As a chef, I religiously follow the great steps of local celebrity chefs (Sherson Lian, Chef Wan to name a few) as well as those from overseas (Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, and hundreds more). Being a dreamy person, I often imagine scenes from a storybook or movie being replicated on a plate.
Impossible maybe, but one chef has got this down pat and that is none other than Heston Blumenthal, the owner of Fat Duck in Britain. Having several cookbooks and TV shows under his belt, he focuses on serving the whimsical, the imaginary and the downright crazy creations on a plate. This book showcases some of his finest works of art using food as the materials for his masterpieces.
When the author got the opportunity to dream up 6 historical feasts inspired by books, legends and fairytales, and then serve them up to guests, he jumped at the chance. For historical cornerstones he chose the Regency and Edwardian periods, the Gothic Revival and the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and then began his research and development, delving into Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Dracula and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as many more books and movies.
This is not so much a cookbook as a culinary adventure story, with recipes. Each chapter finishes with a selection of the recipes for that Feast – this is where you’ll learn the secrets of how it was done on the night. Using molecular gastronomy excessively in the recipes, it’s best to arm your wallets with dosh or just fantasize yourself making it.
All in all, I had the most enjoyable read among most cookbooks as it detracted from cooking and gave more of a feeling to food which can only be done by the ever-affable Heston Blumenthal.
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