The Return of the Naked Chef by Jamie Oliver

Devotees of Jamie Oliver have been waiting in anticipation for the publication of his second book. They have been rewarded. He's back, larger than life, with The Return of the Naked Chef. The BBC has run a television series, which this book accompanies.

This is the Wallace and Gromit of cooking, cracking good stuff. If you can overcome his laddish literary style, this book is certainly worth it. The quality of a cookery book should be gauged on whether its text can stand alone or is dependent on the accompanying photographs. This book falls into the latter category. The photographs are mouth-watering and make the reader want to rush to the kitchen and cook, cook, cook. The recipes are robust and full flavoured and as Jamie would probably say ‘gob smackingly delicious'. The book could probably do with fewer photographs of the lovely Mr. Oliver but you certainly can't dampen his enthusiasm for food. If he manages to get more men into the kitchen, he's definitely the man (boy, really) for me.

The recipes are simple, easy to follow and best of all, concise - pared down to the minimum. The measurements of swigs, lugs and fists will drive the precision cooks amongst us into apoplexy but still, give it a go. Some of his ideas have been round the block a few times but give a fresh take and different interpretation on the old staples. The thought of watercress, rocket, sweet pear, walnut and Parma ham salad or salmon fillets wrapped in prosciutto with herby lentils, spinach and yoghurt has me salivating and I've only just had breakfast. What about Malteser milkshake, a real hit with children.

This book is a definite must have and if you haven't already got a copy, get one now.

AD.
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Publication Details:
288 pages. Photography by David Loftus. £20.
ISBN 0718144392. Published by Michael Joseph.
2000

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Other books by Jamie Oliver
The Naked Chef

For more information on Jamie Oliver, visit his website, www.jamieoliver.net