Reviews

Appetite by Nigel Slater

philippakmoore's review against another edition

4.0

I always enjoy Nigel's books and his philosophy around food and cooking. Recipes, he argues, should be a source of inspiration and ideas, not things to follow religiously. He presents a way of cooking, shopping and eating that places good fresh ingredients at the forefront but that is not fussy or complicated. His motto seems to be eat what you enjoy and enjoy cooking it, because it is indeed a great pleasure.

andreana_k's review against another edition

4.0

Loved this book, why didn't I find it years ago. I might love Nigel and much as I love Nigella, it's a tough call.
Need to buy this one.

beentsy's review against another edition

5.0

Fantastic resource cookbook, all about starting points and where you can take a 'recipe' from there. Encourages thinking and being more involved with your cooking than just measuring/mixing/cooking. It is a cookbook but it is also wonderfully readable.

This was a library read but I'm pretty sure I'm going to order my own copy of this one.

salmonread's review against another edition

4.0

i don't usually consider myself to have "read" the many cookbooks i've opened up, but this one is an exception - i'm reading it cover to cover, and on page 98, i've only encountered a couple recipes so far. a realistic & motivating attitude toward home cooking, this one, with lots of useful information presented in memorable ways (which herbs to add at the beginning and which to add at the end, and WHY in a way that now makes what i've been doing by following recipes all these years make sense, for instance).

HOWEVER, there is much of slater's opinion in this book. while this enlivens the book with personality and makes it so fun to read, i really disagree with quite a bit of it. such as his suggestion that one should never buy brussels sprouts and his tendency to think that a potato is the only side dish you really ever need for anything.

kristennd's review against another edition

4.0

I didn't intend to read the whole thing in one sitting, so that says something about how compelling his writing is. Haven't actually tested the recipes, but some great sensible advice on keeping things simple. I need recipes these days that won't make it sound easier to get take-out and this seems to be a perfect book for that. Also seems really good and reassuring for a beginning cook. Loved the section on what flavors go best with other flavors.

clarel's review

4.0

This is a marvellous book. Slater gives you room to adapt and change his recipes, even including lists of potential variations and additions. Gloriously satisfying and hearty dishes, with ample descriptions of what sort of meal (comforting, light, healing, etc) each one will be.