Mandy Wolfe is the co-creator of Mandy’s, a create-your-own salad bar in Montreal.
She has now released this cookbook which teaches you how to make your own delicious gourmet salads at home.
Salad doesn’t have to be boring- they can be a celebration of colors, textures and flavors to rival any other meal.
This is not just a book of salad recipes, it also teaches you about how to build a salad and combine the different flavors, and how to prepare your salad correctly.
Pros
Photography - There are some excellent photos of the salads to get your mouth watering
Variety - There is a great range of ingredients and dressings to make your salads with
Simple - The recipes are simple and easy to follow
Cons
Anecdotes - There are a lot of stories about the author's life which some readers might no like
Jennifer Farley is the founder of Savory Simple, a online food blog that is dedicated to providing fantastic recipes that are suitable for home cooks and make cooking good food more accessible.
This cookbook is filled with gourmet recipes that are nourishing, approachable and impressive.
This book draws inspirations from various cultures and cuisines from around the world, giving you lots of different options to try.
Pros
Simple - The recipes are simple and easy to follow
Variety - There is an excellent variety of recipes to choose from
Advice - The book is filled with helpful advice for beginners
Cons
Ingredients - Some of the ingredients are expensive as it is gourmet food
Lyn Alley is a very experienced cooking teacher, which makes her recipes very easy to follow and accessible to cooks at all levels.
This book features 60 recipes that prove using a slow cooker doesn’t mean eating boring meals all the time - you can make more than just casserole in your slow cooker!
These gourmet recipes are delicious and will impress your family and friends.
Pros
Variety - There are various recipes from different regions with an introduction for each chapter
Simple - The recipes are simple and easy to follow
Photography - There are photos to accompany the recipes
Cons
Make ahead - a lot of the recipes have elements that you need to prepare ahead of time
In this cookbook, Cornell professor Shannon Hayes presents 125 recipes using pasture raised animals.
There are various different types of meat and dairy products and each recipe showcases the unique characteristics of the various ingredients.
You will also learn about the environmental impact and nutritional value of each recipe, as well as the animal welfare benefits of pasture -based farming.
Pros
Informative - This book is very informative and will teach you new things
Variety - There is a good variety of different ingredients used
Photography - There are photos to accompany the recipes
Cons
Vegan - This book is not suitable for vegans and has very little for vegetarians
This book is a celebration of presentation, proving that even simple meals can be gourmet.
The recipes use seasonal ingredients to create flavorsome meals that are visually appealing.
Each recipe has step by step instructions to follow and includes guidance on presentation.
Pros
Recipes - There are 100 recipes to choose from
Instructions - the step by step instructions are easy to follow
Photography - The stunning photography showcases the presentation
Cons
Advice - Some readers wanted more advice on presentation
How To Choose The Best Gourmet Cookbook
How do you narrow down your selection to choose the best gourmet cookbook for you? Here are some things you should consider when deciding which gourmet cookbook to buy.
Cuisine
Gourmet food is a very wide category and encompasses many different cuisines.
You might want to choose a particular food to focus on, like gourmet desserts or gourmet salads.
Make sure you are getting good value for your money by checking how many recipes are included in the cookbook you want to buy.
If there are plenty of recipes then the book will last you a long time and you will be able to learn how to make many dishes.
You should also browse the recipes to make sure that there are plenty of dishes that pique your interest and use ingredients that you know you will enjoy.
Instructions
Gourmet cooking can be quite complex and precise.
It is essential that the instructions are simple and easy to follow, but include enough detail to make it clear what you should be doing at each step.
Photographs are very helpful as they will give you the inspiration you need to achieve excellent presentation for each recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about gourmet cooking.
What Is Gourmet Food?
Gourmet food is usually served in prestigious restaurants. It is made using top quality ingredients and priorities meticulous presentation.
The flavors are always well balanced and are often quite rich.
Is Gourmet Cooking Expensive?
Unlike batch cooking or rustic cooking, gourmet cooking puts a big emphasis on quality.
The ingredients can be expensive and it is hard to cook gourmet meals in bulk, often making them less economical.
Is Gourmet Cooking Possible For Beginners?
Even beginner chefs can start learning to cook gourmet food if they have the right guidance.
If the recipes are clear and simple to follow then you will be surprised at what you are able to achieve.
I'm Barbara Hunt, the founder of WomenChefs.org. Being a mom of two, I understand the challenges of meal planning and the monotony it can bring.
That's why I created WomenChefs.org, a platform dedicated to showcasing the skills and delicious dishes crafted by amazing women. My goal is to provide a space where women can find delectable recipes that tantalize their taste buds and ignite their senses.
I hope you'll join me in exploring WomenChefs.org and discovering your next favorite recipe. Let's embrace culinary diversity and try something new together!
