Customer Reviews

The Lavender Gourmet: Culinary Recipes for Entertaining and Every Day

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While best known as a superb and ancient source for the making of perfumes, lavender is also a culinary herb to be used to very good effect in an amazing variety of dishes. In "The Lavender Gourmet: Culinary Recipes For Entertaining And Every Day", cookbook author and lavender expert Jennifer Vasich has compiled an impressive 344-page compendium of 140 recipes showcasing the culinary versatility of lavender in the preparation of savory dishes including entrees, soups, breads, salads, appetizers and deserts. Of special note are the recipe variations offered for creating different versions of the same dish. Enhanced with a wealth of tips and commentaries on not just cooking with lavender but also growing and harvesting it, "The Lavender Gourmet" is an exotic and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections!

This book is a marvelous and beautifully arranged accumulation of a variety of recipes that utilize lavender. While it may seem odd at first when you think of lavender in the edible form, once you try just a few recipes, you'll quickly see how the herb delicately enhances the underlying flavors of the dish. I have a bit of a sweet tooth so some of my favorite recipes include Lavender Blueberry Muffins, Lavender Scones, Lavender Lemon Shortbread Cookies, and Lavender Mint Brownies. Yum! I can honestly say that part of the reason my bosses love me so much at work is because I bring them lavender brownies. ;) I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any cook or baker whether he or she is a novice or seasoned veteran in the kitchen. Bon Appétit!

Well written and includes a lot of wonderful information on lavender. These recipes are simple to prepare, and make a GOURMET STATEMENT! This book has quickly become my new favorite. If you love lavender and love to cook, this book is a MUST HAVE!

The Lavender Gourmet is a culinary cookbook masterpiece full of mouth-watering recipes that use one of nature's most fragrant herbs, culinary lavender. The cookbook showcases recipes for both entertaining and every day occasions.

The Lavender Gourmet contains twelve different recipe chapters including basics & beverages, breakfast & brunch, lunch favorites, appetizers, vegetables, & sides; soups & stews, salsa, salads & dressings; dinner entrees; breads, muffins, & scones; cakes, pies, & tarts; cookies & sweets, smoothes, ice cream, & sorbet; and lavender & chocolate. There are over 140 recipes in twelve categories that you can choose from.

Each recipe is displayed on either one or two pages depending on the complexity of the recipe and whether or not there are photographs included. There are black and white photographs for many of the recipes as well as charming graphics and borders on each page throughout the cookbook.

Many recipes in The Lavender Gourmet offer a "Chef's Comments" box for suggestions on how to use each recipe or for possible variations you might want to try. Each recipe is prefaced with a brief description of the dish you'll be preparing. There are several recipe variations for creating different versions of the same recipe. "Fascinating Facts" boxes are included as well on several pages to share interesting information on lavender.

The cookbook also contains information on where to find the culinary lavender buds you'll need to use in the recipes. There are tips, hints, and comments that will help you get out of the kitchen faster. The Lavender Gourmet also includes tips for growing, harvesting, and using lavender.

All of the recipes have a very decadent, gourmet feel to them, although none appear complicated to prepare. The instructions are very easy to follow, and preparation doesn't require any special equipment that the average cook wouldn't already have in their kitchen.

If I had to choose my two favorite recipes in The Lavender Gourmet, I'd choose the Lavender Baked Potato Soup with Bacon and the Lavender Sour Cream Twists, although it was really hard for me to choose only two! This cookbook will truly tempt your taste buds and inspire you to try new things.

I had my first experience with gourmet foods made with organic lavender about a year ago and fell in love with it. I purchased this book and some organic lavender and lavender syrup and extract and have been experimenting with it ever since. All of my guests rave about anything I have cooked using these recipes.