Tyler’s Ultimate offers up some great recipes to tantalize your palate and stretch your appreciation for great combinations of all things fresh, simple and wholesome.
Hubby fell in love with Tyler’s show on Food Network a while back, and espoused, ad nauseam, how simple and delicious all his dishes looked, so he finally decided to bite the bullet and order this book for (ahem) himself to try (himself, of course, meaning the Mrs.). What hubby doesn’t realize is that Tyler throws all these dishes together so easily because someone else has done all the prep for him (and the clean-up!). While most are fairly uncomplicated, don’t expect to throw them together in the time a half-hour TV show host does.
Most of these dishes *are* fairly simple to put together, and the instructions are clear, but they are time consuming – almost all of the time being in the prep work. When you are working with all fresh ingredients, it takes time to get them ready. However, it’s worth it. So many of these concoctions are to-die-for. Some of my favorites are the French onion soup, mussels with white wine, thyme, garlic and lemon (so simple!) and their accompanying herbed garlic bread, scallop saltimbocca, mouth-watering pot roast with velvet potato puree, sausage with brown sugar/thyme caramelized apples, roast chicken Provencal, the ultimate berry trifle (hubby contributes his made-from-scratch pound cake to this – he’s the baker in the family – but Tyler says store-bought is fine), and vanilla pots de crème (his version of crème brulee sans blow torch).
I have made close to half the recipes found here so far, and am eagerly awaiting the warmer weather to try some of the grilling recipes, salads and cold dishes. However, keep in mind that you may need to be willing to buy some specialized cooking equipment and cookware. While most people (or maybe not) have a Dutch oven, you’ll need a food mill to have the velvet potatoes come out right. (I don’t have the money to invest in one, but if you decrease the amount of heavy cream and simply whip them with a hand-held egg beater, your potatoes will still be more delicious than any other version of “mashed potatoes” you’ve ever had. It’s the consistency of the potatoes the food mill produces that allows all that cream to be soaked up by the starch.) You’ll also need a heavy-duty blender or food processor for some of the dishes, too, and the correct skillets, oven-going crockery, the right-sized roasting pan, 8 ounce ramekins ….
Although I wouldn’t say this cookbook is quite for the absolute beginner, Tyler does have videos online of himself making these dishes, so you can check those out to see what it is you’re going for. It’s helpful to see it all coming together and what the finished result should look like so you know you’re on the right track. While there is, of course, some weird chef-y type stuff that I may or may not try (and I just can’t get into a minestrone that’s chicken broth-based), if you’ve mastered your Better Homes Cookbook (a great cookbook for the absolute beginner) and you’re ready to stretch your talent, this book is for you. However, keep in mind that many of these recipes are time consuming, so it’s probably not realistic for a busy Mom or Dad who has been working all day and/or shuttling kids around and just doesn’t have the time and energy to spend on them at the end of a busy day. Also, a lot of them don’t create huge portions, so may not be realistic if you have a large family to feed. But if you’ve got the time and inclination … bon appétit – you’ll enjoy.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Authors
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 24, 2017
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 3, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 8, 2015
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 22, 2018
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 21, 2009
Top reviews from other countries
Luberon Lady
Good book but not as comprehensive as the series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 15, 2014Amazon Customer
but there is something so nice about having a physical cookbook to reference
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 25, 2015
