This has nothing to do with crime fiction, but I'm sure the effusive character behind this book has a lot do with why I eventually went to culinary school and became a chef. Long before bad boy celebrity chef superstars like Dufresne, Bourdain, Oliver, and Duff this toqueless, blazered dude cut a dashing figure. He was the anti-Julia, the anti-Jacques...and he rocked them all with a Python-esque impromptu zest. Of course a lot of this was due to the fact that Kerr was completely snoggered during his broadcasts. His "Spotted Dick" episode is hilariously vulgar. Anyway, the recipes within these pages are savagely decadent, meticulous, and heavy in French technique so I'm warning you right now... steel up or get the #@%&*! out of my kitchen. It says a lot that I keep this cookbook as I don't have many cookbooks about. Some think that's odd...a former chef without a lot of cookbooks, but here's a secret: 98% of cookbooks out there are pornographic lies. You only need three or four (I'd suggest La Methode and La Technique for starters if you're serious). Me? I often cruise these pages just for a laugh. Seriously. The cover shot of the set just kills me (Come one, who in their right mind would store wine above an oven? What? Are you making Madeira?) Kerr later became an advocate for healthy living and healing with food. He's still bashing around and still is quite the character. If you find this at a flea market pick it up.
4/15/10
Friday Forgotten Books: The Graham Kerr Cookbook
This has nothing to do with crime fiction, but I'm sure the effusive character behind this book has a lot do with why I eventually went to culinary school and became a chef. Long before bad boy celebrity chef superstars like Dufresne, Bourdain, Oliver, and Duff this toqueless, blazered dude cut a dashing figure. He was the anti-Julia, the anti-Jacques...and he rocked them all with a Python-esque impromptu zest. Of course a lot of this was due to the fact that Kerr was completely snoggered during his broadcasts. His "Spotted Dick" episode is hilariously vulgar. Anyway, the recipes within these pages are savagely decadent, meticulous, and heavy in French technique so I'm warning you right now... steel up or get the #@%&*! out of my kitchen. It says a lot that I keep this cookbook as I don't have many cookbooks about. Some think that's odd...a former chef without a lot of cookbooks, but here's a secret: 98% of cookbooks out there are pornographic lies. You only need three or four (I'd suggest La Methode and La Technique for starters if you're serious). Me? I often cruise these pages just for a laugh. Seriously. The cover shot of the set just kills me (Come one, who in their right mind would store wine above an oven? What? Are you making Madeira?) Kerr later became an advocate for healthy living and healing with food. He's still bashing around and still is quite the character. If you find this at a flea market pick it up.