Book Description
Tess Monaghan has finally made the move and hung out her shingle as a p.i.-for-hire, complete with an office in Butchers Hill. Maybe it's not the best address in Baltimore, but you gotta start somewhere, and Tess's greyhound Esskay has no trouble taking marathon naps anywhere there's a roof. Then in walks Luther Beale, the notorious vigilante who five years ago shot a boy for vandalizing his car. Just out of prison, he says he wants to make reparations to the kids who witnessed his crime, so he needs Tess to find them. But once she starts snooping, the witnesses start dying. Is the "Butcher of Butchers Hill" at it again? Like it or not, Tess is embroiled in a case that encompasses the powers that-be, a heartless system that has destroyed the lives of children, and a nasty trail of money and lies leading all the way back to Butchers Hill.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome continuation of the series!.......2007-06-05
I wasn't as impressed by the book before this one, Charm City, so I hoped this one would be more like the first one in the series (Baltimore Blues), and I'm delighted to say it was.
In this, book three of the Tess Monaghan series, Tess opens her own PI agency with the help of her mentor/friend Tyner and a retired PI who lends her his name and status while he dashes off to enjoy his golden years.
What makes this book so good are the following things:
1) the two basic intertwined stories (Tess' search for children who'd witnessed a shooting some years before, and her search for the daughter a client gave up for adoption);
2) the extra glimpses we get into Tess' family life (that is, the way that her grandmother, et.al., are interwoven into the story; the whole concept of family is important throughout the entire novel);
3) the new detail we get about Tess herself (her previous battle with bulimia, etc.);
4) the way Baltimore continues to be a character in Ms. Monaghan's novels; and
5) the way this book sets up what will come in the next one [(In Big Trouble)by this, I mean that Tess personal life gets a LOT more attention here, and that leads directly into what becomes her most personal "case" in book four].
Some characters cross over from book two, and some you likely loved are missing. I particularly missed Crow because he seemed such a good balance for Tess in book two. However, the clients Tess takes on are strong enough characters to fill this novel with energy and make you want to know more about them.
Excellent!
Cold cases.......2006-08-16
This is the novel where Tess Monaghan opens her PI office (using a little scam to get the license) and takes on her first clients. The two cases run together a little because they deal with the foster care system. They involve things that happened in the past. When Tess looks for the children who had been witnesses to a shooting, it stirs up a lot of trouble and eventually reveals related crimes. The novel covers her family (possibly as interesting as Plum's) including the uncle that neither side seems to claim, and an unexpected addition. There are social issues, and the underside of Baltimore, including black vs. white issues. A lot of the plot is based on the foster care system.
Some readers may not be able to deal with some of the sticky issues covered in the novel. I don't think the author ever had the Klan burn a cross on her lawn, but that is probably because the novel was writen in the closing years of the 20th century (that did happen to another author at an earlier point in time).
There is some coarse language in the novel. It seems to digress at points, but as you finish the novel it becomes apparent how some of the digressions fit into the plot. There is also a lot of background color on present day Baltimore.
A Dickensian side of Baltimore.......2005-09-02
Tess Monahan is now a licensed PI with her own office on Butchers Hill, a less than salubrious suburb of Baltimore. With only her adopted greyhound Esskay for company, she interviews her first client, an elderly black man, who has just been released from prison for the supposed accidental shooting of a boy, years before. He wants her to locate the children who were present when the shooting took place, in order to make financial restitution, but as Tess locates them, some of them die, under varied circumstances. The local press and the police are convinced that the former prisoner is responsible for the deaths, but Tess believes the man's story. Another side issue to this story is the appearance of a young, black woman who wants Tess to find her child who was given up for adoption many years before, and, in pursuing this case, Tess finds members of her own family involved. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to get number 4 in the series.
Can't wait for #4.......2005-04-20
This is number 3 in the Tess Monahan series.
Every time I pick up one of these books and read the back it doesn't sound all that great to me, but once I start reading I
can't put her books down. This one is about some children that witnessed a murder and the man accused of the murder hires Tess to find them when they are older so he can help them financially. Then the witnesses start turning up dead.
A new character is added to this series. Tess takes over the care of Esskay, her uncle's greyhound, while he recovers from a beating in the hospital.
The plot is well developed and tight. Although the setting is Baltimore, you can imagine the story happening anywhere. Lippman seems to deal with social issues in her stories. In this book some issues mentioned include adoption and foster homes. I can't wait to get my hands on number 4 in this series.
A good third in a series.......2001-09-06
Lippman's writing continues to improve. She does a wonderful job of letting her characters age and learn from life, and the actual "mystery" is better than the two previous books. I do tend to think Lippman throws in a bit too much at the end (facts that suddenly change the direction of the story), but this fact didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. If for no other reason, this book is worth reading to get to the next (In Big Trouble) - the best of the series, in my opinion.
Book Description
Who is killing the rich society widows of Beverly Hills?
Meet Kerry and Terry McAfee—identical twin sisters who have nothing in common, save their red hair and California-girl looks. Kerry’s the good girl, a straight-A student who won a scholarship to UCLA. Terry’s the bad girl, whose appetite for nose candy won her a spot in the slammer. When Terry gets out of jail, the twins decide to open their own business as private investigators—and soon they’re keeping LA safe with the help of their trusty sidekicks: a Pomeranian named Paquito and a pug named Muffy.
When wealthy socialite Lenore Richling’s twentysomething gold-digging boy toy of a husband absconds with ten thousand dollars' worth of her jewelry, she does what anyone in her position would do: she checks herself in for a plastic surgery shopping spree, then calls the McAfee twins for help. While Lenore recuperates from her face-lift in a luxury hotel, the gals hop on their hot-pink Harley-Davidson and begin investigating a bevy of suspicious characters, including Barbie, a bimbo beauty consultant with buns of steel; Daniel Hattrick, a painkiller-pushing plastic surgeon; and Hugh Binion, a silver-haired, snake-tongued Hollywood attorney. Before they know it, the twins are wading in dead husbands, purloined cash, crotchless panties, mystery pills, and a body count high enough to make even tough cookies like them a little squeamish.
With a razor-sharp wit that brilliantly brings to life LA’s most eccentric personalities, The Butcher of Beverly Hills marks the debut of two of the hottest sleuths since Stephanie Plum—and delivers a fast-paced, highly original tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Download Description
Who is killing the rich society widows of Beverly Hills?
Meet Kerry and Terry McAfee—identical twin sisters who have nothing in common, save their red hair and California-girl looks. Kerry’s the good girl, a straight-A student who won a scholarship to UCLA. Terry’s the bad girl, whose appetite for nose candy won her a spot in the slammer. When Terry gets out of jail, the twins decide to open their own business as private investigators—and soon they’re keeping LA safe with the help of their trusty sidekicks: a Pomeranian named Paquito and a pug named Muffy.
When wealthy socialite Lenore Richling’s twentysomething gold-digging boy toy of a husband absconds with ten thousand dollars' worth of her jewelry, she does what anyone in her position would do: she checks herself in for a plastic surgery shopping spree, then calls the McAfee twins for help. While Lenore recuperates from her face-lift in a luxury hotel, the gals hop on their hot-pink Harley-Davidson and begin investigating a bevy of suspicious characters, including Barbie, a bimbo beauty consultant with buns of steel; Daniel Hattrick, a painkiller-pushing plastic surgeon; and Hugh Binion, a silver-haired, snake-tongued Hollywood attorney. Before they know it, the twins are wading in dead husbands, purloined cash, crotchless panties, mystery pills, and a body count high enough to make even tough cookies like them a little squeamish.
With a razor-sharp wit that brilliantly brings to life LA’s most eccentric personalities, The Butcher of Beverly Hills marks the debut of two of the hottest sleuths since Stephanie Plum—and delivers a fast-paced, highly original tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Customer Reviews:
Jennnifer Colt is now on my must-read list!.......2007-06-01
This book was a delight from start to finish. The mystery was labrynthine and surprising all the way to the end, the characters were hilarious and well-drawn, and the writing was top-notch. If I had to make a comparison, I'd say it's very Evanovich-like. Yet I didn't feel as if the author was trying to copy--it feels like an original, laugh-out-loud creation to me, and I can't wait to read the rest in the series.
WOW...........2006-11-20
Move over Stephanie Plum, there's a new girl in town. Or should I say, there are two new girls in town. "The Butcher of Beverly Hills" is the debut novel by Jennifer Colt featuring private eyes, Kerry and Terry McAfee.
Yes you read that right, Kerry and Terry; twins; redheads to boot and one is a lesbian. Men are going to be flocking to these books like gangbusters.
Great series! Witty with fun characters and interesting future developments. Quick moving and oh do we love the red herrings. This avid mystery fan figured it out but missed a crucial part. Let's see if the next reader can get it. Can't wait to start on the second one!
1st in the series.
Don't be put off by "BUTCHER"- Book is fast paced funny and fresh.......2006-11-11
I typically am not attracted to books that have "slasher" word's in the titles... but this series is an marked exception. You have to read the premise and know the butcher is not a crazed body parts collecter... but a plastic surgeon. This is where the fun begins. Twins with amusingly opposite personalities combine to make an unlikely but hilarious private eye team. They are surrounded by a very broad spectrum of colorful characters and the scenarios just keep pulling you ahead page by amusing page. If I didn't know there was a sequel right behind it I might have savored it and read over a day or two but I read it in one sitting. So much for delayed gratification ;-)
One Hell of a Romp.......2006-04-27
I absolutely LOVED this book. Such smart, original writing. Colt does an excellent job of describing the L.A. scene (reminds me of how Carl Hiaasen so perfectly puts the read in Florida) and her obsessively self-absorbed characters (read Robert and Reba) are hysterical. I found my self laughing out loud on page after page -- to the point where people were starting to stare at me at the coffee shop. The plot is outrageous and totally over-the-top, but the perfect vehicle for her characters to shine through. I enjoyed every minute of this one.
A mystery for gen X and Y.......2006-04-08
A great book with hysterical characters. The twin sisters who are the detectives in the book cause more chaos than and three Stephanie Plum's. If you like Evanovich you will love this book. Also look at books by Robert Eversz.
Product Description
A Tess Monaghan Mystery
Book Description
Who Is Killing the Rich Widows of Beverly Hills? Beverly Hills socialite Lenore Richling is recuperating from a facelift at a five-star hotel when she hires fledgling investigators Kerry and Terry McAfee to find her flyaway husband. The much younger man has absconded with a large sum of her money, leaving Lenore thoroughly humiliated and hungering for revenge. The McAfees are hot on the boy toy's trail when he's shot by an unseen assailant, the client dies under mysterious circumstances, and the McAfees are drawn into a web of high-society blackmail, prescription drug dealing, and of course, murder most foul.
It's hilariously wacky. "I Love Lucy-Noir".
Customer Reviews:
A great read!.......2004-01-09
I picked up The Butcher of Beverly Hills based on a recommendation from a dear friend and could not put it down. My husband even came into the bedroom to see what was so funny. I love mysteries and to read one with such wacky characters and interesting plot lines was a thrill. Ran out and bought the second book, Mangler of Malibu, and loved that too. I can't wait for more.
5 Star review!.......2003-04-12
from TT reviewer Angie Gibbs
Kerry and Terry McAfee are identical twins, and fledgling investigators. Asked by their zany Aunt Reba to help a friend of hers, the twins embark on a quest to find a runaway husband, but the situation quickly turns into a quest to find a killer. Tooling around the posh streets of Beverly Hills on a pink Harley straight out of the pages of Biker Barbie, the twins get more than what they bargained for when they uncover an intricate maze of blackmail, drugs, and murder.
With the help of their Aunt Reba and Kerry's former boss, defense attorney extraordinaire Eli Weintraub, the twins are determined to find the killer of their former client. Throughout the book, you get introduced to a cast of wacky characters, and two precocious dogs, a Chihuahua named Paquito and a Pug named Muffy. You are going to fall in love with the McAfee twins. Kerry and Terry McAfee are twins with very different personalities that seem to complement each other, as much as they spark off of each other.
Jennifer Colt has written a winner! A laugh a minute thrill ride, The Butcher of Beverly Hills will go down in history as a classic "who done it". From the first page, you'll be crying because you are laughing so hard at the quick dialogue, the kooky characters, and the hilarious situations that the twins always seem to find themselves in. Whether they are dodging police questions, getting beaten up by a mop-wielding janitor, or chased by an actor turned bodyguard, Kerry and Terry will hold your attention and keep you on the edge of your seat. The Butcher of Beverly Hills has been nominated in the Private Eye Writers of America/St. Martin's Press Best First Private Eye Novel Contest. This book is going to take a permanent place in my keeper collection. If you like a good mystery, you will not be disappointed.
Product Description
4 PBs by Laura Lippman: 1. The Sugar House. 2. Butcher's Hill. 3. Every Secret Thing. 4. In Big Trouble.
Average customer rating:
- Magical Murder Mystery
- A murder mystery with a real twist
- Murder mystery, horror story, historical novel
- Pleasant, but somewhat predictable
- Gorgeous, intriguing and scintillating! Keeps getting better
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The Lady in the Loch
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Scarborough, Elizabeth Ann | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0441006663 |
Explorations, Dec. 1998
This novel is not the typical kind of science fiction or fantasy story. I should also mention that The Lady in the Loch is not about good old Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. If you are interested in a story that has a combination of fantasy, mystery, and just the right gothic overtones, then this novel is worth picking up today for your reading pleasure. . . I believe this novel is perfect for those of you with some time to kill riding a train or an airplane, or perhaps sitting in the waiting room in a doctor's office This is a novel you won't be able to put down for even a moment. I enjoyed reading The Lady in the Loch and I hope that you will do the same.
Customer Reviews:
Magical Murder Mystery.......2005-10-18
The protagonist of this tale is the young Walter Scott, sheriff of Edinburgh. When bones are discovered after draining a city loch, Scott is set on the trail of a murderer who is stealing away gypsy girls. An engrossing and delightful tale, full of matter-of-fact supernatural aspects.
A murder mystery with a real twist.......2004-11-03
Walter Scott, lawyer, romantic author and newly appointed sheriff of Edinburgh, finds a mystery on his hands. The slowly draining Nor' Loch is giving up a collection of bones and bodies - recent bodies - incomplete bodies. And, when women begin disappearing, snatched right off the street, it becomes very worrying indeed. Someone is up to something hideous and diabolical, and Scott needs to get to the bottom of it!
I tripped across this book by accident, and boy am I glad! Ms. Scarborough spins a fascinating story of magic and murder, suspenseful and gripping. I must say that the book reminded me a lot of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein or Bram Stoker's Dracula; I think that it has many things in common with those classics of horror.
So, if you like a good old fashioned horror story, or a murder mystery with a real twist, then get this book, you won't be disappointed!
Murder mystery, horror story, historical novel.......2003-08-05
This book is all of these things. One thing, though, the dialogue is written in dialect. While if I had known this, I probably wouldn't have gotten the book, I actually enjoyed the Scottish flavor. It's not so unitelligable that you lose the plot. Most of it is easy enough to understand, especially after being read out loud. Even if the dialogue can't be understood, the writing is so good, that the point is driven across anyway.
After all that, what is left is a look into a different society; a murder mystery where young gypsy girls are going missing, and a horror story where the dead rise to sccuse their killers, and a crazed doctor tries to assemble parts to bring his lover back to life.
A definite must read.
Pleasant, but somewhat predictable.......2002-08-18
I've enjoyed Scarborough's previous fantasy works. They're always quite readable and did a fine job portraying ordinary people put into extraordinary circumstances. However, I found this novella particularly predictable. It's not just that the identity of the villain is handed to the reader in the first chapters of the book (no, it doesn't pretend to be a mystery novel), but also all the plot twists and complications are very straightforward and usually loudly heralded before Scarborough brings the reader to their advent. On the positive side, the depictions of Edinburgh are vivid and plentiful, and will strike a chord with anyone who has trod the Royal Mile or gazed on the Salisbury Crags. And, as ever, Scarborough provides likable, lively characters with wit.
Gorgeous, intriguing and scintillating! Keeps getting better.......1999-08-08
I don't know how E.A. Scarborough does it, I've been reading her books for years and this lady never grows stale or repetious! The Lady in the Loch is a wonderful mystery, a wonderful fantasy and a wonderful historic fiction rolled up into one incredibly clever book, set in Scotland, with a mood and a scenery so real you can smell and feel it, it's a gripping story... my husband doesn't like fantasy, but loves mysteries and I really think this is the book that will convert him!!! Thank you Ms Scarborough! For the hours of enjoyment and another book I can re-read into tatters and discover something new every time! And thank you for another well researched tale that will get me to the library to learn more about your incredibly interesting locales and historical figures!!!
Product Description
Detailed Description Elizabeth Loch brings us the heartwarming and true story of Juanita, a simple Costa Rican Indian girl, and the mysterious "doll" which kept appearing on a rock near the forest stream. A wonderful story for both children and adults, this account of Costa Rica's national Madonna illustrates the great desire of the Mother of God to be near her children, regardless of their race or social position. Contains both English and Spanish translations.Author: Elizabeth Loch Pages: 40 Publisher: New Hope Publications ISBN: 1892875128
Book Description
For children with Down syndrome, communicating is just as urgent and essential as it is for anyone else. In the newly updated and expanded edition of Communication Skills in Children with Down Syndrome, Libby Kumin offers comprehensive, authoritative, and practical advice based on her nearly 25 years of firsthand experience with kids with Down syndrome. She explains the role of a SLP, the stages of communication development, and how certain characteristics of Down syndrome, such as low muscle tone, hearing loss, and cognitive delays, can slow progression of those skills. Delays can lead to frustration and other problems for children who do not have intelligible speech until age 2 or later.
EARLY COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME focuses on speech and language development from birth through the stage of making 3-word phrases, which is often around kindergarten age, but can occur later. This book offers a wealth of information on intelligibility issues, hearing loss, apraxia (difficulty planning oral-motor movements), and other factors that affect communication for children with Down syndrome. It explains how to prepare for and understand the results of speech-language assessment, and goes on to describe what to expect in the years ahead when a child enters elementary school.
Throughout the new edition, the author incorporates the latest research on Down syndrome and communication development. She has added new chapters on high- and low-tech augmentative and alternative communication options, as well as articulation and literacy (how reading aids in the learning of language, speech, and auditory skills). New checklists on evaluating and treating speech problems, and numerous home activities designed to help children master each stage of communication development have also been added.
Customer Reviews:
excellent suggestions and explanations.......2007-08-02
Bought for use in a parent-infant education program for children infant to 3. Written with parents in mind so that it is not full of medical-speak, and full of suggestions, this is a good book for anyone working with or parenting a child with low tone or multiple issues that interfere with language development.
Very informative.......2007-04-12
I wish I had time to read the whole thing at once, it's full of helpful info. I recommend it to anyone working with or parenting a child with down syndrome. Something that is partcularly nice about it as well as the other books like it is that they don't talk in ages but in stages. This way you can follow your child, and not some outward source that determines what they should be doing and when.
An excellent instructional resource.......2003-08-08
Written for both parents and professional caretakers, Early Communication Skills For Children With Down Syndrome by Libby Kumin (who has 23 years of experience in working with children with Down syndrome) is very highly recommended as an informational resource by parents, caretakers, teachers, and anyone else charged with the responsibility of dealing with Down Syndrome children. With a focus on speech and language development, through the stage of making 3-word phrases, Early Communication Skills For Children With Down syndrome offers in-depth insight, home communication activities, ways to help one's child learn basic rules of conduct, and much more. An excellent instructional resource, Early Communication Skills For Children With Down Syndrome is a welcome and necessary addition to institutional speech pathology and Special Education resource and reference collections.
Amazon.com
Swiss chef Frédy Girardet retired from a superlative culinary career in 1996. He earned three Michelin stars at his restaurant in Crissier, Switzerland, and received numerous prizes throughout his career, including the Gault-Millau Cle d'Or and the Grand Prix International de l'Art de la Cuisine. In Girardet, he presents some of the most sophisticated and breathtaking dishes prepared in the last 15 years of his career. His first book, La cuisine spontanee, was published in 1982 and is still selling in Europe.
In dishes such as the Lightly Jellied Chicken Bouillon with Truffled Foie Gras and Mousseline of Peas, six ingredients come together in a handful of steps to produce a silky-textured, three-layer dish of shimmering light and concentrated flavor. Cream of Broccoli Soup with Wild Mushrooms is as simple as can be, but has never looked or tasted so magnificent. This is serious food. And while many of the dishes involve myriad ingredients and steps, you can easily reduce them to the main element and a sauce, and still be left with something spectacular. Step-by-step instructions demystify dishes such as Duck Terrine with Pistachios, Confit Duckling with Spices and Lime, and Crisp Sweetbreads with Port and Ginger. Elegant desserts include Wild Strawberry and Champagne Mousseline, and Poached Pears with Orange Syrup, Plum Fritters, and Hazelnut Ice Cream. Girardet may not be cooking for us anymore, but he's left excellent instructions. --Leora Y. Bloom
Book Description
During the heady glory days of haute cuisine in the 1970s, gourmands from around the world dined at fine restaurants in Paris, Lyons, Roanne, and other parts of France. Yet another illustrious culinary destination was located in a renovated town hall in a village outside of Lausanne, Switzerland, where Frédy Girardet was creating sublime French cuisine to international acclaim, earning three Michelin stars. Chef Girardet entered semiretirement in 1996, and now, 20 years after the publication of his landmark first cookbook, the eagerly anticipated second book has arrived. Over 100 classic recipes are presented, including signature dishes with such classic Girardet ingredients as foie gras, truffles, and citrus. Devoted followers will rejoice, while a new generation of cooks will be introduced to the passionate sensibilities of a culinary genius.
Customer Reviews:
Great exemplars of haute cuisine recipes. Highly recommended.......2004-12-10
`girardet, Recipes From a Master of French Cuisine' written by retired Swiss master Fredy Girardet is this renowned chef's second book, being published eight years after he retired from professional cooking and more than twenty years after his first publication, `Spontaneous Cooking'. In a totally uncharacteristic show of unity, Girardet is lauded as the foremost master of French cooking by both Paul Bocuse and Joel Robuchon.
In evaluating this book, I felt the weight of having given Charlie Trotter's latest book on fine dining recipes a poor rating, in spite of the obvious quality of the recipes in this `Workin' volume. Ultimately, Girardet's book validated my rating of Trotter's effort in showing how fine dining recipes should be written, thereby earning my high praise.
For starters, Trotter's recipes are touted as being improvisations, while Girardet's recipes have probably been prepared for years in exactly the same way at his restaurant. Among other things, that means they have been thoroughly tested by years of practice by dozens of line chefs. Girardet also has a distinct way of writing recipes, which is great for both restaurant practice and for entertaining. All of his procedures are divided into at least three sections, Preparation, Cooking, and Presentation. Preparation is everything that can be done hours or even days in advance, with intermediate results stored in the fridge. Unlike virtually every other cookbook I have seen, Girardet specifies exactly how to best store these intermediate preparations, citing which need to be covered and refrigerated if they are not used immediately. This simple addition literally doubles the value of the recipes for entertaining. Although Girardet does not tout this aspect of his recipe writing, he actually embodies the very good practice demonstrated in Wolfgang Puck's new book of laying out all the techniques needed for each recipe within that recipe. For example, everywhere it is needed, the recipe repeats the technique for skinning tomatoes by cutting a cross in the bottom and blanching.
Like most cookbooks for major restaurants, this one includes a large section on pantry preparations. This selection is as larger than Trotter's offering and, to my eyes, much better in that veggies are not chopped, but simply `cut large' and simmered for no more than three hours rather than Trotter's six. In only one stock recipe is the mirepoix diced, suggesting a ¼ inch dice. At the same time, Girardet is not overly fussy. I have seen more detailed recipes for exactly the same product from the CIA, Judy Rodgers, and Thomas Keller. Of all chapters I have seen on pantry preparations, I think Keller's work in `Bouchon' is the best, but Girardet comes close. He especially offers recipes for three different gelees; close relatives to stocks where veal shins and feet are added to extract their gelatin.
The organization of recipes is very conventional, which is quite reassuring. One is not disoriented as you encounter all the familiar subjects of Cold Appetizers; Hot Appetizers; Fish; Shellfish; Poultry, Rabbit, and Feathered Game; Meat and Furred Game; Variety Meats; Cold Desserts; and Hot Desserts. The first thing you may notice is that there are no meze, tapas, sandwiches, or other species of finger food evident in this list. This is FINE DINING! There are also no easily recognizable classic Bistro salads here. Most of the appetizers are soups or small dishes of fine shellfish.
One of the most difficult aspects of these recipes is that many use a principle ingredient that may be difficult to find in the average supermarket. There are many recipes involving rabbit, venison, boar, langoustines, scallops in the shell, cockles, crayfish, frogs legs, skate, and sweetmeats. And, there are no suggestions for substitutions. The scallops in the shell are not simply a conceit or a decoration. The leftovers after excising the scallop from the shell are used to create a broth, in much the same way as lobster shells are used to create a stock for bisques and other seafoody stuff.
And yet, there were still lots of recipes which not only impressed me with their quality, but which I actually looked forward to making in my own kitchen. A recipe for tuna fish tournedos with Ratatouille and green peppercorn vinaigrette may sound daunting, but the instructions are so straightforward and the result looks so delicious that I am certain I will try this little gem very soon. While all the photographs are expertly done, and there is a full-page photograph for practically every dish, I did detect a few where the photographed dish did not exactly match the description in the recipe. I rarely weigh this against a book, as I generally pay little attention to fancy plating or to using the pics to pick a dish to make, but you may feel differently, so I'm compelled to mention this.
The author claims he will avoid technical cooking terms as much as possible, but I sense he put this objective out at the beginning of the book and quickly forgot it. I forgive him on this, because I would be annoyed to see words such as Aiguillettes, Gelee, Veloute, Chartreuse, Chaud-Froid, Galantine, Terrine and Frivolity replaced with any circumlocutions. And that is just from the names of the recipes in the hot appetizers.
I have seen English translations of books by both Bocuse and Robuchon and this volume joins them as evidence that the leading Europeans really know how to do cookbooks. The binding is of a very high quality, the book lays flat where you open it, and an integrated ribbon bookmark is added for good measure.
This book may only appeal to professionals and foodies, but it is a very, very good embassy to this interest indeed. Highly recommended.
Perfection. No question about it........2002-10-01
This is without question one of the best cookbooks ever. I can't get my mind around how it is absolutely "just right". The food is lavish and beautifully presented, yet, it has this simplicity about it that brings it back from pomposity. There is a touch, a feel, that is as good as I've ever witnessed. A certain maturity that exudes extreme confidence.
Stylistically, the closest thing to this in my collection is the new edition of Larousse Gastronomique. Yet that book is full of recipes that are sloppily either over-the-top or ho-hum. Imagine that kind of cuisine taken to its absolute apex.
The descriptions are utterly clear, and detailed, and in a very helpful format of preperation, finishing touches, and presentation. This takes you through the mise en place carefully and then shows you what you need to do when ready to fire the plate and put it together. A quantum leap, IMO, in recipe presentation.
The photos are breathtaking. If you are intimidated by the recipes, you can always make yourself happy just viewing this as a picture book. But if you force yourself through these recipes a few times, you will lose the intimidation and wonder why you weren't cooking this way all along? Go ahead dive in the deep end...even a sloppy, crude rendition of these recipes will be worth every ounce of unnecessary stress.
I think Girardet has created a new watermark in cookbooks and look forward to seeing attempts to top this.
PS Serious sleuthing has revealed what "Nion" is (for the Nion Tart). Nion is the compressed nutmeat left over from creating nut oil. Girardet calls for grating walnut or hazelnut nion for his tart. It will take significantly more sleuthing to get one's hands on some nion, however!!!
Of course, no gourmet cookbook would be complete without calling for a tablespoon or two of pure unobtainium.
Books:
- By the Pricking of my Thumbs
- Cardington Crescent
- Charmed Circle (Circle, Book 2)
- Cold Streets (The Vampire Files)
- Cop Hater (87th Precinct Mysteries)
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Serial (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (IDW))
- Cutwork
- Dead Cert
- Death at Whitechapel (Robin Paige Victorian Mysteries, No. 6)
- Death of a Dustman
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Great School Wars: A History of the New York City Public Schools
- Tempt Me, Taste Me, Touch Me
- Investigating Microbiology: A Laboratory Manual for General Microbiology
- Interfacial Forces in Aqueous Media, Second Edition
- Lamps of Tiffany Studios
- Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions
- Return to the Common Grill
- Biltmore Estate: The Most Distinguished Private Place
- Healing Gardens: Therapeutic Benefits and Design Recommendations
- Absolutely Amazing Five Minute Mysteries
In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Mysteries)
Charm City (Tess Monaghan Mysteries)
The Sugar House: A Tess Monaghan Mystery
Baltimore Blues (Tess Monaghan Mysteries)
In a Strange City (Tess Monaghan Mysteries)
