Is This a Cookbook?

November 7, 2022
Blumenthal (Further Adventures in Search of Perfection: Reinventing Kitchen Classics), a Michelin-starred British chef and restaurateur, champions “noticing things, finding connections, responding emotionally, taking everything in and turning it into experiences” in this offbeat journal-cum-cookbook. Recipes are listed on the left side of the page while Blumenthal’s observations and cooking tips appear on the right (“These beans bring a bit of a firmer texture to the salad,” Blumenthal writes next to the recipe for pan bagnat). The 70 entries evoke childlike playfulness, as with the recipe for a banana and parsley smoothie, which includes a note that bananas make people fart. The sandwich section showcases such savory dishes as a kimcheese toastie, a rich melt that delivers heat, creaminess, and a pickled tang. Dinners are simple but filling and include taco variations, recognizable curry dishes, and classic fish and chips. A delicate hemp milk panna cotta with rhubarb compote, meanwhile, will make a sweet finish for any meal. McKean’s sepia-toned ink drawings that appear throughout will put readers in mind of John Tenniel’s Alice in Wonderland images. This heady ode to the joy of intuitive cooking is a tasty head trip.

November 1, 2022

Prolific cookbook author and British celebrity chef Blumenthal (Heston Blumenthal at Home; The Fat Duck Cookbook) is back to challenge taste buds. However, home chefs need not shy away as the recipes are more likely to provoke the palate than culinary skills. This will delight folks looking to dabble in gastronomy without five-star efforts. Dishes are distinctly UK-inspired and can be whimsical and comforting to the right reader, such as ham and pea soup in a sandwich. Dave McKean, Blumenthal's longtime collaborator, provides quirky illustrations that reflect the playfulness of the recipes. Food photography is also included to spark creativity, and hunger. Cookbook readers will enjoy how the narrative seems plucked from Blumenthal's mind with little thoughts and tips deposited between recipes in illustrations. Recommended for collections looking for a bit of cheeky fun and cookbook readers who enjoyed the likes of Midnight Chicken. VERDICT Perfect as an introduction to gastronomy, Blumenthal's quirky and readable book will delight fans and create new ones. --Sarah Tansley

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