We all know Jamie Oliver and sometimes people use that as an excuse to dismiss him but the truth is he is a fantastic chef with a lot of integrity. By integrity I mean that although I myself hate the idea of killing animals for their meat, I have much more respect for someone who would shoot a pigeon which has had a free life in the wild and then cook it with feeling in order to eat it than someone who would buy a battery chicken processed into a takeaway meal. Yes Jamie cooks with meat but he was the first TV chef to inspire me to cook my own food (vegetarian of course) and he gave me the confidence to experiment with food and to adapt recipes to suit individual tastes which I believe veggie cooking is all about.
This new book is jam-packed with exciting ways to use vegetables. Sometimes they are there to accompany meat dishes but just dispense with the unnecessary and use them alongside great veggie choices. Some of the recipes make fantastic meals on their own. Just skip the chapters on game and think of the salmon/pork etc. as an unwanted sideline to the main event.
A great addition to this book is the advice on growing vegetables at home. After having tried it for a couple of years I know it is not as easy as the seed display at the garden centre makes it sound. Jamie has worked (with gardeners) and provides useful tips on how to get the most out of what you plant.
This book is filled with fabulous vegetable recipes. Highly recommended.
Read my review of the TV show this book accompanies Jamie at Home
or more TV reviews at TV Dinners
