A book that exceeds its title, Oscar Smith has provided a diverse range of tasty recipes covering all aspects of barbecued or grilled meals. With Father’s Day coming up, this would make a fabulous gift.
Some interesting decisions have been made in the styling of the book: a soft cover makes it a little difficult to sit open and use in an outside cooking environment; the many pages with a dark background do not do the food pictures justice and can make reading the recipes and information challenging. However, the placing of main ingredients, then other courses, eg vegetables, salads/ sides and desserts, into individual sections make perusing the recipes easy.
The recipes are really good, with realistic preparation and cooking times for ingredients that are readily accessible in an average kitchen or grocery shop.
In reviewing this book, I decided to trial a meat, side and dessert recipe and have been surprised at the flavour profiles. Each dish was extremely tasty.
As a two-person household, I was also surprised at how easy it was dividing the proportions to suit and I found the servings generous. Here’s some photos and comments on the three recipes I sampled:
Main: The Boss, Beef Burgers (pg 90)
The patties in these burgers burst with unexpected flavours. Even when you are full, you want more. Served plain on a plate, they are huge!
Side: Ratatouille Parcels (pg 128)
Great flavoured, coloured and textured vegetable side. Here you see them served in a bowl, still wrapped in foil and baking paper.
Dessert: Rum – Spiced Barbecued Banana Boats (pg 166)
Sweet, spicy and comforting, this is a grown-up interpretation of a childhood camping memory. I served it in a bowl, still wrapped in foil and with ice cream.
Reviewed by Leanne Caune
Rating out of 10: 7.5
Released by: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 2016
RRP: $35
More News
