Sunday, February 1, 2009

Flavors of the Mediterranean or Great Women Chefs of Europe

Flavors of the Mediterranean

Author: Olivier Baussan

Following his internationally best-selling book on olive oil with chef Jacques Chibois, author Olivier Baussan has teamed up with another talented chef, Jean-Marie Meulien, to give readers recipes full of the sunny tastes and aromas of the Mediterranean tradition. The authors first present the ingredients, condiments, and cooking methods common to the Mediterranean region, before laying out 90 recipes to suit every occasion. Through the different chapters-- Seasonal Vegetables, Seafood, Market Produce, Meat and Game, and Garden and Orchard Produce--readers are treated to recipes ranging from olive soup with anchovies and three-pepper caviar to roast peaches with basil and lime-blossom juice. The table is set for unforgettable meals.

Publishers Weekly

In this beautifully photographed tour of Mediterranean cuisine, Baussan, author of Olive Oil and owner of l'Occitane, and French chef Meulien present fresh, unique recipes from the region. Their French-infused recipes, accompanied by informative introductions and wine recommendations, can be as simple as Confit of Rabbit Thighs with Fennel and Garlic, which is baked in a clay pot, or Socca with Dried Apricots and Pine Nuts (socca, from Nice, is a thin cake of chickpea flour). Arranged in four chapters-"The Sea," "The Market," "The Wild Harvest," and "The Garden and Orchard"-the book focuses on the freshest of ingredients. Among the 100 color illustrations, photos of fish just caught introduce such recipes as Baked Stuffed Calamari and Ricotta-Filled Sea Bream with Mimosa Sauce. Desserts include Figs in Orange Wine with Verbena Granita, and Blancmage with Baby Chestnuts. Although some ingredients and wines may be difficult to find, home cooks turning the pages of this volume will likely be inspired to make the effort to find them. (June) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.



Books about: Peur de Petits nombres :un Essai sur la Géographie de Colère

Great Women Chefs of Europe

Author: Maurice Rougemont

The greatest female chefs in Europe-from the critically acclaimed to the fresh young talents-invite us to discover their universe: from behind-the-scenes in their restaurants to market expeditions and visits to local producers. These thirty chefs include renowned heiresses of European cuisine and others on the cusp of culinary stardom. After showing us around their kitchens, they share the secrets of their incomparable dishes. An impressive quartet of Michelin three-star chefs tops the list: Nadia Santini of the famous Dal Pescatore in Lombardy proposes a tortelli of melted goat cheese and white truffles; Annie Feolde from the Enoteca Pinchiorri in Florence dishes out "guitar-string" spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes in a sweet-pea sauce; Elena Arzak in San Sebastian serves up recipes with playful names like "customs officers with greens," and Luisa Valazza at the Al Sorriso in Piedmont sweetens the finish with a fig fritter and gelato glazed in a blueberry sauce. A duo of two-star French chefs offer sweet and savory: Pastry queen Helene Darroze dazzles with her dark chocolate biscuit with vanilla-rum ice cream and Anne-Sophie Pic roasts venison medallions with chestnut polenta, saffron-quince jam, and grapes marinated in Marc de l'Hermitage. Chefs to watch-England's Ruth Rogers, Paris' Olympe, and Austria's Johanna Maier-celebrate the freshest products of their native countries. From Italy, France, Spain, and England to Switzerland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, and Austria, these women have reclaimed the world's most prestigious kitchens with a refreshing creativity and dedication to the craft that is leading the hottest trends in international cuisine.



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