Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #266 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Synopsis
'I can't tell you how long I've dreamt about writing this book. It's the biggest book I've ever done, and I've really tried to make it a timeless, modern-day classic. Whether you're a student, a young couple, an established cook or a novice, I'll take you through a whole load of simple and accessible recipes that will blow the socks off your family and any guests you might have round for dinner. There's information on the equipment that I think you should have in your kitchen, advice on how to recognize and cook loads of different cuts of meat, as well as on how to get the best value and quality when you're out shopping. 'You know what ...if you're going to eat three times a day for the rest of your life, you might as well learn to cook properly and enjoy it! So, roll up your sleeves and let me help you. Now is the time for you to get stuck in and reclaim your fantastic cooking heritage!'

Customer Reviews

His best book yet!
You know the drill, you see a cookbook in the shop, pick it up and browse through, see about 3 or 4 recipes that grab you and head for the checkout... Then, when you get home and cook a couple you find the rest of the book overly complicated and ultimately it gets tucked away with the rest of the Gordon's, Nigella's etc etc to gather dust. Not so with the latest offering from Mr Oliver... I've bought most of Jamie's books and I've tried a fair few of his recipes over the years, but this book contains the best selection yet in my opinion. I actually bought this particular one for my husband as he'd promised 2008 would be the year he finally learnt to cook more than beans on toast! But I've also found it really comprehensive and easy to follow too. Our favourite recipes so far are pan-roasted salmon with anchovy and rosemary sauce and the pan-fried sirloin steak with chianti butter and olive oil mash. We cooked both of these this weekend and they were amazing. So whether you like Jamie or not, buy this book - if we can cook the recipes and deal with our rather active 9 month old at the same time, anyone can!

....simple, effective, will impress your guests
I am a big fan of the young chap. He used to drive me nuts with his mock East End ramblings, but he is the real deal. Charity begins at home, he really does what he says he believes in. This book is excellent in many respects:
- the sections are clear, to the point and give you good basic information on where the food comes from, how it is cut (for the meats) and the trick and tips are good
- the recipes turn out exactly as given- that's not always the case with cook books. I have cooked 90% of the recipes here and have shared them with many friends at the dinner table - they all love them
- it is not pretentious, and being Italo/Swiss-French living in England I can appreciate this. Most restaurants or recipes in the UK "think" that my culture's cooking needs to be dressed up, detailed with exotic French words (which mean nothing) and presented as the height of elegance and unassailable. It's all rubbish.It's very ok to be "regional", to use food from the "terroir" and to think that your Mama's cooking is the best!
- the Italian cooking is true and pushes for fresh ingredients - that's what Italians want from their cooking
This books shows anyone that food is about fresh ingredients, preparing meals to share with other people - even it is just plain old pasta!

As time goes on he is becoming an old hand at this, but so far he has kept innovating and researching his cooking and his ingredients - he really does like his food.

Just a bit patronising
Just a bit patronising for me. Not as good as his books that just focus on recipes. Bit disappointed, but he;s a millionaire so i;ll bet he won't be too upset!