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 enlarge | Author: Nigel Slater
Brand: Books
Category: Book
List Price: £16.99
Buy New: £9.29
You Save: £7.70 (45%)
New (24) Used (4) from £9.29
Avg. Customer Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 2454
Media: Paperback
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.3
ISBN: 0007241151
EAN: 9780007241156
ASIN: 0007241151
Publication Date: April 2, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Fascinating, readable, recipe feast. April 13, 2007
14 out of 16 found this review helpful
Part biography, part lifestyle tome, part recipe book, somehow, out of this tangle of concepts, a gem has emerged. The prose offers insights into the way NS thinks, following on from his autobiography "Toast", and is written in such an engaging and thoughtful way that it is almost enough to buy this book on the writing alone. Almost. The rest of the reason for a justified recommendation is for the recipe ideas. Unusually, these are actually the dishes that Nigel served up for himself and his visitors, rather than being carefully crafted, food-porn visuals, dinner party fayre. The simplicity and purity of flavour that most encompass is inspirational, the food is firmly rooted in the seasons, and provides a handy hints source if you are suddenly called upon to knock up a quick dinner for guests. It is just a shame that one of the most usable cook-books (in every sense) isn't easier to keep open on the kitchen counter top!
Inspirational December 11, 2006
21 out of 26 found this review helpful
A great book for anyone who loves food and needs some inspiration.
This book is a bit of an ego trip for Nigel, as it is very much "Me, me, me..." - but then, you'd expect that with a diary. Nigel whets our appetite in more ways than one as he begins most of his recipes with: "There were four of us this evening." (Substitute two, six or any number in place of the four) I was left wondering which four, and whether they were friends, family, partners- but we aren't told.
Nigel's achievement in this book is to make our tastebuds tingle: from the colourful descriptions of the vegetables at the farmers' markets, to the smell of the cheeses at the deli, every recipe is an assault on the senses. The recipes themselves are not necessarily ingenious, or even original, but what is conveyed constantly is Nigel's passion for food. The recipes themselves are often simple- in fact sometimes they aren't recipes at all, but just wonderful mouth-watering descriptions of what Nigel put on his plate that day; such as chunky quality sausages with thyme-baked squash.
I especially liked Nigel's innovative recipes for left-overs, which made me more experimental too- more prepared to have a go combining bits of this and that to make a unique supper dish, a la Nigel!
Any criticisms? Well, only the layout- the photographs aren't necessarily next to the recipes, so you dip and dive a bit to work out exactly what is what, but I guess that's intentional - as this is not so much a recipe book as a diary with photographs.
So if you want to be a bit of a voyeur, and pick up some great recipes at the same time, this is the book for you, but don't expect a recipe book divided into meat, veg and puds-'cos this isn't it.
 Kitchen essential December 10, 2006
17 out of 20 found this review helpful
This is just a fabulous book - firstly (as long as you have the hardback) it is just a sheer pleasure to hold this book - part cloth cover, stitched sections and glorious photos - but it's even better when you read it. Have just been fed tonight n the food for Dec 12 (hubby is a great cook!) - Duck, peas with mint and an absoulutely fabulous lemon and ginger pudding - all wonderful and relativey easy (hubby reckoned the pud was the easiest ever until I reminded him about the chocolate pud in the river cafe easy - chocolate and cream only!!)
We have had a variety of recipes over the year since I bought the book at a bargain 8.99 and all have been good and easy - as we have come to expect from Slater.
I really can't recommend this highly enough - so much so that my brother who is a very keen cook is gettingit for Christmas.
BUY!!
As Louis Walsh might say... I liked it December 2, 2006
4 out of 17 found this review helpful
Someone said it was a bit self indulgent but I have to agree a bit but disagree also. It is written in a diary style, so it is all about him, what he did and what was cooked. If it was a more straight forward style then I don't think it would have been a diary and gained some of the 'random' insights in what he buys and cooks.
I have only got through a small section of the book and have enjoyed it.
However, I have been a bit annoyed with many of the photos on being next to the recipe as they might relate to something on the previous page etc. It would have been handier to have what the title was underneath.
beautiful in form and function November 29, 2006
5 out of 18 found this review helpful
Absolutely tremendous.
Gorgeously presented and full of substance. Many of these wonderful recipes are now firm family favourites.
I would heartily commend this insightful and warm tome.
Superb.
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