Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I almost never post reviews, but this books is so wonderful, I felt compelled to add to the accolades it's receiving. I am a professional cook, so I buy and cook from a TON of cookbooks. Many I use mainly for inspiration in terms of flavor combinations because the recipes don't actually work so well. Some I use to explore new techniques. This cookbook offers both; the recipes work (I should note I have the UK edition without US conversions)--many of the techniques are new to me and they work well--and the flavors are amazing. And it's a gorgeous cookbook as well. The first recipes I made from this book were the roasted cauliflower salad with celery, hazelnuts and pomegranate and the sofrito chicken. I figured there was no way the cauliflower salad could be anything but delicious, and it was. But I had my doubts about the chicken--the recipe involved several steps (browning the chicken, seasoning the chicken, steam-roasting the chicken, frying potatoes and garlic and then adding them to the chicken and its juices). I didn't think it would be any better than a simple roast chicken and vegetables (which is hard to improve on when done well). But it was unbelievably delicious! And had a texture and subtlety of flavor I had never tasted before. It's true that some of these dishes are not week-night fare--as one reviewer mentioned, you can't throw them all on the table in under an hour. But many of them are. A quick read-through of the recipe should let you know which are quicker and which take an hour or more of prep and cooking. I am adding this cookbook to my top 10 list because a) it's a beautiful, well-written book, b) the recipes work very well when followed to the letter, but there's lots of room for improvisation, c) the flavor and texture combinations are complex, subtle and well-balanced, and d) the dishes are delicious. Happy Cooking!