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Product Reviews:
Spain...A Culinary Road Trip |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: If You Enjoy the TV Show, You Want This Book
Comments: My husband and I have really loved watching the TV show and we hope to go to Spain sometime soon. While watching the show I felt like I should be taking notes on the great places they visited, however having this however is much better!! I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes soon they look delicious. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Go For A Wonderful Ride!!
Comments: Spain, A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali (with Gwyneth Paltrow) is, quite simply, a wonderful book. I received it as a gift and immediately plunged in, seeking out those Spanish culinary delights that I have come to love during my annual treks. Much to my delight, I encountered numerous items that I normally wouldn't try. However, given the interesting descriptions, I have decided the next time I am in Spain I'll be expanding my palate.
The book itself may seem like your typical coffee table tome. do not be fooled. Sure, the book contains many photographs however they are handsomely integrated with the recipes and text. Batali and Paltrow put the food into cultural context,1of the things I appreciate almost all about this book. Furthermore, the photos show a bunch of people having a great time. The enthusiasm and love for the people and food of Spain literally leaps off the page. you will meet ordinary people as well as famous chefs courtesy of this duo.
Of course, I am an easy sell in this department. During my many trips to Spain, I have come to love the culture. Still, I have seen my share of travel, history, and cooking books. This1is among the best. In some ways it brings to life portions of H.V. Morton's A Stranger in Spain. If you are even remotely interested in the subject, do not hesitate to plunk down your cash. You will not be disappointed. |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Food Porn
Comments: OK, I admit it. I have a fetish for food porn - those luscious, mouth watering, steaming, salivating photographs that should be a part of e cookbook. OTRA certainly qualifies as a card-carrying member of that club however in this case the reader is fortunate. It is not just the food however the land itself and, of course, the gorgeous Claudia and Gwyneth that supplies pleasure. In case you haven't guesses, this is a stunning book.
It's not mandatory that11st see the video however it certainly helps, especially putting events, travels and food in context. Some complained that this is not a "cook book" per se and they are right - it is a book about food and the culture of food. I had feared that the show would devolve into a tiresome journey through fancy, incredibly expensive restaurants with sparkling silverware and candles. Instead, they scour the countryside and the sea, absorb the local culture and cook in open natural areas like vinyards and beaches and backyards.
Mario has transferred some of these culinary delights to CASA MONO, his homage to the Spanish tapa. E dish was serious yet playful in its ingredients, preparation and simplicity. The JAMON was great as was the infamous MONO sundae. Yes, this is a coffee table book however it is also a great help when preparing a small, informal dinner party. My grade - A |
Rating: 5 (out of 5)
Summary: Loved it!!
Comments: The gorgeous Spanish coutryside as visioned in "Spain" (the series) is amazing. I look (dream?!!) @ the book and remember each episode, in detail.
Enough said...just enjoy. |
Rating: 3 (out of 5)
Summary: Celebrity Spanish Travelogue
Comments: "Spain-A Culinary Road Trip" would be best described as "Jamon,Jamon (Ham,Ham)" like the Pedro Almodovar movie. There are plenty of hams on this journey--between Italian divo Mario Batali and actress/mother/wife of Coldplay's front man Gwyneth Paltrow. "Spain" is more of a scrapbook than a cookbook. There are plenty of gorgeous sights--from the Costa Brava and Gibraltar to Frank Gehry's modernist Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. It is a feast for the eyes. As medieval pilgrims journeyed to Santiago de Compostela,so does the quartet- Paltrow,Batali,as well as New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols-make a pilgrimage through Spain.
"A Culinary Road Trip" does have some recipes. It's classified according to region. there is Valencia Paella,as well as Paltrow's own take on clams (isn't she a spokeswoman for PETA? Aren't she&Chris Martin vegans? Nevermind) They get to see the Alhambra,go to Toledo,Madrid, and Barcelona. Their journey to the Basque region is somewhat disappointing--considering its uniqueness in Europe.
"Spain" is a feast for the eyes,however not so much for the kitchen. It's a standard celebrity coffee table book. Not all who wander are lost... |
