a cookbook review

"Week In, Week Out" - Simon Hopkinson
I'm not the least bit ashamed to admit that I am totally a sucker for "food porn." That might sound funny to anyone except food nerds. It's actually not that scary (in most cases), but actully refers to gorgeous food photography, the sort of thing that makes you immediately ravenous. "Week In, Week Out" has utterly beautiful pictures by Jason Lowe, but more importantly, delicious and effective recipes from Simon Hopkinson for every week of the year, representing seasonal cooking at its finest. It is a wonderful cookbook for accomplished home cooks and those who are meticulous about following directions. It's probably not the best cookbook for total beginners or for people who find, say, Mastering the Art of French Cooking "hard to follow." Every recipe that I've tried has turned out well, and all of them sound yummy. The potted salmon, for example - salmon pate for the rest of us - is easy, fast, and a huge hit at parties. Mr. Hopkinson's other books, "Roast Chicken and Other Stories" and "Second Helpings of Roast Chicken," with wonderful essays and delightful illustrations by Flo Bayley, are equally recommended.

Look for these books at your local INDEPENDENT bookseller (ahem) or order them there or from the fabulous Rabelais Books in Portland, Maine.