So, I guess it's time I wrote a review of the book that was the catalyst for this little project. Gordon Ramsay's Great Escape has something for everyone. It is the culinary chronicle of his tour through India in search of authentic Indian cooking. It's no spoiler to say that he found what he was looking for. The dishes in this book are indeed authentic. Mr. Ramsay must be congratulated for not "cheffing" up the recipes. They are largely presented as he learned them from the cooks (at street stalls and restaurants, homes and train cars, slums and five star hotels). Although he does make some modifications to allow for availability of ingredients and Western cooking facilities and techniques, he notes these. Some of the recipes are his own, inspired by his travels. Throughout the book, he has stayed as true as possible to the style and taste of the food he experienced. I thank him for that. The recipes are representative of most of the major regional styles and dishes of India. Korma, biryani, kofta, pakoras, kebabs, dals, raitas, chutneys, and more make their appearance. The recipes are easy to follow and the results are spectacular. The book is organized by category: starters and snacks, fish, poultry and meat, vegetarian, breads and rice, chutneys and accompaniments, sweets and drinks - and each section has its own contents page. Makes it very easy to find a specific item, or just explore in a particular section. Each section contains about 14-15 recipes. Because Mr. Ramsay has tried to include items representative of as many regions and cultures as possible, the recipes are not repetitive. Each has its own unique flavoring, texture, and style. Each one is its own adventure!
One could love the book just for the recipes, but the lavish photographs are a treat in and of themselves. Most of the recipes include a photograph so you can compare your results. The food photography is lovely and inviting. The travel photos and portraiture connect the food to the lives of the people who brought the world this magnificent and creative cuisine. Our children love to look through the book and are drawn to the photographs of the children. Kids love to see pictures of other kids, especially when those other kids live half a world away. It's fun for our kids to imagine that the children in the book just ate the same kind of rice that we just ate.
I know this will be one of my best-used cookbooks.
I am in Cambridge now and last night went for Indian food at a place named Mahatma. Interesting the reaction you get from waiters here when you appear familiar with Indian food. The first words out of his mouth were, the food isn't spicy, as in you are probably not going to like this much - we've made it bland to appeal to local tastes. His warning did not disappoint, garlin naan which tasted like pizza dough, a tiki masala that was sugary, etc. Look forward to a good Indian meal at home. The next step for Gordon R. to open a chain of authentic Indian places in the UK. I think there is a market for it. Not everyone wants to eat bland starchy food over here. Michael
ReplyDelete