Readers of my Kitchenist blog will probably be able to guess at the outcome of this review; I’ve been harping on about Rachel Allen’s Home Cooking ever since I first found it under the Christmas tree. In fact, out of the four cookbooks I received this year (thanks honey), this one was the biggest, and best, surprise. Read more…
Nigella Christmas
By Nigella Lawson, published by Chatto & Windus, 2008
It might seem a bit early yet to be reviewing Christmas-themed books here. After all, American Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet, and I do generally prefer Christmas to be kept in December. However, for those of you who do like to plan ahead, I thought it would be a good idea to get a jump on my holiday reading. Read more…
Red Velvet & Chocolate Heartache
By Harry Eastwood, published by Bantam Press, 2009
When my sister pressed her copy of Red Velvet & Chocolate Heartache into my hands last weekend, it came with a warning. “Give it a chance” she urged me, knowing that I was already slightly biased against this book.
“I will, don’t worry” I answered. But inside, I was skeptical. Come on- cakes made with vegetables instead of butter? Who’s buying that one? Read more…
The Big Sur Bakery Cookbook
By Michelle and Philip Wojtowicz and Michael Gibson with Catherine Price, published by Harper Collins, 2009
When I first started reviewing cookbooks here, there was a vague thought in the back of my mind that there might be something in it, other than just enjoyment, for me. Something like “Oh, wouldn’t it be cool if publishers began to send me free books?”. I wasn’t really holding my breath for this, so when I got an email from a HarperCollins rep at the end of June, asking me if I’d like to review The Big Sur Bakery Cookbook, my reaction was something along the lines of “Score!“. I agreed straight away and waited eagerly for this, my first free book, to arrive. Read more…
Tender, Volume I: A cook and his vegetable patch
By Nigel Slater, published by Fourth Estate, 2009
Oh, to eat at Nigel Slater’s table. That’s what I think (wistfully), and what I imagine any sane person would think, on leafing through the food writer’s new book Tender. Published to coincide with the TV series Simple Suppers, I received a copy for my birthday last month (thanks, Hil!), and have been dreaming of its contents ever since. Read more…
Kitchlit on holiday
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I’m off on holiday tomorrow; ten days of family, relaxation, and wonderful food. My trip back home covers both Canadian Thanksgiving and a good friend’s wedding, so I’ll be enjoying myself. I probably won’t be posting until I’m back on the 19th, though I might try to pilfer some of my Mum’s cookbooks to take home with me ;)
Until then, happy cooking!
Vefa’s Kitchen
By Vefa Alexiadou, published by Phaidon, 2009
Since half of my boyfriend’s family is Cypriot, I’ve always had a passing interest in Greek food. (Well, not always- but definitely for the past few years.) This interest was always purely theoretical, though; aside from feta cheese, basil and olives, I never actually liked Greek food very much. For me, it was too reliant on meat, deep-frying and things stuffed with other things. Read more…
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
By Deborah Madison, published by Broadway Books, 1997
Last year, when I decided to give up meat for good, there was one thing I felt it absolutely necessary to do. No, I wasn’t going on a weird pre-veg cleanse or ridding my house of all animal products; this was something far simpler. I just needed to buy a cookbook. Read more…
The Silver Spoon
Published by Phaidon, 2005
First published in Italy in 1950 under the name Il cucchiaio d’argento, The Silver Spoon is widely regarded as one of the most popular Italian cookbooks of all time. A bestseller since its original publication, it went through eight editions in Italian before being printed in English for the first time in 2005. My mum insists that “every Italian bride” receives a copy upon getting married (can any Italian corroborate this?), but I received mine with no strings attached, as a Christmas gift last year. Believe me, when I unwrapped this baby, I was so excited. Read more…
The 30-Minute Cook
By Nigel Slater, published by Penguin, 1994
My mother is a huge Nigel Slater fan. So much so, that if I don’t give this book a glowing review and top marks, I’m bound to hear about it. In Mum’s kitchen, Nigel’s Word is The Gospel, and woe betide anyone who disagrees with Him. (This includes my father, who’s more of a Mark fan.) So when I mentioned a recipe I’d made from The 30-Minute Cook, I was surprised by her reaction. “What?” she practically shrieked, “I haven’t seen that book, are you sure you have the name right?” Not to worry though- she ran out and bought it before the week was up. Read more…
