The London Cookbook

I have always thought of English food as being dingy gray if you didn’t happen to be eating fish-and-chips….which is beige. So yes, I thought of English food as dull.  You can then imagine how nice it was to find that London is going through a food revolution!!  Perhaps, this revolution has taken place quietly and over some time; but just now, a wonderful new book ‘The London Cookbook’ will be published on October 11. I can only imagine how it will be drawing attention and acclaim (and an increase in the number of flights) to London.

Aleksandra Crapanzano’s (whew, say that five times fast!!!), new book ‘The London Cookbook’ provides a series of recipes from the hottest and best “restaurants, cafes, and hole-in-the-wall gems” in London.  I must say, whether or not one has been to London, one will have heard of these places….The River Café, Ottolenghi, St. John, Duck and Waffle, Ivy, Tramshed, and Spring.

Aleksandra’s writing brings the reader into the restaurants as if they are a little fly on wall.  The reader gets the sense, or the feel of the place, of the care of the chef, and of the excitement in the food movement.   The stories or tidbit snippets prior to each recipe increases the interest of the recipe.  Most of these recipes, in my opinion, need no help in piquing my interest.  Mung and Haricots Verts (with a medley of spices), Roasted Corn and Chorizo Chowder, Risotto All’amarone della Valpolicella with Spiced Pumpkin, Pappardelle al Fegatini di Pollo e Salvia, Polenta with Chestmuts, Ricotta, Squash, and Fried Sage, and Chocolate Marmalade Pudding…to name just a few. Oooohhhh, and the recipe for the famous Chocolate Nemesis from the River Café is included in the dessert chapter – first recipe, front and center.

Two things came out of me holding this book:  1) I cannot wait to slowly absorb this book and cook from it and become it's friend, and…….2) I have set my sights on London so that I can eat my way through this book at the very restaurants that have shared their recipes.

There is something in this book for everyone.  French, Indian, Italian, American South, Spanish

Bravo, Aleksandra.  Bravo