Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites
by Giada De Laurentiis
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Book Reviews of Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites
Book Review: Delicious recipes
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't regularly watch Giada's show, so all of the recipes in this book were new to me. This has quickly become one of my favorite cookbooks in the 6 months I've owned it. I used to think of Italian food as being heavy and full of pasta, but this book has caused me to revise my thoughts on the cuisine! In fact, the Rosemary Cornbread Cake might be the best cornbread I've ever had. Before this book, I never would have thought of cornbread as being evenly remotely Italian. This cookbook takes on a wide variety of foods and prepares them with an Italian flair. I like that there are some quick and easy recipes for days I feel a little lazy, and more involved ones for the times I want to roll up my sleeves and fix a big meal. None of the recipes seem overly complicated or intimidating.
My one criticism would be there are several two page photo layouts of Giada. She is certainly a beautiful woman, but there are recipes I would rather see pictures of. I think we all know what she looks like. Still, this is a great cookbook and highly recommended.
Book Review: Different, but interesting
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm actually pretty excited about this book. It's definately different from her other previous books in that it seems less "Italian", but there are still some really fresh ideas in there. I noticed some people saying they've seen all these recipes on her show already. I don't get to watch her show too often anymore since it's on while I'm at work and any other day you have to hunt on the Food Network to find it with all these new shows they have on now, so for me these recipes were a lot newer. Over the weekend I already tried the balsamic barbeque chicken (delicious!!!) and the lemon risotto. I personally loved the risotto because I'm a lemon lover, but my husband and in-laws didn't seem to like it (hmph!) because they thought it was too tart. I can't wait to try the pizza pot pies (how cute), the crostata with apples, walnuts, and gorganzola, and the chocolate panna cotta! I don't know if Giada will ever be able to top her first book for me (still my personal all time fav from her), but this one will definately get some use. It's worth a try!Book Review: If you cook, you don't need this book
Summary: 2 Stars
If you are totally new to cooking, don't own any cookbooks, and have been inspired by Giada on Food Network, this might be a great book for you.
But if you do cook, and own one or more Italian classics, you really really will not get any use from this book.
I try hard to use all my cookbooks as often as I can, and I just can't use this. The recipes are all things you will already have in any good cookbook, and as much as I get inspired by watching Giada on TV, it just doesn't translate into 'get up and cook' when you're reading the book.
It does make you realize what a gift these world famous writers really have. This is just lackluster (did she write it??)
Giada is an amazing presenter, so stick to watching her on screen, and get a copy of Giorgio Locatelli's 'Made in Italy' or Anna Del Conte's 'Gastronomy of Italy' or Jamie Oliver's superb 'Jamie's Italy' for that 'get me to the kitchen' feeling.
Book Review: Another good book from Giada
Summary: 4 Stars
I have all of Giada's other cookbooks, so I was really looking forward to her new book, not sure what to expect.
Lilke her other books, this one is easy to read, the recipes are not complicated, easy to follow.
I have made her sun dried tomato muffins several times with great success, and even my son, who is a picky eater liked them. And I want to try the Tuscan mushroom recipe next.
In the section for kids ( " and not for kids only ") there are recipes for Parmesan fish sticks and Prosciutto Mozarella Pinwheels that look so good and just invite you to try them.
As in her other books, the pictures of her finished products are beautiful. I know I will try some other recipes in this book in weeks to come. I highly recommend this book, just as I recommend all of her other books.
Book Review: A Pretty Picture Book
Summary: 3 Stars
I was disappointed in this book. I am normally a huge fan of Giada, and learned to cook basically off of her first book, Everyday Italian. But this latest volume seems to me like quick get-rich efforts by the Food Network. All of the recipes appear on recent seasons of her Food Network show, and make buying the book completely unnecessary. And she's wearing the same shirt in almost every picture, as if the Food Net hammered out one day of photo shoots to slam the book together with pre-existing recipes from TV. Some of the recipes are good, some are bland, but overall it's clear pictures and cleavage, not quality, are being used to sell the book.
And, one other thing. Chocolate and cheese panini? Giada, what were you thinking!!