Shank Sage

Shank Sage

Cooking for Friends is for me one of Gordon ramsay\'s best cookbooks. A wide variety of recipes to suit every palate and cooking ability, it really is a great investment. The book is also beautifully put together with amazing photos that will make your mouth water.

From the front cover flap:-

\'Away from the high-octane energy of the professional kitchen, Gordon\'s home is a relaxed family affair, where cooking s fun and everyone gets involved in preparing food for family and friends. The food Gordon cooks here embodies his strongly held views: use in-season, fresh ingredients at their peak; support local producers and farmers\' markets whenever we can; and celebrate our food culture and its many influences.....

...\'Cooking for Friends\' is full of Gordon\'s best-loved versions of classic British dishes.....and contains more than 100 of his favourite recipes, which he loves to cook and eat with friends and family - uncomplicated recipes but with Gordon\'s remarkable feeling for flavour and his technical know-how.\'

From the introduction:-

\'As a chef, I work at a thousand miles an hour, but when I\'m at home, I want to slow down. I leave my chef\'s jacket at work, and I walk into a domestic setting, where everything is completely different. At home, our kitchen is family-run, and it\'s a relaxed place. A lot of people see cooking as a chore, but we bring an element of fun into it..........\'

269 high quality matt pages split over 9 chapters:-

Hot and cold soups

Pasta and grains

Fish and shellfish

Meat and poultry

Pies and tarts

Vegetables and salads

Puddings and ices

Chocolate and coffee

Basics

sandwiched between a 9-page introduction and a full index, which is enhanced with finished-dish illustrations shown in italics.

Each chapter opens with some relevant notes and a list of the recipes contained within, for quick reference.

Each recipe is clearly laid out with a bold title and relevant text, along wiith the method, the number of servings and the list of ingredients. The page numbers are on the edge of the right hand page, which aids quick flicking!

The book is interspersed with illustrations of the finished dishes, although these are rather fewer than expected, in my opinion.....(hence my four star rating)...... along with on-location shots of GR, his family and friends.

My favourite pud is no particular secret, and, as I share Gordon\'s passion for the caramelized apple flavour and texture in an Apple Tarte Tatin..... his recipe for \'Caramelized Apple Pie\', from page 207, really hits the spot:-

\'I love the flavour of caramelized apples in a tarte tatin, and this is a way of bringing that flavour into a classic apple pie.

Also, because the apples are pre-cooked, they won\'t shrink during baking and create air pockets inside the pie.

I like to serve the pie while it\'s still warm with either a little pouring cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.\'

A delicious twist which makes the finished product taste divine, and following on from G\'s \'Lamb Shank Cassoulet` served with sautéed savoy cabbage and chunks of malted grain bread....simply SUPER to share, after an October stroll in the woods with all our friends!

Which... of course....is what this book is all about!

A taste of other recipes within:-

Asparagus velouté

Conger eel bisque

Crayfish chowder

Farfalle with bacon, peas and sage

Grilled vegetable lasagne

Gordon\'s posh kedgeree (video feature above)

Wild mushroom barley risotto

Fish curry with lime and coconut rice

Grilled herrings with harissa

Fisherman\'s stew

Poached rabbit legs with gremolata

Pork fillet stroganoff

Home-made bangers

Classic mixed grill

Angus beef olives

Sweet potato and duck rösti with fried duck eggs

Honey roast ham

Shepherd\'s pie with Branston pickle

Cornish chicken pie

Fish pie with oysters and scallops

Roast winter vegetables

Spicy cauliflower stir-fry

Mixed mushroom salad

Pickled onions

Autumn fruit salad with thyme and ginger

Custard tart

Lemon meringue pie

Chocolate swirl cheesecake

Chocolate and coffee pots

Dark chocolate marquise

All in all, a \'homely\'-type book, which is clear from the GR notes throughout, e.g.:-

From \'Pasta and grains`:-

\'At home, we don\'t just stick to rice and spaghetti. Tana has begun to feed the kids a vegetarian meal once a week, which means being creative in combining pulses, grains and pasta with a variety of vegetables.

The kids love it when she experiments.

When the weather is cold we use a lot of barley, adding it to soups, stews, and winter salads. Barley can even take the place of rice in risotto.

The excellent barley risotto here has featured many a time on our restaurant menus............\'
About the Author:

Chief Plonker
The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite
www.theplonkerclub.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Summary of Gordon Ramsay Cooking for Friends Cookbook

For lovers and tourists who yearn to taste the delicious modern British cuisine in all, here are eight great choices in the Bournemouth area and Poole. You can hardly go wrong with any of them.

1. Mansion House Restaurant
Location: Thames St, Poole
This is possibly the best and most well respected British restaurant in Bournemouth and Poole area, located in one of its main hotels, which was built in the grand style of Georgian architecture. Their crab ravioli is the highlight of the election and served with lemon grass, ginger and pan fried scallops. Another popular dish is the strong preference of cod fillet, served with sage and Parma ham. Diners can land on food or dinner daily on weekdays and weekends. Reservations are recommended. Guests dress in business casual clothes.

2. Cecil Restaurant
Location: 14 Bath Rd, Belvedere Hotel, Bournemouth (01202-297-556)
Cecil has an attractive interior, and decorated with floral wallpaper in soft tones. The atmosphere is bright and spacious, with soft strains of contemporary jazz that floats in the background. Their tomato soup is a excellent start, while the Supreme Court makes an attractive entry pheasant is served with white wine, fresh lemon, vegetables and cream or gold.

3. La Roche
Location: Banks Rd, Haven Hotel, Poole
A drive west of Bournemouth, La Roche is situated just off Poole Bay and offers a spectacular view. It is famous for seafood and fish dishes (served with fresh vegetables), a modern British menu with various specialties with poultry, seafood and wild game, and some of the best desserts available anywhere in Bournemouth and Poole. Reservations are recommended.

4. Frederick's Restaurant
Location: Menzies Carlton Hotel, Overcliff East, Bournemouth (01202-552-011)
Located in the famous Carlton Hotel, of Frederick is a popular place in town and reserves are important when dining here. With its elegant decor and a stunning view of the cliffs, water and even the Isle of Wight, Frederick Resources strongly to the senses. His cuisine largely your palate as well. The favorite dish is a house-cured Bresaola snuff, while house specialties include mango lamb (served with celery, carrots and sautéed onions) Norfolk and duck (served with sherry sauce and stir fried vegetables). Start your meal with one of their delicious homemade desserts. Guests are dressed in casual business attire.

5. Farthings Restaurant
Location: 5-7 Grove Rd, Rotunda of St. Peter, Bournemouth (01202-558-660)
Farthings Hotel, built in great architecture Victorian and only a stone's throw away from Bournemouth town center, houses of Farthings Restaurant. There are several restaurants in areas Farthings, including a garden terrace is open during the summer months where guests can enjoy their meals outdoors. The food here boasts the freshest ingredients in everything, including dishes vegetarians. Farthings also serves delicious desserts and coffee.

6. Ocean View Restaurant
Location: Boscombe Spa Road, Chine Hotel, Bournemouth (01202-396-234)
Sea View Restaurant is located on the side of a cliff and has huge windows that afford visitors a spectacular view of the bay of Bournemouth. The atmosphere here is ideal for lovers and has a romantic and intimate dining and excellent British cuisine. Sea View is known for its appetizers such as salmon, soup parsnip and crab mousse and main courses like smoked bacon (served with cream potatoes and shallot jus) and pan fried calves liver.

7. Lillie Langtry
Location: 26 Derby Rd, Langtry Manor Hotel, East Cliff, Bournemouth (01202-553-887)
This restaurant is located in a hotel that was once a mansion Tudor, Edward VII who built for his consort, Lillie Langtry. Built in 1877, Lillie Langtry is a short distance away from the center of Bournemouth. Diners will find Here is a serene haven of peace and privilege and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. To commemorate the roots of the hotel, restaurant staff are dressed with original costumes. Lillie Langtry is famous for its five courses of traditional British cuisine, including flambé dishes, representing some of the best dishes available in the area.

8. Oscar
Location: Bath Rd, Royal Bath Hotel, Bournemouth (01202-555-555)
This restaurant is hands down one of the places to eat more Popular in Bournemouth. One reason is its location as it is located within the walls of the historic Royal Bath Hotel. Another reason is its luxurious interiors, with dark and amazing floral highlighted by the equally dark stained wood and supplies period. Of course, the best reasons for the popularity of the Oscars "is good food, which is delightfully modern British. Favorite dishes are uniquely prepared poultry, meat and seafood, are served with the freshest vegetables season. Reservations are recommended.

About the Author:

For more free information about Bournemouth go to Bournemouth Dating or for dating in Bournemouth visit
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Bournemouth's Best British Restaurants