http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com collaborative book reviews about all things food and wine Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:34:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 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 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/5083_how-to-eat-nigella-lawson-1999-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5083_how-to-eat-nigella-lawson-1999-uk#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:07:15 +0000 Daniel Chan http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5083 In the world of the celebrity chef, where books are churned out every year along with the television show and the newly endorsed kitchen products, it can be easy to forget that at some point there was a reason why these people became famous in the first place. Nigella Lawson is a case in point – the same flirtatious looks to the television camera, the coquettishness of her manner, and the double entendre laden words. The constant mining of a new angle – quick food, summer food, baking, this fashion, that trend – a battle to keep the personality fresh and the profits flowing. Lawson started her career in food as a columnist, and the quality of her work led to her writing a book. “How To Eat” was first published in 1998 and it became a bestseller. The two keys to its success were the high quality of Lawson’s writing and the common sense she offers about cooking. The first sign of a practical mind is the way she arranged this book. Chapters devoted to cooking for one or two, weekend lunches, and feeding babies and small children, shows someone who understands modern life. The recipes she provides use ingredients that are easy to find and use reasonably straightforward techniques. Ten years down the track and “How To Eat” is as joyful a read as ever. I suspect that in fifty years' time, people will still be reading it.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5083_how-to-eat-nigella-lawson-1999-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5046_the-healthy-college-cookbook-alexandra-nimetz-2008-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5046_the-healthy-college-cookbook-alexandra-nimetz-2008-us#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:28:58 +0000 JudithM http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5046 The Healthy College Cookbook is intended for American college students with no knowledge of cooking and perhaps little time. The 300 recipes range from simple healthy breakfast dishes to desserts, with a good range of savoury dishes between. The range of recipes feels modern (though maybe underseasoned) and the advice is very helpful, making this a useful and tasty book, though perhaps a little dry for some students. A good gift for many students or young people living alone.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5046_the-healthy-college-cookbook-alexandra-nimetz-2008-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4997_warm-bread-and-honey-cake-gaitri-pagrach-chandra-2010-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4997_warm-bread-and-honey-cake-gaitri-pagrach-chandra-2010-us#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:05:49 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4997 Food historian Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra takes us on a gastronomic journey to more than twenty countries with the recipes she's collected from her friends and artisan bakers around the world during her colorful life. For many of the recipes, she provides the history and shares the experience of tasting the authentic article. With plenty of beautiful photographs, the book will transport you out of the rut of your usual French and American breads and pastries and take you to less familiar locales.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4997_warm-bread-and-honey-cake-gaitri-pagrach-chandra-2010-us/feed 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4947_tartine-elisabeth-m-prueitt-2006-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4947_tartine-elisabeth-m-prueitt-2006-us#comments Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:57 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4947 Tartine is a remarkable book that allows the home baker to recreate breakfast pastries, tarts, cakes, and puddings from the renowned California bakery. The authors didn't hold back anything in making the book, taking from most of their entire menu, yet the recipes are mostly accessible and the skill level required ranges from beginner to intermediate. Most importantly, many of the desserts from the book have a rustic charm but are still delicious and beautiful enough to be showstoppers. The photography of the book, taken behind the scenes at the Tartine Bakery, captures the dream-like quality of the desserts and the remarkable skill of the artisans who make them.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4947_tartine-elisabeth-m-prueitt-2006-us/feed 2 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4721_from-pasta-to-pancakes-tiffany-goodall-2009-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4721_from-pasta-to-pancakes-tiffany-goodall-2009-uk#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:04:38 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4721 Students seem to have been a new target for publishers in 2009, with at least four student-oriented cookbooks appearing. I guess publishers anticipated that students wouldn’t be able to afford the stereotypical diet of burgers, chips, pizzas, noodles and beer. An entertaining and attractive book, From Pasta to Pancakes, the Ultimate Student Cookbook is the work of young British food personality Tiffany Goodall. Unfortunately, despite the innovative presentation and the worthy intention of teaching food-illiterate students how to cook, the book is disappointing.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4721_from-pasta-to-pancakes-tiffany-goodall-2009-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4641_roses-heavenly-cakes-rose-levy-beranbaum-2009-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4641_roses-heavenly-cakes-rose-levy-beranbaum-2009-us#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:20:18 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4641 Rose's Heavenly Cakes is Rose Levy Beranbaum's follow-up to the acclaimed The Cake Bible, with almost 100 cakes that aim to please a wide variety of tastes. Beranbaum's meticulous style may please some well-equipped home bakers in a temperate climate, but others might find them too fastidious, controlling, limiting, and overly complicated for what are really supposed to be simple cakes. Frustratingly, even following the recipe to the letter can give results that still leave something to be desired.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4641_roses-heavenly-cakes-rose-levy-beranbaum-2009-us/feed 3 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4533_valvona-and-crolla-mary-contini-2009-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4533_valvona-and-crolla-mary-contini-2009-uk#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:37:15 +0000 Helen Parkins http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4533 Based on the food served at Edinburgh's best-known Italian deli-cafe, Valvona and Crolla, this new recipe book makes for an evocative and mouth-watering read. Organised around the four seasons, there are recipes, personal stories and mini-travelogues, hints and tips, and detailed ingredient information specific to each time of year. Inspiration abounds throughout, supported by recipes which are as reliable as they are tempting. All in all, 'Valvona and Crolla: A Year at an Italian Table' is a veritable feast for foodlovers.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4533_valvona-and-crolla-mary-contini-2009-uk/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4567_life-is-sweet-hope-and-greenwood-2009-uk http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4567_life-is-sweet-hope-and-greenwood-2009-uk#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:26:41 +0000 JudithM http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4567 Life is Sweet is about making various types of confectionery at home, traditional and modern. The authors are the owners of the Hope and Greenwood confectionery shops in London and are experienced sweet makers. The recipes include a wide range of cooked and uncooked sweets, from rich dark truffles and chocolate with chilli and lime to marshmallows, nougat, toffee apples, old fashioned ‘pulled’ toffees and salt licorice. If you enjoy astonishing your friends with new home cooked goodies, this is a book to add to your bookshelf.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4567_life-is-sweet-hope-and-greenwood-2009-uk/feed 1