Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life [Hardcover]

Jamie Oliver (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 16, 2008

Home is where the heart is . . .

This book is very close to my heart. It's about no-nonsense, simple cooking with great flavors all year round. When I began writing it, I didn't really know what recipes I would come up with, but something began to inspire me very quickly . . . my vegetable patch!

I came to realize last year that it's not always about looking out at the wider world for inspiration. Being at home, feeling relaxed and open, can also offer this. I love to spend time at home in the village where I grew up, working with the boss, Mother Nature, in my garden and seeing all my beautiful veggies coming out of the ground.

Inside you'll find over one hundred new recipes, plus some basic planting information and tips if you fancy having a go at getting your hands dirty as well!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Oliver, host of numerous TV cooking shows and author of seven other cookbooks, is just as passionate about food and cooking as he was when he burst on the scene in The Naked Chef. One of his newest fascinations is with gardening, and this companion volume to a PBS series of the same name shows off the fruits of his labors in the garden he started several years ago. His recipes have always featured fresh, seasonal ingredients, but here they are organized by season and within each section by ingredient, from Crispy and Delicious Asparagus and Potato Tart in spring to the Best Winter Veg Coleslaw. Each chapter includes gardening information (e.g., how Oliver grows asparagus), and there are dozens of gorgeous color photographs. Highly recommended.
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About the Author

Jamie Oliver grew up in his parents' country pub, the Cricketers in Clavering, where he started cooking at the age of eight, before studying at London's Westminster Catering College. He then went on to work with some of the top chefs in England namely Antonio Carluccio at the Neal Street Restaurant and Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers at the River Caf . The author of such popular titles as The Naked Chef, Jamie's Kitchen, and Jamie's Italy, among others, he has written for the Saturday Times , served as Food Editor at GQ and Marie Claire magazines, and hosted the popular television show "The Naked Chef." He is twenty-nine and lives in London with his wife Jools and their daughters, Poppy and Daisy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; First Edition edition (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401322425
• ISBN-13: 978-1401322427
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 1.5 x 10.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > Vegetables
  • #65 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Natural Foods

More About the Author

Jamie Oliver started cooking at his parents' pub, the Cricketers, in Clavering, Essex, at the age of eight, and has gone on to work with some of the world's top chefs. He founded Fifteen restaurant in London and the associated charity, Fifteen Foundation, which continues to train disadvantaged young people to become chefs. There are now three other Fifteen restaurants in the world: Cornwall, Amsterdam and Melbourne. Jamie has also launched a chain of high street restaurants in the UK called Jamie's Italian. In 2005 Jamie led a campaign to improve the quality of school dinners in the UK and, through the Feed Me Better movement, caused the government to substantially change its policy towards school food. Jamie continues to write for publications in the UK and around the world, including his own magazine, Jamie Magazine. He lives in London and Essex with his wife, Jools, and their daughters, Poppy, Daisy and Petal.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 90 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully printed book with great recipes August 5, 2008

By W. J. Hunter

Format:Hardcover

This is my favorite of Jamie's cookbooks. For one thing, the photography is gorgeous: full page, full color images of jamie's garden and the sumptuous feasts it produces. Secondly, the book itself is beautifully printed on unusually grainy paper, giving it a high-quality, handmade feel. And finally, the recipes are great. You must try the roasted carrot and avocado salad! The book is organized by season, with various fruits and vegetables getting there own little chapters, including growing tips! Wonderful.

The previous reviewer who complained that there weren't enough vegetarian recipes must have had the wrong book. In fact, while there are plenty of recipes with meat and fish, there are many, many recipes which focus on fresh fruit and veg. I don't think you'll regret purchasing this book.

70 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant !!!!! June 2, 2008

By Minty

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Fantastic book From Jamie Oliver!!!! I have been putting his organic farming lessons to good use and am proud to say that I have my first real garden! I love the way he is sooo passionate about his garden and even gives you the dirt on the secret love affair he is having with it behind his wife's back! haha :)

I see that another reviewer didn't like the dead rabbit picture or other game pictures in the book which is interesting because it shows just how far removed we are from the food that we eat. Jamie is trying to change this by getting you closer to what you are putting into your body by using the freshest of ingredients in a seasonal way (that includes fresh meat). The book itself is set up in seasons and has a wonderful variety of offerings for each. (However; if you did happed to catch the Jamie at Home show on the Food Network you will already have seen the majority of these recipes).
They are fantastic recipes though, and I do use them very often. Some cookbooks I buy and they quickly become dust collectors. This one however; is permanently open!

I do highly suggest this book to anyone who cares about good cooking in a fun way and wants to learn a trick or two about organic gardening. It really has helped me reconnect with food in a way that eludes most Americans today. And please...get over the rabbit pics, let me just clue you in to the fact that your fish and chicken don't actually hatch with little Styrofoam containers around them perfectly filleted and ready to cook! Buon Appetito

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Typical Jamie.... March 23, 2008

By S.C. Fiennes

Format:Hardcover

I just happened upon this book at the local grocery store but didn't hesitate to purchase it as I've always enjoyed Jamie Oliver's cookbooks. His writing has always been down to earth and he seems to 'relish' (pun intended!) any opportunity to educate the public about making healthy, delicious eating practical and realistic. He's forever 'encouraging' us to eat responsibly...with a healthy dose of common sense and absolute sincere appreciation for where our food comes from and in which form it takes on our plates. His humour and generous spirit shine through, as always.
As a gardener I especially appreciated the way he's chosen to write a very simple book that includes information on growing your own food, making ethical (without being too preachy!) food choices and most of all...simply and truly enjoying quality, delicious REAL food.
Good job, Jamie!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not sure I could live without this cookbook now... November 28, 2009

By J. Simons

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

First: I never write product reviews. However, after eating delicious meal after delicious meal thanks to this cookbook, I just had to offer my accolades to the list. My husband and I love to cook. We love to try new recipes at least a couple of times each week. EVERY meal that we have tried from this book has been great. Mushroom risotto? Yum. Italian bread and cabbage soup? Amazing. Essex fried rabbit? Delicious. Indian carrot salad, steak and Guinness pie, rhubarb fool...aaahhh. These are just the recipes that I'm thinking of off of the top of my head -- I know I'm forgetting many other stellar ones that we've tried. This might be the best Christmas gift I've ever received. Also, the gorgeous photography and interesting discussions on gardening and sustainability make it an interesting read as well. I highly recommend this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Jamie gets back to the basics with great rustic cooking November 30, 2008

By Reagan Royce

Format:Hardcover

This is Jamie's best cookbook yet. This is the companian to his newest Food Network series by the same name. This great chef has a knack for combining unusual elements together and presents them in a wonderfully rustic and simple manner. For the home gardener, Jamie reveals his techniques to growing vegetables and fruits, putting the reader on a personal level with the chef. It reminds me of Irish super chef Denis Cotter, who also sees the importance of understanding the growing process.

Anyone can reproduce these recipes using Jamie's basic techniques. Its his ability to meld unique combinations together that makes him a genius. This is really a must-have for any serious foodie interested in gaining insight into the creative process behind some truly great-tasting dishes. Thanks, Jamie.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great companion to the show December 12, 2008

By A. Palazzari

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In Jamie At Home, Jamie Oliver has collected a wonderful selection of fun, tasty, easy-to-make recipes. If you get a chance to watch his Food Network show of the same name he usually bangs together two or three of the recipes per show, giving a good overview of his techniques. I've learned some simple time-saving shortcuts from him that make my experience in the kitchen even more enjoyable.