20 | squaremeal.co.uk

CRACKING YOLKS � PIG TALES

(£19.99, Kyle Books)

Anyone hoping that Cracking

Yolks � Pig Tales will be a

hearty homage to the joys

of nose-to-tail eating should

have a quick � ick through

it before purchasing. Glynn

Purnell is Birmingham's

most famous chef and

for anybody but the most

dedicated cook, these are

the sort of complex recipes

best read about at home

then eaten in a restaurant, something

underlined by the arty, rather austere

photography. But there are a handful of

simpler dishes: red mullet ­ llets, brie� y

baked and served with broccoli, were a

cinch to prepare and the accompanying

Jerusalem artichoke and vanilla purée

gave a real � ourish of cheƒ y technique for

minimal eƒ ort. And Purnell's writing style

is refreshingly like the man himself: downto-earth

and engaging - even when he's

telling you to blowtorch a lettuce leaf.

Ben McCormack, editor

REVOLUTIONARY

FRENCH COOKING

(£20, Duncan Baird)

French chef Daniel Galmiche

heads the show at The

Vineyard at Stockcross

and his book boasts '100

innovative French recipes'.

It starts with the basics,

including the chicken stock

recipe used to make smoked

chicken, courgette, garlic and

rosemary casserole. This is a

hearty crowd-pleaser with

a touch of elegance as well as complication

in the form of green tea-smoked chicken. It

sounds daunting but it's a relatively simple

aƒ air involving a vegetable steamer. Once

cooked, the subtle tea smoke provided a

delicious note of accomplishment.

Lucy Britner, sta� writer and sub editor

Anyone hoping that

Yolks � Pig Tales

hearty homage to the joys

of nose-to-tail eating should

have a quick � ick through

it before purchasing. Glynn

Purnell is Birmingham's

most famous chef and

for anybody but the most

dedicated cook, these are

the sort of complex recipes

best read about at home

then eaten in a restaurant, something

HO NEY & CO:

FOOD FROM

THE MIDDLE EAST

(£25, Saltyard Books)

Falafel fans rejoice! You'll find

three recipes for this Middle

Eastern favourite in Honey

& Co's book, plus the full

complement of mezze dishes,

dips, salads, breads and rich

slow-cooked dishes, such as the melting lamb

shawarma that I made. There are recipes to

suit all abilities, written in an accessible

style with mouth-watering photographs.

Julie Sheppard, managing editor

LA PATISSERIE

DES REVES

(£25, Grub Street)

The sublime pastry shop

whose name means 'the

patisserie of dreams'

has released a book to

salivate over. Separated

into chapters such as

Teatime Treats and Seasonal Fruit Tarts, there's

plenty for the keen baker to get stuck into, from

praline shortbread to rum babas. The chocolate

sponge cake challenged technical ability without

stretching it too far, and resulted in a delicious

light sponge. Be warned: certain hard-to-find

ingredients might have to be ordered online.

Laura Foster, assistant editor

SOCIAL SUPPERS

(£25, Absolute Press)

Having spread his social eating

philosophy across London,

Jason Atherton's next move

is to bring it to your home,

with an emphasis on unfussy

dishes of the sort you'd eat

at his restaurants. A recipe

for meatballs in tomato sauce was easy to

follow and quick to prepare, and the end

result impressive. Some recipes feature cheffy

ingredients that will need seeking out, but the

cooking is straightforward, allowing the host to

socialise, rather than slaving in the kitchen.

Ben Norum, news and online editor

LA PATISSERIE

DES REVES

(£25, Grub Street)

The sublime pastry shop

whose name means 'the

patisserie of dreams'

has released a book to

salivate over. Separated

into chapters such as

slow-cooked dishes, such as the melting lamb

Want to get a taste of your favourite restaurant chez toi? Look no further than these

new tomes whose recipes have been tried and tasted by the Square Meal team

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