Product Description

In Gourmet Express, popular TV cook Ainsley Harriott takes a fresh look at the best and tastiest fast food on offer. He goes out and about to explore what we eat when we're in a hurry and gives us lots of appetizing alternatives that are easy and speedy to make at home. With the emphasis on making good food quickly rather than recreating take-away food, Ainsley Harriott's Gourmet Express encourages us to change our cooking and eating habits, opting for the great-tasting, healthier, home-made option.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #432646 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Another TV series, another book. The energetic Ainsley Harriott rides back into our kitchens on board the Gourmet Express, fizzing as always with ideas and enthusiasm. His mission this time is to persuade us away from the freezer, the microwave and the telephone at the end of a long day, when we're tired, stressed and hungry. He wants to show us how we can eat well and imaginatively, with little more effort and at considerably less expense, by cooking for ourselves instead of reaching for a ready-made meal or phoning for a take-away. As he points out, "food has never been more exciting or inspiring than it is today". Given intelligent shopping in supermarkets and food shops, and a judiciously maintained store cupboard, we really only have ourselves to blame if our diet becomes a bore. It certainly won't do that with Ainsley around. He has the most amazing knack of coming up with interesting, tasty, fresh-sounding food, time after time, sourced it seems from all round the world. True to his theme, the current book concentrates on fast food, with lots of snacks and street-food type recipes: Celtic Samosas (the insides are green and white), Paper Potato Pizza, Café Chilli Beef Tacos are a few of these. There are a number that require a bit more time and attention (a cracking Shepherd's Pie, for instance), but most dishes come in at well under the hour for both preparation and cooking. Fans of Ainsley Harriott will know what to expect, and they won't be disappointed. As ever, the book is beautifully produced and clearly laid out, a pleasure to use. There is the usual quota of pictures of Ainsley, some striking a more pensive note than hitherto (connoisseurs will be interested to note), and the punning recipe titles have the requisite love-them-or-loathe-them pizzazz. -- Robin Davidson

Review
Written to accompany the TV series, "Gourmet Express", by that inimitable chef Ainsley Harriott, aims to stop people buying ready-made food and eat fresh, home-cooked meals instead. Understanding today's hectic pace of life, Ainsley ensures all the recipes are quick to make - often taking less time than reheating a pre-packaged meal. Using fresh, seasonal produce, he also ensures the recipes are healthy. Gleaned from his travels around the world, it is a cosmopolitan collection of tasty dishes: iced cafe latte cups, spicy Spanish patatas bravas and green onion chapatis mix with traditional British fare such as minted mushy chip-shop peas, golden crumb-crunch scampi and Granny's corned-beef hash and fried egg. Appealing to every taste, the recipes also cater for a range of cooking methods: grilling, woks, baking or frying to give variety and encourage cooks to alter their cooking routines. So next time you think of a takeaway or look at the cellophane-wrapped cartons in the supermarket, stop and buy something tasty instead and make a delicious, exciting meal from the innovative concoctions in this book. - Lucy Watson

About the Author
Voted Good Food Magazine "Favourite Television Personality" in both 1997 and 1998, Ainsley Harriott is one of the nation’s most popular TV chefs. First appearing on our screens as the flamboyant resident chef of BBC1’s Good Morning with Anne and Nick, Ainsley now makes regular appearances on cookery programmes such as Can’t Cook Won’t Cook, Ready Steady Cook and Meals in Minutes. His recent series and accompanying BBC books, Ainsley Harriott’s Barbecue Bible and Ainsley’s Big Cook Out, have captured the nation’s imagination with sizzling ideas for summer cooking.

Customer Reviews

Does What It's Supposed To
You've seen the summary of the book, and really it does what it says on the cover - gives great, easy, quick to prepare meals for those with busy lives.

This is the first Ainsley Harriot book I have purchased and I would really recommend it. There are a good range of recipes, for every occassion, but you don't have to be a French chef to be able to follow them, and most have basic ingredients. Preparation is easy - in most cases there are only 2 steps to the recipe - it could not be simpler! It's definitely what you need if you have just came home from work at 9p.m. starving and need good, tasty food in a hurry.

I have tried several of the recipes now and they have turned out well - so it's not just a case of looking at nice pictures which you could never hope to copy!

The only down point is that I would have liked to have seen a list of store cupboard ingredients in the book recommending what people should have on hand - but it's not a big problem as you'll get to know the recipes and know what you need.

I will buy more of his books. Thanks Ainsley!

The Gourmet Express
I'm not one for cook books and I've never been interested in TV chefs - but Ainsley Harriott has changed all that for me. Inspired by Ainsley's personality I rushed out and got myself a copy of The Gourmet Express and I live by it. The recipes are easy to do and everything is explained simply, so it's fun too. The variety is fantastic and I look forward to trying the dishes out. I am eagerly awaiting further cook books from the genious himself! 5 stars all the way

Fabulous! Another marvellous book from Ainsley
Ainsley has done it again! This book combines mouthwatering recipes, sensuous pictures and Ainsley's easy to follow style. All the recipes are perfectly manageable by any level cook, and Ainsley makes everything seem possible, and with his guidance and handy hints and tips, anyone can create one of his Gourmet Express meals.

This is suitable for all ages and levels of ability, and a wonderful accompaniment to his TV series.

Can't wait for his next book!