Customer Reviews

Surreal Gourmet: Real Food for Pretend Chefs

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

 

 

Bob Blumer's Surreal Gourmet is one of the most-used cookbooks I have. Blumer's irreverent style is matched only by his recipes. Particularly good are the ceasar salad, steak au poivre, and herb butter, just to name a few. Bob's art is worth the price alone.

I love this cook book. It's simple and easy to follow. Bob explains why it's best to use certain ingredients that will make a difference in the overall flavor, like using sea salt or fresh herbs. I love the black olive spread, the eggplant spread and the caesar salad. But, I also learned some great simple techniques like using a good wooden bowl for making the caesar. I also liked the tips at the end of each recipe, for wine, music etc. This cook book has so much to offer, good food, lots of useful tips, great artwork, and it's so much fun to read.

"The Surreal Gourmet" had first caught my eye for its novelty and humorous illustrations. But once I started cooking from it I found out that Blumer's recipes are really very good! The roasted garlic appetizer might seem less novel now than it did when the book first came out, but it's easy and seriously delicious. I can make a meal out of it. And the carrot and ginger soup is easy, with a unique flavor. I'm glad that there are still more recipes in the book that I haven't tried, because I have faith in Blumer -- faith that they will be tasty, easy, and unique.

The cookbook part of this book had no impact on my life (not really that many recipes anyway). If you like surreal art, you may like this book. Full page surreal paintings with food items in them.

I've been cooking from this book for years. Compared to many cookbooks, there are fewer but only essential recipes, and the food is presented artistically rather that in a sharp focus "food porn" style.

Just as valuable as the recipes are the tips for stress free entertaining. Clear instructions, music to dine by, wine suggestions, how to get the guests involved. Great artwork, great fun and great cooking inspiration.