This 384 page hardback book by Mario Batali of Italian Grill and Molto Italian fame, among others is like the man himself – larger than life.
The hefty tome is more like a dip into coffee-table read than a recipe book. It’s very different from his previous works as this is a gastronomic tour around Spain with his friend Gwyneth Paltrow and joined by Mark Bittman who won the Julia Child general cookbook award for How to Cook Everything and actress Claudia Bassols.
Spain... A Culinary Road Trip is the companion book to the famed television series Spain.... On The Road Again in which the foursome travel across Spain showing not only the gastronmoy but culture, art and history as well.
More than seventy recipes appear in the book along with many more fabulous photos of the food and their travels also anyone who saw the television series will recognise some of the anecdotes that join the recipes throughout these pages.
The tour of Spain begins in Madrid through to Toledo to take in the windmills of Don Quixote and to learn the art of making Manchego Cheese.
The wine country in the north around Ribero del Duero sees Batali grilling a lechazo lamb among the grape vines while in the heat of Andalucia the famous chilled Salmorejo is sampled and added to the recipe collection.
The incredible tour of Spain that starts and ends in Madrid covers the following regions chapter by chapter.
- Madrid to Toledo
- Tembleque to Lugo
- Cambados to Santiago de Compostela
- Bilbao to Elciego
- Vitoria to San Sebastian
- Barcelona to Girona
- Granada to Cordoba
- Salamanca to Segovia
- Sant Carles de la Rapita to Roses
- Oviedo to Covadonga
- Mallorca to Menorca
- Valencia to Madrid
- Madrid Finale
This book is big, not only in size but value, it’s amusing and informative, a travel book and cookery book all in one and the photography is superb.
To tempt your taste buds and for many additions to the travel wish list this book will inspire, both in the kitchen and the travel plans.
As a present for a keen chef it’s perfect but for those who’d rather eat than be in the kitchen it also has great entertainment value. It’s an inspirational book for anybody and everybody but especially lovers of Spain.
Published in November 2008 by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers with an ISBN 978-0-06-156093-4. Also available from HarperCollins E-books.
Price USA $34.95, Canada $37.95
See here for more book reviews on Spanish cookery books.
 |
 |
 |
