Containing foolproof recipes, this book is designed to introduce men of all ages to the kitchen and transform them into competent cooks.

If this book has been bought for you in the hope of encouraging you towards the kitchen, other than to retrieve a cool beer or ice for a gin and tonic, I trust that you will take the time to read it. You might be pleasantly surprised to discover a world beyond microwave meals and fish and chips. There is a chance that you have bought this book for yourself because you have a desire to learn how to cook. Or maybe you’ve got a hot date with the most beautiful girl in town and all you can cook is fish fingers with chilli sauce. Perhaps your wife has given you an ultimatum - either you start to help with the cooking or you do your own washing. The book won’t guarantee that you get your girl or manage to hold onto the one you’ve got, but it will teach you how to cook! There are an awful lot of men out there who are struggling to get through the burger and baked bean barrier. Fear not, help is at hand. Although this book will not turn you into the next ‘super chef’, it will teach you how to cook a variety of meals ranging from simple dishes, such as scrambled eggs, to others that are more elaborate. Cooking is regarded by many as a chore, its purpose being purely to sustain life with as little effort as possible. Perhaps you rarely cook for yourself, preferring to rely on others or on take-aways or ready-to-cook meals. If you are one such person then it’s time to change. Being able to cook is not solely a useful social skill. It should provide enjoyment and entertainment. Not only is it nice to cook for a partner, it is something that can be enjoyed together. Another benefit from being able to cook is that it might get you out of the washing-up if you have prepared a meal. As you learn more about cooking you will begin to learn more about food. Most chefs are as passionate about the ingredients as they are about cooking, inferior ingredients will normally result in an inferior meal. Cooking combines creativity, skill, timing and knowledge - plus at the end of it you can eat what you have created, which is one up on an oil painting! You might not give a stuff about how it looks provided it tastes good and there is plenty of it; each to their own. The intent of this book is simply to get you cooking, not to preach about etiquette and cuisine politics. After a little use, you will notice the heavy influence of French Cuisine upon this book. There is a particular bias of cooking from the Provençal region, where I have spent a great deal of time over the last 13 years. I have been fortunate enough to meet people who share my passion for food and who have taken the trouble to impart knowledge, enthusiasm and guidance on many of the famous dishes from the region. There is always something new to learn, and I continue my quest with an open mind and an open mouth prepared for my next culinary adventure.

 

 

 

The Bachelor's Grub Guide by Alastair Williams
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