Prue Leith, Caroline Waldegrave, Leiths Cookery Bible Reviews

cwheatcroft's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
Report this review

Good Points: Extremely comprehensive
Full of useful tips
Quite literally a cookery bible

Bad Points: Not many pictures

General comments: If you are a keen cook Prue Leith, Caroline Waldegrave, Leiths Cookery Bible is one of those reference books that you will refer to time and time again. I would describe myself as as an able and willing rather than an accomplished cook and I like to try new methods and ideas on a daily basis - time allowing. This book allows you to do that as you never reach a dead end. I was recently convinced that I needed some demi-glace which I discovered was basically a condensed sauce espagnole with added stock. Easy to find on the internet but when you are half-way through choosing dinner before going to the supermarket this information was right at hand in Leiths (I altered the menu as I didn't have the 6 hours to spare to make the sauce!).

Once you have had enough with the basic preparation you will find the recipes well written, easy to follow and absolutely inspired. There are recipes for new and experienced cooks alike although they tend to be tried and tested classics rather than 'of the moment' items although it is by no means old-fashioned.

Considering the retail price is £35 I would recommend it unreservedly but online retailers sell it for two thirds of the price which is a steal.

If you need a good reference book this is the one to get, think of it as a road atlas of the UK and all other cookery books as OS maps and you will know what I mean.