Publisher's Weekly Review:
Blakeslee's beginner's
guide to all things culinary could prove as essential for new cooks as a
good knife, far exceeding it's stated goal: to give novice cooks a solid
foundation in technique and tools, as well as an understanding of how
they work with raw ingredients to create a finished dish. Essentially
two books in one, a kitchen-basics primer and a recipe collection,
Blakeslee takes his time covering fundamentals like kitchen layout,
ovenware, stocking the pantry, and techniques such as dicing onions,
folding batter, folding napkins, and even boiling water. Dishes are
detailed with the care of a doting mother, instructing with clear text
and more than 1,000 step-by-step photos while avoiding condescension.
Blakeslee heavily favors familiar foods and basic techniques-scrambled
eggs, garlic bread, mac and cheese, and meatloaf-though cooks ready to
expand their repertoire will find dishes like Ahi Tuna Burritos and
tempura vegetables. Blakeslee tosses in everything he can think of for
cooking couples just starting out, including menus for casual and
upscale get-togethers, tips on serving wine, and variations for many of
his recipes. This volume should sustain newlyweds and other cooking
partners well past their first year together.
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