http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com collaborative book reviews about all things food and wine Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:32:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5794_paco-torreblanca-2-paco-torreblanca-2006-es http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5794_paco-torreblanca-2-paco-torreblanca-2006-es#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:54:01 +0000 Gfron1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5794 What if Mozart or Einstein handed you their notebook and said, “Here, go have fun.” Such a gift would be overwhelming in generosity as well as challenge. When Paco Torreblanca offers this gift in Paco Torreblanca 2, he adds, “Now let’s see what we can do together.” A serious, no-nonsense book for people who take pastry seriously, Paco Torreblanca 2 focuses on integrating natural ingredients into microcosmic eye candy.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5794_paco-torreblanca-2-paco-torreblanca-2006-es/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5232_momofuku-david-chang-2009-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5232_momofuku-david-chang-2009-us#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2010 06:49:47 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5232 David Chang, owner of the famed New York restaurants Momofuku Noodle Bar, Ssäm Bar and Ko, chronicles his journey from noodle-eater to noodle-maker and guides us through more than 50 of his most popular recipes that showcase the fusion of modern technique and classic Asian comfort food. Throughout the book he gives us a peek into the creative process and the story behind each dish, citing his influences, failures, and inspirations. The recipes can be daunting and the flavors sometimes need tweaking, but ambitious home cooks should have little problem replicating or improving on the dishes, though the weak instructions and badly converted measurements might lead them astray. While there has been plenty of media focus on Chang's "bad-boy" image, he still comes across as approachable and self-deprecating at best, and at worst annoying and trying too hard, but never offensive. Fans of modern Asian cuisine and the Momofuku empire will find the book both entertaining and fascinating. [Editor's note: Don't miss our book giveaway too!]]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5232_momofuku-david-chang-2009-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2466_worth-a-look-molecular-basics http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2466_worth-a-look-molecular-basics#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:02:24 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=2466 Heiko Antoniewicz describes the fundamentals of molecular cuisine by way of 60 fantastic recipes. There are many step-by-step descriptions, the different texturizers are clearly explained and the recipes are given in detail so that success is guaranteed.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2466_worth-a-look-molecular-basics/feed 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2092_new-release-ingredienti-lecalandre http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2092_new-release-ingredienti-lecalandre#comments Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:58:54 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=2092 Winner of the "Gourmand World Cookbook Award 2007" as the best cookbook in the world, In.gredienti summarizes the gastronomic philosophy that has put Le Calandre in the forefront of modern cuisine in Italy and the world.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2092_new-release-ingredienti-lecalandre/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/1787_alinea-grant-achatz-2008-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/1787_alinea-grant-achatz-2008-us#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:20:25 +0000 Daniel Chan http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=1787 Along with Heston Blumenthal’s “The Big Fat Duck Cookbook” and Ferran Adria’s “A Day at elBulli”, Grant Achatz’s “Alinea” was one of three highly anticipated books on molecular gastronomy released in 2008. The merits of molecular gastronomy have been argued in many forums and over countless dinners. While Blumenthal’s book provides a strong case that there is substance behind the hype, Achatz’s book may provide ammunition for those who don’t support the culinary revolutionaries. The recipes in the book are visually stunning and the techniques can leave you in wide eyed awe, but there is a gaping hole in that there are too few words from Achatz about his creations. It is also noticeable that the most satisfying writing in the book was by other contributors. It is these weaknesses that left me disappointed in the Alinea cookbook. Remove the essays, especially the one by Jeffrey Steingarten, and you may feel that the emperor has no clothes.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/1787_alinea-grant-achatz-2008-us/feed 4 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/1009_the-big-fat-duck-cookbook-heston-blumenthal-2008-uk-review http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/1009_the-big-fat-duck-cookbook-heston-blumenthal-2008-uk-review#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:24:18 +0000 Daniel Chan http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=1009 It’s 43cm long, 33cm wide, 8cm thick, weighs about five kilograms, has 534 pages, and was one of the most anticipated cookbooks in 2008. From the silver embossed slipcase to the photography and artwork, the writing and the feel of the paper, it would be hard not to notice and admire the Big Fat Duck Cookbook on the shelves of a bookstore. On initial impressions, perhaps like the restaurant itself, the book appears to be an intimidating creature. Open it and you will be hit by Heston Blumenthal’s passion. Inside is the story of Blumenthal and his restaurant, the recipes and stories behind many of the dishes from the Fat Duck, and a series of essays explaining the science behind the food. Beyond the science, there are journeys into food history, philosophy, personal anecdotes, humour, and the sheer dumb luck that can trigger a great idea. It is a dizzying amount of information in one book. But for those who have read Blumenthal’s previous books, his newspaper columns, or seen his TV show will know that he has a gift for explaining complicated concepts in terms that the layman can understand.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/1009_the-big-fat-duck-cookbook-heston-blumenthal-2008-uk-review/feed 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/355_under-pressure-thomas-keller-2008-us-brief http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/355_under-pressure-thomas-keller-2008-us-brief#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:08:45 +0000 Gfron1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=355 The 2008-2009 class of modernist cookbooks was stellar. It seems that chefs and authors have recognized that a growing class of home cooks has filled their pantry with calcium lactate, agar agar, gelatin sheets and lecithin. The days of flashy coffee table books filled with out-of-reach food porn have been pushed aside for star studded cook books filled with National Geographic worthy photos and accessible (albeit challenging) recipes. Among this class we can find Johnny Iuzinni, Grant Achatz, Joel Robuchon and Thomas Keller. The latter leads the class in its yawp to cooks and chefs across the globe that its time to look forward while keeping your roots solid and well honed. At just shy of 300 pages with high quality color pictures on half of the pages, and more recipes than my vacuum packer can handle, this cookbook packs a wallop. Consider sous vide’s espoused virtues – “Fruits, which are especially susceptible to rapid oxidation and discoloration, remain bright when cooked sous vide rather than becoming dull and brown,” or “Fish, perhaps more than any protein, has such a small window of doneness that it requires the most finesse on the part of the cook. Sous vide makes cooking fish easier and more consistent, especially in a busy kitchen.” These are tidbits that welcome the home cook into the industrial kitchen with open arms. If you’re interested in rolling up your sleeves, plugging in the circulator, and cranking out some amazing foods, then this is a great option for you.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/355_under-pressure-thomas-keller-2008-us-brief/feed 2 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/313_a-day-at-elbulli-ferran-adria-2009-uk-full http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/313_a-day-at-elbulli-ferran-adria-2009-uk-full#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:21:27 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=313 In the public imagination, the leading light of what has commonly been called the Molecular Gastronomy movement is the restaurant elBulli and its head chef, Ferran Adrià. For many years, elBulli has produced large, beautiful volumes of innovative dishes, techniques and the philosophy of their creation, first in Spanish and then, with some delay, in English. Unattainably expensive for many chefs and non-chefs alike, these books have provided one of the few clear insights into what Ferran Adrià and his restaurant is about, minus the breathless enthusiasm of food critics or hyped "weird-shit" descriptions of lesser food writers. At last there is a book that is aimed at the public, perhaps leading to better understanding of what this approach to cooking and eating is about. Sceptics might not make it through to the interesting bits, however, as this book is a vanity work of many pages and photos that only becomes interesting the further you look. In many ways this is little more than a coffee table book, yet fails in that form. It is simultaneously dull, unwieldy, informative and complex. The "potted guide" to elBulli, to use a slightly old fashioned term, just without the brevity!]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/313_a-day-at-elbulli-ferran-adria-2009-uk-full/feed 6