Gordon Ramsay's World Kitchen

The fifth series of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word seems to have lost a lot of its original charm and appeal. This has little to do with the fact that the chef is swearing a lot less (which is in fact a plus), nor that his face looks a lot less craggy (one of the few instances when botox has probably helped), but more that the show has become formulaic, filled with tedious 'dramatic' pauses and faux emotion as Ramsay searches the country for the best local restaurants. Luckily, his new book, World Kitchen, which has been launched to accompany the series, makes up for a lot of lost ground.

DIVERSE AND EXCITING

If you don't have the space for lots of different cookery books, but like to experiment with food from around the world, then World Kitchen is an excellent compromise. Each chapter features dishes from a different country, including France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Britain, the Middle East, China, Thailand, India and American. This makes for a very inspiring companion come dinner time, with recipes as diverse and exciting as they are accessible and easy to follow, and a good range of starters, mains and puddings in each chapter. For a light and snacky dish, you might go for Taramasalata and home-made pitta bread (Greece) or Dolomades (stuffed vine leaves) from the Middle East; for a starter, Pan-fried scallops with leeks vinaigrette (France) or Pork Satay (Thailand); for a meaty main, Osso buco with roasted butternut squash and creamy polenta (Italy) or Red Braised Pork Belly (China); for pudding a decadent Mississippi mud pie (America) or a light Cinnamon Kulfi - a kind of home-made mini-milk - from India. The choice is all there and it's up to you whether you focus on one particular country over a themed meal or ring the changes with each course.

DELECTABLE DISHES

It is interesting to see how similar dishes are treated differently around the world, from a Basque hake and potato casserole in Spain to a Louisiana seafood gumbo in America or a rich Fish pie with leeks and prawns in Britain, and you will come to recognise the key ingredients and styles favoured by each country. Each recipe is accompanied by excellent photography - so good you can almost smell the delectable looking dishes represented - and watch out for the Five Ways features, which cover Five Ways with Pizza, Five Ways with Asparagus and Five Ways with Cabbage. The F World may have lost its sparkle, but World Kitchen will end up being one of your most well-thumbed cookery books.

Emily Jenkinson

Publication details
ISBN 978-1-84400-713-4
Published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd.
www.quadrille.co.uk

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7 December 09