Customer Reviews

Second Helpings of Roast Chicken

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

 

 

Like Mr. Hopkinson, I am Bury born and bred. My mother shopped at the same tripe shop as his grandmother; I celebrated my 21st birthday at M. Chambas' restaurant ("The Normandy", Mr. Hopkinson - you'd have been laughed out of town on a rail in the 60's if you'd referred to it in Bury as "La Normandie"!)where he later cut his teeth - my mother, who taught at an hotel school, drove my father, who was paying for the meal, crazy by "costing" the meal as it proceeded - the salad was the final straw - we never, alas, returned!

I have lived for many years on a different continent and would love his books, regardless of the recipes, for the many reminders of my youth that they contain. That said, this and his original roast chicken book, are a wonderful source of varied, instructive and utterly usable recipes. I cannot recommend them too highly.

I'm a tiny bit dissappointed in this sequel and in the first volume, Roast Chicken and Other Stories, of these cookbooks. I love color photographs of the finished product; they inspire and to some extent even teach. I didn't bother to see if these books had photographs or not since the books and the author were so beloved to a reviewer in The New York Times.So I blame myself for feeling something is missing. Also, the recipes and dishes are very very English. If I had to choose between the two volumes, I'd stick to the first - Roast Chicken and Other Stories. What is undeniable is the charming rather opinionated tone of the cook. Generally, I don't think they are essential but simply a practical and interesting addition to a discerning collection of cookbooks.

I enjoyed this cookbook very much. It is as well written as his first book,Roast Chicken. The stories and receipes are excellent.

Kaye Sugahara