Recipe for disaster, or not as the case may be! (Nigella Bites - Nigella Lawson)

Member Name: Tranmere @ 2nd D

Product:	Nigella Bites - Nigella Lawson
Date:	05/05/02 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some

Disadvantages: Not many

True to form, Nigella Lawson has created another book which both inspires you to cook and makes for equally good bedtime reading. Her warmth of spirit, indomitable character and humorous and touching nuggets of family history and anecdotal stories make this much more than just a cook book. Indeed, such are the glorious pictures of the food, and Nigella herself, and the luxurious look of the silver pages that it would be a shame to hide the book away in a bookcase- it would grace any coffee table but I imagine it will be needed more readily to hand as a regular in the kitchen. However, I would also have to say that I was more impressed by Nigella's previous two offerings (How to Eat and How to be a Domestic Goddess).
They are both more comprehensive and more of Nigella herself seems to shine through.

However, that is not a criticism against this book - it is not, and is not meant to be in the same vein. Rather, it is produced to complement the Tv series of the same name and this would also perhaps account for this book's more commercial appeal and what could be termed an "over-produced" finish.

However, the recipes will not disappoint and if someone is reading Nigella for the first time I'm sure they would be most impressed - although I'd recommend getting her other two books as staples for your kitchen/bedside/study.

I was tempted to try many dishes and there are not too many that are found in her other books so it's still worthwhile having this one. However, I don't know if the Trashy Meals will end up as part of my repertoire.

They are certainly entertaining to read but I'm put off such items as deep fried bounty bars and the Elvis deep fried sandwich from a purely health point of view. Not that I'm some sort of diet-conscious food puritan - it's just that we can't all combine an insatiable love of food with the fabulous and slender looks of the enviable Lawson. In conclusi
on, her other books perhaps compare more favourably but this is still a very welcome addition to my cookery book pile and one that I'm sure will be much used.

Summary: