Customer Reviews
Lots of yummy recipes - By: Sabine Zimmermann, 17 Aug 2008 
In this book, you'll find a wide variety of recipes ranging from british over north african & asian to the italian ones that are Jamie's trademark. There is something for every occasionin it, up to making your own bread. A book not only for fans but for everyone who's looking for easy manageable recipes that can still impress. Try the baked butternut squash served warm with a salad - you're sure to get applause. A book that should be missing on no shelf.
A good look at simple cooking - By: Mr. J. Cartwright, 21 Apr 2008 
I bought this book just to see how Jamie was backin his 'youth' I was pleasantly surprised to see that his cooking was simple, yet very tasty. His recipes work a treat & they are a great foundation for some experimentation!!!
Worth the money, a nice book to have on the shelf!
'The aim of this book is to inspire you to get into the kitchen - By: Amazon Reviewer, 14 Aug 2006 
fired with enthusiasm & confidence......'
From the Introduction:-
'....I had been cooking good foodin a restaurant for some time, but found it difficult to re-create many of the recipes at home for lack of time, space, equipment or, sometimes, the availability to the average shopper of good-quality produce at reasonable prices.
So,in an effort to re-create some exciting restaurant recipesin a limited kitchen, I found myself stripping down those recipes to something quite basic. I then adapted them, using what I did havein the cupboard, larder, fridge or garden.
Using this principle I have built up a foolproof repertoire of simple, delicious & feisty recipes. At the same time I have tried to avoid culinary jargon & any complicated, time-consuming process that isn't justified by the end result........'
Paperback covers open to 250 high quality, shiny pages split over 11 chapters:-
Soups
Salads & Dressings
Pasta
Fish & Shellfish
Meat, Poultry & Game
Vegetables
Pulses
Risotto & Couscous
Bread
Desserts
Stocks, Sauces, Bits, Bobs, This, That & the Other
With reference sections entitled 'First Move' (includes a basic `larder' suggestion list), & 'Herbs & Spices', sandwiched between an introduction & a concise index, which highlights 'illustrated' recipes & 'vegetarian' dishes.
Jamie's usual charming `thanks' pages complete the book.
Photography, by Jean Cazals & David Eustace, intersperses the recipes, but there is not one for each recipe, which may be a slight negative for some, & there are some very faint text headers, which can be hard to read.....making it just short of 4 starsin my opinion.
Having said that it is a useful first book, if new to 'The Naked Chef' - typical JO banter is present throughout the book, e.g.:-
'Good soups are really only about good ingredients. A good soup can be made, finished &in a bowlin minutes & still be as tasty as one that you have spent an hour or so preparing..............'
'Most people can't get any enthusiasm for a limp & uninteresting salad so chuck out your tasteless iceberg lettuce & you water -based dressings & .........'
Ravioli with Prosciutto, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Basil & Mozzarella:-
'I am afraid that this is a clichéd & obvious combination but it is quick & bloody good, so try it........'
Risotto:-
'If I asked most people if they made risotto at home I reckon most would say 'no', & would think it was just some poncy restaurant food..........but risottos are really meant to be cooked at home. The real secret of a good risotto, I'm afraid, is that you have to stand over it & give it your loving & undivided attention for about 17 minutes, but it's worth it. Anyway what I am going to do now is give you a really solid, decent risotto base method & then give you five of my favourite variations.........'
Other basic recipes & reference guides are littered throughout, e.g.:-
Everyday Quick Pasta Recipe
Short-crust Sweet Pastry
Basic Bread recipe
Stocks
Aioli
Salsa Verde
Perfectly Cooked Live Lobster
Basic Steamed Pudding Recipe
Globe Artichokes - What to Buy & How to Prepare
Feeling your Pulses & How to Cook Them
Basic Risotto Recipe
Stocks
Mayonnaise
Sauces
A taste of the other recipes included:-
My Minestrone Soup
John Dory Bakedin a Bag with Marinated Cherry Tomatoes, Black Olives & Basil
Spiced Slow-Cooked Lamb Shanks
Pork Chops with Thyme, Lemon & Pesto
My Perfect Roast Chicken
Fragrant Green Chicken Curry
The Most Perfect Steamed & Roasted Duck with Honey & Oyster Sauce
Meatballs
Grilled Asparagus with Olive Oil & Sea Salt
Spicy Roasted Squash
Pot-roasted Rabbit with Rosemary, Thyme, Sage & Lemon
Vegetable Tempura
Pickled Chillies
Mashed Potato
Pease Pudding
Beer Bread
Baked Fruit with Mascarpone Cream
Lemon & Lime Cream Tart
Baked Fruit
Simple Chocolate Tart
and
'A Spottier Dick Pudding' - 'This is proper 'bloke's' pudding - loads of custard, a little warmed syrup over the top & some cream.
SUPERB!
And you can't say fairer than that!
Superb when basics are in order. - By: Unna Wildt, 30 May 2006 This is absolutely my favorite of the Naked Chef book series. It was the first one I remember getting, & the one I had some of my most memorable cookbook experiences from.
Sometimes, though, I find the Naked Chef books to be slightly confusing; I tend to loose the overview of the contents, & I'm grateful for the indexin the back of the book. But it can be ignored if you got your basic skillsin order.
Another thing that bothers me - & that goes with every one of JO's books - is that the recipes don't always fit the health of the family (due to eg high cholesterol & overweight).
My best tip from the book is Baked Chocolate Tart (p. 218) with Vanilla Cream (p. 201).
Three stars are for the book itself, & one star for the memories.
Fantastic.....i've cooked all of 'em!! - By: Lisa, 17 May 2006 I have all 6 of Jamie's books. I cook a jamie meal every single evening! he is an absolute star, i have never ever come across any other cook books where you can do a recipe from it every night of the week at reasonable cost, very little time & bloomin tasty! (jamies words) I fillin my diary up to 3 monthsin advance with one of the recipes from his books....good planning, i then go to the supermarket twice a week, buy the ingredients & away you go....no worrying what are we gonna have for tea tonight!! All recipes are simple, fast & quite often are based around the same ingredients, i have to say i very rarely have any waste. It makes my life easy.....and we are eating very healthily too, unless we do one of his puddings, but only at the weekend!
