Lumiere

Rating:
Summary: For special occassions and inspiration
Review: Having eaten at Rob Feenie's restaurant several times and having cooked from this cookbook, I can say that while you probably don't want to cook from this on a daily basis, a three or four course menu is very doable on a Sunday if you are well organized and a decent home cook. However, quite a number of recipes can be made by themselves on most nights. It's a beautifully put together cookbook with gorgeous pictures and cute anecdotes, Feenie's easygoing personality comes through nicely.

I took away one star for the poorly organized index (why beef shortribs is under M for meat and not B for Beef is beyond me) and the occassional typo within the recipes themselves.

Rating:
Summary: AMAZING!
Review: I gave myself this cookbook for Christmas....I couldn't resist. The book is sheer poetry with wonderful full colour photos of dishes. Feenie divides the book up into the following sections: Spring, Summer, Autumnn, Winter, and Basics. Under each he provides you with three different menus to choose from: Vegetarian, Seafood, and Signature. The recipes are broken up as follows: about the recipe, to prepare, to assemble, and wine. He offers many tips throughout and his various musings on food which are a delight to read. You just have to read Feenie's introduction to get a feel for this amazing book. He starts off saying, "Five years ago I opened Lumiere because I had something to say. For me, food is conversation. Why and what I cook are my passions and beliefs, shared with anyone who cares to listen. Growing up, I listened to my mother's food and heard it tell me how much she cared. It was a language I wanted to speak....." and he continues to speak to us throughout this wonderful book. This is now my favorite cookbook of all time and makes me proud to be Canadian!

Rating:
Summary: For special occassions and inspiration
Review: This book is one of many I could describe the same way. Great recipes, great cooking, great presentation. Not practical. Yes, I can cook this way, but not in real life. If I want a book for only 6 times a year when I want to spend excessive amounts of time on, I can do it. I can do Charlie Trotter. I just don't want to. Better to look at than use on a regular basis.

Rating:
Summary: YES, HE IS A VERY GOOD COOK. NO, THIS IS NOT A GREAT BOOK.
Review: This book is one of many I could describe the same way. Great recipes, great cooking, great presentation. Not practical. Yes, I can cook this way, but not in real life. If I want a book for only 6 times a year when I want to spend excessive amounts of time on, I can do it. I can do Charlie Trotter. I just don't want to. Better to look at than use on a regular basis.