Two Fat Ladies [Hardcover]

Jennifer Paterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 1999

Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson are two opinionated, forthright, eccentric ladies; they also know an awful lot about food. In this totally reformatted book (once again tied-in to their primetime BBC, Food Network and ABC TV series), they turn their attention to what turns them on, choosing 30 of their favourite ingredients from cherries and asparagus to steak and scallops. Including over 150 recipes, the book provides unique insight into how these formidable women cook and goes a long way to explaining why they are passionate about what they do.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

You know them from their eponymous hit television series and their three previous cookbooks: Cooking with the Two Fat Ladies, The Two Fat Ladies Ride Again, and The Two Fat Ladies Full Throttle. Restoring passion to cooking and outspoken humor to the world of food, Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson have brought joy to millions of fans. In Two Fat Ladies Obsessions, they turned their attention to what turns them on, taking an in-depth look at thirty-four of their favorite ingredients, ranging from Oysters, Chicken, Chilies, Lamb, and Olives to Raspberries, Chocolate, Peaches, Salt, Butter, and Coffee. More than 150 recipes -- all written in true Fat Lady style -- reveal not only the history of these foods, but also why they are so near and dear to their hearts.

Jennifer's fondness for Lobster Puffs, Maine Style, stemmed from the time she spent cooking on a boat off the coast of New England, while her Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe was a favorite from a childhood stint in Sicily. Clarissa's first food memory, at age 3 ½, of eating a cold sausage and a hard-boiled egg, leads to a wonderful recipe for Simple Sausage Ragu, and her years spent working on a pheasant farm provide a variety of ways to prepare the bird, including delectable Georgian Pheasant. Other recipes, such as T-Bone Steak à la Castle Floors, Ceviche of Salmon, Duke of Hamilton's Fig Ice Cream, Walnut Pancakes, and Raspberry and Chocolate Millefeuilles, offer a new twist on foods we all love.

Uniquely personal and highly entertaining, Two Fat Ladies Obsessions will delight old and new fans alike and serves as a fittingly robust tribute to the memory of Jennifer Paterson. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Clarissa Dickson Wright is a talented professional cook, an inspired food writer, and a columnist for Decanter magazine. She has become an audience favorite on Radio 4's "Curious Cooks" and is an occasional reporter for Channel Four's "Food File." She runs a specialty cookbook shop in Edinburgh.

Jennifer Paterson cooked professionally all her life and was one of the loudest and most beloved voices on the food circuit, writing regularly in the U.K. for The Spectator and The Oldie. She was a frequent guest on Radio 4's food quiz, "Questions of Taste," and made several legendary appearances on BBC2's "Food and Drink." Loud, funny, and undoubtedly fat, Jennifer did not suffer fools gladly. On the subject of food, she did not suffer them at all. She passed away in August 1999. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Random House (September 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0091870739
• ISBN-13: 978-0091870737
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,641,486 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Fat Ladies Strike Again!, April 5, 2000

By 

Kathleen L Rath - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Fat Ladies Obsessions (Hardcover)

The Two Fat Ladies have released another fine cookbook to their saucy collection. I enjoy cooking elaborate or unusual meals for my wife, and I can attest that the recipies I have tried are a success! I can also assure you that even if you aren't a gourmet cook, you can master these recipies.

Warning: These recipies are NOT for the diet-conscious, but for the connisseur of good, hearty food with no-holds-barred cholesterol level! These contributions by the hilarious Clarissa and the late Jennifer are tailored for consumers who enjoy food for its taste and enjoy fully what life- and dinner- has to offer.

If you are a fan of the show (and even if you are not), I highly recommend this book. Within its pages are thirty-four chapters, each focusing on a favorite "Fat Lady Staple", such as lobster, chocolate, and butter. The chapters also contain little anecdotes from the humorous Ladies, guaranteed to make you smile. Within each chapter are several sumptuous recipies to frighten the bathroom scale. As Clarissa, one of the Fat Ladies, notes in the introduction- "Anyone who has watched the program... will know that one of the things that binds us is an unswerving passion for good food- no compromises, no second best." And the recipes that follow certainly adhere to this credo.

Many delightful European recipies can be found, with common ingredients and the unusual for special occasions. If you want to impress with the best, try these! Some examples of the delights that can be found are the delicious Roast Chicken with Herbed Salt, Chili Crab, Pheasant with Mostardadi Cremona (pheasant with bacon, white wine, butter, etc.), Portuguese Fish Stew, Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream, and the easy Spaghetti with Sour Cream. I only wish the Ladies had included more than a few recipes for each chapter.

Please note that for some of these recipies, some unusual ingredients may be required. You will need to find a good source for some of the spices or meats, but when you taste the results, you will be glad for the trouble exerted. (My wife sure was!)

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read With Great Recipes, December 19, 2000

By 

Scott Dixler (Florham Park, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Two Fat Ladies Obsessions (Hardcover)

To be honest, I bought this book primarily for the Fat Ladies' trademark wit and humor. In this respect, I was not disappointed, as the brief narratives preceeding each chapter and most recipes make for truly entertaining reading. many of the actual recipes intimidated me at first, but when I decided to try one of them out, I was absolutely thrilled. The cod with lemon sauce (located in the book's "Lemon" section) is one of the best recipes I've ever gleaned from a cookbook...it was a tremendous success. If you're a fan of the show, or just a fan of good, honest food, give this book a try.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Last ride of the Fat Ladies, October 22, 2007

By 

Graves (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Two Fat Ladies Obsessions (Hardcover)

Earlier books in the series provided recipies from the TV show, the Two Fat Ladies, but unfortunately Jennifer Patterson's lung Cancer caused a premature end to the 4th season. So in place of a book about the series, they produced a book about their passions. Each chapter dedicated to some item one of them found fun and what could be done with it- lemons, herring roe, garlic, sweat breads, salt, peaches, eels etc The start of each chapter had a few paragraphs from the lady in question and what they found so wonderful about them.

As usual the recipies are surprisingly easy for any home cook to follow. Dispite looking insanely difficult in the pictures, the ease with which they work out is amazing.

I will admitt to being a little confused by some, what the flock is a 'lardoon?' and finding others can be difficult in the US but certainly if you are a fan of the Ladies or just good cook books, this is well worth the read.