true today as it was more than 150 years ago. Acton gives valuable insight into the Victorian kitchen, and her prose is a pleasure to read.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/10461_modern-cookery-for-private-families-eliza-action-2011-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/10140_reinventing-food-colman-andrews-2010-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/10140_reinventing-food-colman-andrews-2010-uk#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 10:59:37 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=10140 Colman Andrews paints a sympathetic and informative picture of Ferran Arià, a chef who, through passion, obsession and creative focus, almost accidentally made the culinary earth move. Reinventing Food is worth reading both for the interested and the unbelievers. Especially for the latter group, frequently sceptical of modernist cuisine because of the media depiction of it being laboratory food lacking soul but oozing "cleverness", Reinventing Food might shed more light on what really is significant and fascinating and (perhaps) delicious about so many aspects of Adrià's contribution to the culinary world.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/10140_reinventing-food-colman-andrews-2010-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/8789_thai-street-food-david-thompson-2009-au http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/8789_thai-street-food-david-thompson-2009-au#comments Tue, 11 Jan 2011 04:31:56 +0000 Daniel Chan http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=8789 “Thai Street Food” is David Thompson’s homage to the markets, food stands and mobile vendors of Thailand. As with his groundbreaking previous book, “Thai Food”, Thompson explains the evolution of the food, and the systems and culture that sustains it. However, readers should not think of this book as being a street food version of his first book - to do so would only lead to disappointment. Thompson’s aim here is to give the reader an insight into what Thais eat every day and how it fits into their lives. The hour-by-hour changes in the food available to Thais in the street markets is constantly emphasised in the book. The combination of his writing and Earl Carter's photographs is so seductive that it’s hard to resist the urge to catch the next flight to Bangkok to experience the culture Thompson has adopted as his own.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/8789_thai-street-food-david-thompson-2009-au/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/8611_kitchen-nigella-lawson-2010-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/8611_kitchen-nigella-lawson-2010-uk#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:16:07 +0000 Sarah http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=8611 Nigella Lawson, queen of the celebrity chefs, is back. Kitchen is the culmination of Nigella’s life-long love affair with the kitchen. Comprising 190 recipes over 488 pages, Kitchen is a compendious tome, combining Nigella’s conversational writing style with lovely colour photographs by Lis Parsons. Its practical, delicious recipes and engaging writing make it destined to become sauce-splattered and well used in the kitchen, but also well-read and loved outside of it too.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/8611_kitchen-nigella-lawson-2010-uk/feed 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6197_apples-sara-paston-williams-2009-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6197_apples-sara-paston-williams-2009-uk#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:59:13 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=6197 The National Trust's (UK) book on apples is probably everything a good British gardener would need to develop an orchard of delicious lesser-known apple varieties. One of a series of useful little books, this volume covers some history of the apple, culinary and cultural, the supposed health benefits, origins of various cultivars old and new, and horticultural tips for growing trees in various settings. This is a valuable and charming book for British readers and for curious fruit growers and apple lovers in other places.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6197_apples-sara-paston-williams-2009-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5527_the-modern-cafe-francisco-migoya-2010-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5527_the-modern-cafe-francisco-migoya-2010-us#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:45:08 +0000 Gfron1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5527 The Modern Café is an excellent guide and inspiration for culinary professionals and those aspiring to have a great café. Beautiful photographs and informative side boxes generously fill the pages. The knowledge is invaluable, the recipes are fresh and exciting, and the business acumen could move you from failed restaurant to the star of your community. ]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5527_the-modern-cafe-francisco-migoya-2010-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5200_adventures-with-chocolate-paul-a-young-2009-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5200_adventures-with-chocolate-paul-a-young-2009-uk#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:01:40 +0000 Helen Parkins http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5200 An exciting new book by a renowned and pioneering master chocolatier for anyone serious about their chocolate, filled with innovative and unusual recipes that will challenge, intrigue, and delight the tastebuds in equal measure. ]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5200_adventures-with-chocolate-paul-a-young-2009-uk/feed 1