Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes (Hardcover)

The Magic of the Mediterranean This is a beautifully produced book and, I think, a terrific tool for cooks and travellers alike. I've lived in different mediterranean countries and some of the recipes brought back lovely memories of my time abroad. It complements the tv programmes perfectly and if you enjoyed those programmes you will not be disappointed in the book. This is a great time to buy it as it brings warmth and sunshine into our autumnal and soon to be winter days!!

The greatest cook book ever - only for those who love to cook for those they love I'm a passionate cook, but also hugely critical of lots of the TV celebrity cooks, the manners and posturing of many. However, this is an extraordinary cookbook with lots of absolutely delicious Moroccan food, easy to make focaccia,stunning vegetables. It is impossible to cook a failed meal from this book. Every dish cooked at home lives up to the promise of the magnificent photographs in this book. Even my usually useless-in-the-kitchen daughter and partner managed to produce astoundingly delicious food from these easy to follow recipes. I have more than 300 cookbooks, but this is the one I will use most in the months to come. It is so good that for this addictive cook, I'm now nervous about seeking out or buying new cookbooks in case they disappoint. I cannot recommend this cookbook to highly for either the novice or passionate cook.

Tasty! I don't usually bother with chefs marketing their latest wares on tv, but thought I'd give the new Rick Stein series a go as I love Med food. The test of any food programme is whether it makes you think "I want to cook that", rather than just "I'd like to eat that". Judging from the well-worn pages + some smudges & stains, this book is spending a lot of time in the kitchen! RS' approach is very much hands-on & "lets get on with it": I like the fact that he isn't snooty abt using tinned/frozen things if you can't get fresh & doesn't burden you with obscure ingredients & nothing more exotic than a tagine equipment-wise. So far we've had great times cooking & consuming the following: Spag carbonara, tumbet, chicken & prawn paella, chicken sobrasada, kefta mkaouara, kleftiko, fennel sausages & lemony potatoes (to die for!!), canalons a la barcelonesa, gnocchetti sardi ... pastitzio next The book's attractively laid out, with lots of brightly coloured pix of food & places, so its ideal to give as a present. Generally the publisher manages to keep recipes to one page, so not too much frantic page-turning in the heat of the kitchen. The index cd be better, but that's a minor quibble. Some of the recipes are very simple, & there are plenty that are more involved for when you want a good long kitchen session. Unfortunately a couple of recipes from the tv shows aren't included, but I'm sure we'll survive... I'm grateful to RS & this book for giving us a lot of really good evenings lately, & you can't praise a cook book more than that.By contrast, I flicked the tv on the other night as I sat down with my Greek salad & caught Queen Nigella's latest tv offering - showing how to "make curry & rice in 20 mins" - oh yeah, right ...

Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes I love this book! I am not a good cook, usually, but this book has me inspired. I've tried several recipes & all have come out looking & tasting great. This is the first cookbook I've bought where I'm genuinely excited about preparing & making dishes that I can share with my family & friends. Tonight I tried the `Parmigiana di Melenzana', which turned out to be delicious, the taleggeo cheese really made for a much stronger flavour. I absolutely love Mediterranean style food, they keep it simple & there's nearly always so much fish involved. Easy to use great recipes interspersed with gorgeous photographs make for a beautifully presented essential kitchen aid. I honestly can't wait to try out more dishes, especially that `Catalan Crème Brulee' & the `Wild Boar Stew'.

A sunny feast from Mediterranean lands I bought this book because I saw the series on TV and greatly enjoyed seeing the beautiful landscapes and learning about local ingredients and dishes. For anyone who loves Mediterranean food with its varied influences and would like to be able to recreate typical dishes at home, this book is a very accessible resource. The photography is bright and clear and linked to the recipes which are divided into sections according to the type of dish and main ingredients used so there are sections on cheeses, antipasti, pasta and rice, rabbit and game, fish, fruits, herbs and salads. The text is informative and gives details about the provenance of the dishes and the cultural influences on Mediterranean food. The instructions are clear and concise and the majority of recipes are well within the capabilities of most home cooks. More experienced cooks will enjoy trying out the more adventurous dishes such as wild boar stew. I was delighted to find a recipe for pastitsio, a dish I have enjoyed many times in Greece. Some of the ingredients are hard to find in the UK, but the appendix gives details of suppliers as well as suggesting suitable substitute ingredients. Many of the recipes are suitable for vegetarians or can be easily adapted for vegetarians. On television Rick Stein can come across as a bit full of himself, but his book is visually attractive and informative. It would make a great gift for anyone interested in food and cookery.