The French Laundry Cookbook
by Thomas Keller
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Book Reviews of The French Laundry Cookbook
Book Review: The French Laundry Cookbook
Summary: 4 Stars
Chef Thomas Keller's first cookbook The French Laundry ia a beautiful book and a must read for any professional cook.While so many celebrity chefs try to cash in on their fame with a quick restaurant cookbook, Thomas Keller seems to be trying to do something much different.His book is more about how cooking "feels" rather than the actual physical process itself. The recipes are all very workable for a professional chef but would be difficult for home cooks to execute. It really doesn't seem to matter though, because just reading it is enough. The photographs are wonderful and the "zen like" narratives about food from the Chef and his support staff are fascinating. His love and respect for what he does certainly shines through. I think this cookbook is a definite classic and well worth the price. A absolute must-read for anyone interested in food.Book Review: 5-Stars and a Make-Up
Summary: 5 Stars
I heard about this chef and restaurant from another noted chef, Will Packwood. While browsing through heavily discounted section in a bookstore, I was suprised to find a copy of this cookbook. (I'm ashamed to admit the price I paid!) As most have noted, it is a complex book that requires a great deal of attention. If it seems too high a mountain to climb, just relax and enjoy it for the text and the photographs. If you're up to the challenge, get your gear on and get in the kitchen. The French Laundry Cookbook will expand your horizons in ways you've yet to imagine!* On a side note, it is very disappointing to see a customer issue/complaint with Amazon entered as a review. Seems to happen far too often here. Thank you to so many of you for your thoughtful reviews and shame on some of you for not using Amazon's fine Help department instead. Best wishes!
Book Review: A Must Have
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love food and you love books this one is a must have. It is worthy of every penny. This beautiful book includes 150 recipes from the French Laundry. Thomas Kellar goes to great lengths explaining technigues throughout so that you can create these wonderful recipes. There is even a section on how to use the book. Tips are plentiful throughout making preparing things such as Black Sea Bass with Sweet Parsnips, Arrowleaf Sinach, and Saffron-Vanilla Sauce a lot less daunting. Kellar is very particular about presentation and thus provides pointers in this respect as well. The pictures are breathtaking making for a beautiful book that I love to just even flip through and peruse. It makes for a good read as well as for good cooking! Recipes do take time and some ingredients require a bit of what seems like a scavenger hunt but it is all well worth the experience!Book Review: Are all of the great ratings from people who didn't actually cook from the book?
Summary: 2 Stars
I cook a lot - both formal and informal fare. The book has some great information and nice ideas, but in reality there are problems with many of the recipes either in the instructions or in the actual outcome. For example, the tomato sorbet tasted like ketchup sorbet. While the verjus sorbet was delicious, it melted very quickly and was thus hard to serve. Also, the crowd I served the verjus sorbet with poached peaches to agreed that the dish was too acidic and needed other elements to balance it out. Another example of a problematic recipe is the striped bass with artichoke ravioli recipe. In this recipe it seems that there were editorial errors and lack of direction. It also seemed unnecessarily laborious for the result. In all, you need to be prepared to labor without too many expectations because you can't be sure what the final outcome will be.Book Review: A beautiful cooking book but not for everyone
Summary: 4 Stars
We got this cookbook last Christmas and used the recipets on the new year dinner. In the cookbook, most of the dishes are elegant and well present. But it did not mention how much works and patient are involved. We made the lobster soap and it took almost a whole day to cook it. Finally, we spent almost 3 days and 4 people to prepare for that dinner. However, most of the dishes were phenomenal. To be honest, I don't think I will try to use that cookbook again unless special occasion. But I truly enjoy the whole process. Cooking is not only to make a dish to eat. If I just want to eat, I will go to restaurant. But the process, the achievment and the joy are way more important. So, I still think this is a great cookbook. It give us more than food(after a long, painful process). It is the joy. Thank you, Mr. Keller.