By Rowley Leigh
‘Home cooking’, says chef Rowley Leigh, ‘is a completely different sport from restaurant cooking’. How true! And he has achieved what he set out to do in his book No Place like Home – a professional chef’s recipes adapted for the home cook.
The book was first published in 2001 and this paperback edition is a ‘must have’ for anybody who missed it the first time round.
Rowley Leigh head chef/proprietor at the acclaimed Le Café Anglais in London’s Bayswater also writes a food column for the Financial Times and is well used to putting pen to paper. He writes wittily and engagingly in a simple, straightforward style explaining what, why and how to do things.
The book is divided into the four seasons and whilst still only summer we can hardly wait to open up the Autumn section of this entertaining book to try his Escarole, Pear and Roquefort Salad followed by a delicious looking Venison Stew with Baby Onions, Chestnuts and Chocolate – not sure whether we will find room for the Grilled Pineapple with Chilli Syrup and Coconut Ice Cream but we’ll certainly try. And how we agree with him that nice as the variations can be a Tarte Tatin should only be made with apples! A delicious book.
No Place Like Home – Seasonal English Cooking. Rowley Leigh. Part of the Food Lovers Library published by Clearview Books. ISBN 9781908337108. £9.99