Gordon Ramsay: A Chef for All Seasons

Rating:
Summary: A chef for all seasons
Review: A cook book following all four seasons by one of the best British chefs. His restaurant is probably the best in England, book one month in advance. His innovative recipes, beautifully illustrated are aimed at the cook at home using only the freshest ingredients. There is a helpful basic recipes and techniques index at the back of the book for the less experienced cook. Anyone who loves cooking and eating food should add this one to their collection.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Cookbook
Review: I purchased this book and Alfred Portale's 12 Seasons Cookbook at the same time. Both are gorgeous to look at and flip through, but I find myself going to this one time and time again for recipes I actually plan to try. Clearly, Gordon Ramsay is a man in love with food and his craft. Don't let what you may have heard about him (e.g., he does not roam through the dining area of his top rated restaurant to glad-hand patrons and solicit their thoughts, believing that anything leaving his kitchen is perfect and beyond criticism) deter you from picking this up!

I found the one theme, intended or not, that makes this a favourite is that many components of the various recipes are interchangeable. For example, there is a great recipe for a lobster and mango/baby spinach salad. I was shopping for ingredients and found the lobster sub-par, so I managed to substitute his marinated tuna recipe in with great success. Same goes with recipes for various pureed sauces and soups. And particularly useful are discussions on the best of seasonal ingredients (notwithstanding that many may not be available to the average cook due to cost, or geographical limitations)

Overall, a top notch book and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Cookbook
Review: I purchased this book and Alfred Portale's 12 Seasons Cookbook at the same time. Both are gorgeous to look at and flip through, but I find myself going to this one time and time again for recipes I actually plan to try. Clearly, Gordon Ramsay is a man in love with food and his craft. Don't let what you may have heard about him (e.g., he does not roam through the dining area of his top rated restaurant to glad-hand patrons and solicit their thoughts, believing that anything leaving his kitchen is perfect and beyond criticism) deter you from picking this up!

I found the one theme, intended or not, that makes this a favourite is that many components of the various recipes are interchangeable. For example, there is a great recipe for a lobster and mango/baby spinach salad. I was shopping for ingredients and found the lobster sub-par, so I managed to substitute his marinated tuna recipe in with great success. Same goes with recipes for various pureed sauces and soups. And particularly useful are discussions on the best of seasonal ingredients (notwithstanding that many may not be available to the average cook due to cost, or geographical limitations)

Overall, a top notch book and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A bright star of the London culinary scene...
Review: In the past decade, a revolution has taken place in the dining rooms across London, led by chefs armed with a traditional French training, respect for the integrity of ingredients, and a taste for the daring. Chef Gordon Ramsay has led the charge with his innovative, season-based cuisine, earning critical acclaim and coveted Michelin stars for his eponymous London restaurant. While American audiences may be in the in dark on this rising culinary star, he's revered by the likes of Charlie Trotter as "one of the UK's hottest young chefs." In A CHEF FOR ALL SEASONS Gordon shares over 100 recipes that embody his commitment to featuring the best quality ingredients in unusual pairings, from lavender with chocolate to lobster with mango to peaches with thyme. The beautiful color photography and Gordon's thoughtful discussions of key ingredients and culinary techniques will seduce your senses while elevating your awareness of the bounty of each season.

· Contains culinary tips and down-to-earth advice from a British chef who is acknowledged as a master of French cooking.

· The New York Times says Ramsay "cooks with subtlety, refinement, and clarity.

Charlie Trotter on Gordon Ramsay: "By using the very best of seasonal ingredients and combining them sensitively in innovative combinations, Gordon gets the best out of the ingredients and creates dishes which melt in the mouth."

Rating:
Summary: Great Scots Chef
Review: These are the words Charlie Trotter described Ramsey's cooking. I bought this based upon a recommendation about new, hot cookbooks coming out. Sometimes one is really disappointed with the final product.

By first inspection, I imagined this was another of those letdowns. Beautiful photos, seasonal recipe organization,and what appeared to be bland style recipes.

But upon trying several, this book delivers Trotter's assessment: purity and elegance. Although tried only Cauliflower and Sorrel Soup, Tomato And Parmesan Gratinee Tarts and Duck Breasts with Endive Tarts, this food is elegant and tastes are clean, distinct and so, so satisfying.

Anxious to explore this hot London cook even more.

Rating:
Summary: A Cookbook Of Purity and Elegance
Review: These are the words Charlie Trotter described Ramsey's cooking. I bought this based upon a recommendation about new, hot cookbooks coming out. Sometimes one is really disappointed with the final product.

By first inspection, I imagined this was another of those letdowns. Beautiful photos, seasonal recipe organization,and what appeared to be bland style recipes.

But upon trying several, this book delivers Trotter's assessment: purity and elegance. Although tried only Cauliflower and Sorrel Soup, Tomato And Parmesan Gratinee Tarts and Duck Breasts with Endive Tarts, this food is elegant and tastes are clean, distinct and so, so satisfying.

Anxious to explore this hot London cook even more.

Rating:
Summary: Great Scots Chef
Review: With a talent for the simple and elegant, Gordon has produced a book with class. Typical of Ramseys attention to detail a multi-tude of simple and surprisingly easy recipes. No poncy overblown recipes here just class. And to think he played for Glasgow Rangers Soccer team. what he lacked in finesse on the field he more than makes up with finesse in the kitchen and nice to here him singing the praises of the quality of Scots ingredients.