bunyip's Profile

From: Melbourne, VIC Australia

Joined: December 27th, 2009

About me: I've been cooking for over thirty years, and I can remember the days before EVO, couscous and (ghasp!) microwaves. My cookbook collection reflects this personal and national gastronomic history. My own cooking has actually got simpler over the years, and I can do much of my repertoire without looking at a recipe. But I still love collecting cookbooks, although these days I'm a bit over food porn with great big colour photos - I really prefer food writing to recipes.

Favorite cookbook: The Cook's Companion

Salmon with macaroni from A Year of Good Eating: The Kitchen Diaries III

Simple but delicious. Poaching the fish in 600 ml of cream (that's two bottles), which is then poured over the fish and pasta, sounds richer than it is. This is partly due to the dill in the crumb topping. I... read more >

recipe reviews (225)
book reviews (106)
useful review votes (103)

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Cookbook Reviews

Tender

By Nigel Slater
Fourth Estate - 2011

Two large and beautifully designed volumes, one for fruit and one for vegetables - but note that the recipes are by no means only vegetarian.

Slater is a wonderful writer, and very knowledgeable about all sorts of produce. Better still, his recipes are (unlike the currently fashionable Yotam Ottolenghi) not at all intimidating. Every few pages I was reaching for the sticky notes - "must try that".

Note that many of the recipes leave the fine details to your discretion - cook something in "a thick slice of butter" or use a "large" apple. This is my definition of unintimidating, but might flummox the inexperienced. Of course this relaxed attitude does not apply to baking

Up there with Jane Grigson and Stephanie Alexander, really should become a classic.