SLATER, NIGEL — Nigel Slater\S Real Food

UK, 4th Estate. 1998. Hardcover with dust jacket, 25cm. Ill.: J Lovekin (photos). Book, 320 well illustrated pp & 1.3 kg to ship. Gift inscription. Faults? last 4 or so pp have a corner crease lower right. Observer columnist Nigel Slater has chosen his eight favorite foods>potatoes, chicken, sausages, garlic, bread, cheese, ice cream, and chocolate< and sculpted a sensational cookbook around them. For each of the eight he offers a selection of recipes, some from friends and colleagues, including Alastair Little, Rowley Leigh, Peter Gordon, and Nigella Lawson. The book is peppered with short essays on ingredients that bear Slater's trademark dry wit. He is definitely one of Britain's best food writers and his collaboration with photographer Jonathan Lovekin makes this book stand out from the crowd. Since it's publication in 1998, which tied in with his first TV series, stylish and innovative 'Real Food' has become the essential food book to have, both on the kitchen shelf and (qualified by his fanmail) on the bedside table. From sausages to ice cream, potatoes to garlic, the book covers Slater's indispensable signature dishes - the ones you wouldn't be without for love or money. Based on Nigel Slater's absolute favourite food, whether it be The Stickiest Ever Chicken Wings or Baked Goat's Cheese and Pesto in Filo Pastry, Smoked Mackerel Dauphinoise or the classic Bacon Butty, this classic has gone a long way in at last creating a nation of food lovers. In typically unpretentious style, Nigel finds good things to make using mass produced white bread to the finest Italian loaves, or with standard English confectionery to real chocolate made from cocoa solids. These recipes are still up-to-the-minute, accessible and inspiring. Very Good/Very Good.