Customer Reviews

Charlie Trotter's Seafood

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am sure that Charlie Trotter makes delicious food. He probably uses exquisite ingredients, and he definitely plates the food beautifully. It might even be fun to eat at his restaurant (although I think I'd rather eat at Lutece or Le Bec-Fin). But certainly you would never want to cook from this cookbook. The food is ridiculously and unnecessarily complicated. I have nothing against difficult recipes, but Trotter's seem to be complicated only for the sake of being "original."

Trotter seems to be the kind ofcook who thinks that (1) the more ingredients, the better; (2) the more exotic or unusual the ingredients, the better; and (3) all those ingredients have to be listed in the title of the dish. Braised Sesame-Crusted Yearling Sweetbreads with 100-Year-Old Balsamic Glazed Shallots, Mango-Fenugreek Mayonnaise, Herbed Polenta, and Reduction of Norwegian Sea Urchin Juices. I'm just making this up, but this "recipe" could very well be in the book.

In the backof the book he has a number of recipes for "basics." This not only includes stock, vinaigrette, etc., but also Pickled Lamb's Tongues. Really. I have no problem with anybody cooking (or even pickling) lamb's tongues, but calling them a "basic" is absurd.

I actually had a Charlie Trotter-style dinner this weekend. Pan-Seared Galette of Calf Forcemeat "En Croute" with a Chiffonade of Cornichons and Spring Greens, a Triple Reduction of Spiced Tomato Concassee, and Oil-Poached Russet Potato Allumettes. It was tasty, but it would have been just as good if I called it a hamburger with French fries.

If you're thinking about buying this book, get Georges Perrier's "The Bec-Fin Recipes" instead. The food is at least as tasty (certainly more classic and harmonious), almost as beautiful, and vastly more feasible to prepare.

This is a beautiful book. The pictures are stunning and the dishes are inspiring. That said, most of the recipes are terribly complicated for the home cook. Many of the fish are hard to get and regional; most of the preparations often require things that only a restaurant kitchen can feasibly do (i.e. tomato water).

Still, some of the dishes are approachable by the home cook and the if you are inventive, many could inspire you to come up with your own creations.

An added bonus (or potentially a distraction depending on you point of view) is that the dishes are grouped by the wines that would be accompany them - a novel approach.

I can say that I am a reasonably competent home chef with an above-average knowledge of technique and most necessary equipment to get the job done. Having said that, I was impressed with the photos of nearly every featured recipe in this book and find the recipes to be admirably aggressive in their taste and texture contrasts. The recipes, however, are nearly all flawed in some significant manner in that following them verbatim will result in poor results. Even when this is not the case, I find these recipes to be "out of whack" from a taste perspective by any gastronome's standards and in need of serious tweaking. If you have good kitchen skills and seek to be inspired by the ideas in this book, then I would suggest it (USED!!) ... otherwise, there are much better cookbooks that will yield far superior results. I purchased the Charlie Trotter's Seafood and Dessert cookbooks and came to the same conclusion.

The key here is you have to want to cook, not just talk the talk! Charlie's recipes are not difficult to follow. Substitutions are listed since many of the ingredients are unavailable or pricey. The recipes work well with any of the alternate ingredients and the flavors are intense. The basis are truly basis. Let's face it, pickling is just pickling. Don't be put off because he uses lambs tongue; if you do, you have missed the lesson. This a great study in culinary technique and I would use it with any beginner. It establishes such strong desires to learn and to try.

This is a great book to pick up some ideas. Unfortunately, it very often sounds more like a Marketing person cookbook than a chef's cookbook. Many recipes sounds fancy but don't work in term of taste combination. That's the case with every Charlie Trotter's (in fact a marketing team) cookbooks.

Book was well written and was what I was looking for to help me with ideas to use at home. It is also well thought out and organized. Would recommend the rest in the series

All of Trotter's books are fabulous, but this particular book belongs right on the coffee table for everyone to admire as often as they'd like. It is as much an art book, as it is a cook book, and inspires the reader through its text as well as photos. It is also excellent because it is divided into sections by the wines that he has chosen to accompany each seafood dish. This is a great way to view food, and it is loveley that he creates dishes to accompany all sorts of wines, both red and white. A must have book for all food and wine enthusiasts.

Have you ever traveled cross-country to Chicago just to dine at Charlie Trotter's? I have, and it was one of the best meals of my life. This book and the others in the series are great at giving you a feel of what the real thing is like. The pictures are outstanding and the combinations just wow you. But if you think for a moment that any cookbook would allow you to duplicate what Charlie does, you are mistaken. Some cookbooks are for those who want to follow a recipe and duplicate it. This is not one of those. This is for people who want to understand the Chef's unique cuisine and appreciate it for the art that it is.

Charlie's understanding of ingredients, fusion, and presentation shine through in this chef's companion of a cookbook. The recipes and photographs printed within these pages may cause instant daydreaming, uncontrollable drooling, and a sudden urge to visit Chicago.