A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes

by David Tanis
A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes
book data
57 ratings, 3.93 average rating, 20 reviews (more data...)
edit

published
September 1st 2008 by Artisan

binding
Hardcover, 304 pages

isbn
1579653464    (isbn13: 9781579653460)

description
Forget about getting back to the land, David Tanis just wants you to get back to the kitchen

For six months a year, David Tanis is the head chef at Ch...more




Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.


topics  posts  views  last activity   
Books on the Nigh...: So what books do *you* want as gifts? 23 84 12/21/2008 10:07AM  

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 166)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only


Michele
01/18/09
Michele rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2009
recommends it for: Enthusiastic home cooks who like to entertain
The very first page of this award winning cookbook from Chef David Tannis (of Alice Water's famed Chez Panisse restaurant) tells you alot about his approach to this book. He explains why he chose the title, and goes on to talk about why to serve a platter of figs you need to know about what season they are ripe, how to judge the ripeness, and then what to do with the fruit - and all of these lead you to whether you serve them as an appetizer, as part of the main dish, or as dessert.

A...more
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Sally
03/29/09
Sally rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Ok, this isn't really literature but I loved this book. It has wonderfully scrumptous recipes with three course meals already planned for you. David's philosophy is that meals should be simple and the flavors of the ingredients should be combined to enhance the experience of eating. I loved his short personal stories before each meal. None of the recipes disappoint. Note if you are into elaborate marinades this book is not for you. :)
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Susan
03/08/09
Susan rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in February, 2009
I know it's a cookbook, but I'm giving this one out as gifts, I enjoyed it so much. It's organized by season, and within each season, has different meal ideas. David Tanis, a chef at Chez Panisse, emphasizes simple, non-fussy food served family-style, and I was extremely skeptical that any recipes with so few ingredients could taste good, but everything I've made has been incredible. The wine might have contributed to this, though. :)
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Myriam
12/07/08
Myriam rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Extremely readable, beautifully designed cookbook by the former Chez Panisse chef. Though one might expect Tanis' recipes to be either expensive or to contain difficult to find ingredients, they are mostly simple yet sophisticated spins on readily available items for every day consumption. Beautiful photographs and Tanis' anecdotes make this both a usable and pleasurable read.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

LorCon
02/05/09
LorCon rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: books-about-food, cookbooks
Read in February, 2009
I would consider adding this to my extensive cookbook collection, even though I haven't actually tried any of the recipes yet. It's mainly a "how a chef thinks" book, very enjoyable to read. Do you need a recipe for a platter of figs? No, yet Tanis can tell you multiple inventive ways to serve it depending on the season and occasion. A "Gourmet Cook Book club Selection."
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Mary
02/21/09
Mary rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Some nights I lay in bed and lick the pages of this book. It's that gorgeous. And the writing? It's beautiful. This is a coffee table cookbook with recipes that are inspired, but at the same time practical. If you like Alice Waters, you will like David Tanis.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Heather
01/12/09
Heather rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Very rustic, I like several of the recipes but I can't stand a cookbook where the pictures don't go with the recipes on the page, very confusing, and some of the pictures I couldn't find page numbers to recipes, irritates me.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Meryl
04/08/09
Meryl rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in April, 2009
Any cookbook that is arranged by season is a friend of mine. Super simple ("Arrange several varieties of sliced tomato on a pretty platter. Serve with salt."), and all about letting food shine as it is, rather than torturing it into absurdities. Yum.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Sherry
01/16/09
Sherry is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading
Only just got it. Beautiful design and binding. I'll comment more on content later.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Liz
01/08/09
Liz rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: non-fiction
Read in January, 2009
I could eat this book. I might, actually.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Sam
11/04/08
Sam rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading, tasty
A Platter of Figs is the perfect foodie book for me. It's a joy to read, the recipes are seasonal and simple, all of which were developed by a professional chef in a small, ill-equipped Paris kitchen for his friends in a sort of culinary salon. I'm still trying my hand at the menus as the seasons progress. I'm going to have to special order the pigs' ears!
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Courtney
11/10/08
Courtney rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Read in December, 2008
I just read this book and I love it. The recipes are simple and the food philosophy is aligned with the revolution that I love so much. There is just enough scandalous content in the captions to make this book so totally "Berkeley"--but it's not too much, so the non-Northern Californian will likely enjoy the book too.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Molly
10/12/08
Molly rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: cookbooks
Read in March, 2009
I find myself in agreement with Tanis on the nature of food, and the joy of preparing simple, but wonderful meals and sharing them with family and friends. So, I enjoyed reading through this book. I don't think I will make a single recipe, however, given that each menu and most of the individual dishes contain meat. Seasoned vegetarian cooks may still find enjoyment in the world view/ or find ways to adapt the menus to their taste.

Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Judith
02/06/09
Judith rated it: 3 of 5 stars

This isn't the most vegetarian-friendly cookbook ever, but it is beautiful and well-designed. I like the random sides and related dishes that are tossed in along with the main themes, and I like the fairly simple approach to cooking that focuses on the fresh ingredients. It's a good book to jumpstart a new philosophy to cooking if you tend to be complicated with recipes or overdo it with sauces.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Summer
11/09/08
Summer rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Seasonal based recipes that are simplistic and enjoyable and designed for a small family gathering... I have yet to try a recipe yet but I am going to try the persimmon pudding for a Thanksgiving dish. The Moroccan harira soup sounds wonderful, as well as lavender honey ice cream, fish soup with mussels and chorizo and the lobster risotto...
Like this review?   yes  
  3 comments

Arugula Files
02/10/09
Arugula Files rated it: 3 of 5 stars

I love the look and feel of this book, but here's my problem: I've never actually cooked something from it. Don't get me wrong, the food looks amazing, and I would love to try all of it. That is, if someone cooked it for me. Beautiful writing and lovely ingredients. Not practical, though.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Lauren
10/22/08
Lauren rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Lovely but elitist in the worst way. As much as it positions itself as being about local food and simple eating, there is a preciousness that is very off-putting.

I have yet to try a recipe but I'm making the turnip pickles tomorrow.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Emily
10/28/08
Emily rated it: 5 of 5 stars

bookshelves: cookbooks
Great cookbook! Lots of neat, clean recipes that you can't find elsewhere.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Courtney Payne
09/26/08
Courtney Payne rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Beautiful book, but as a vegetarian it did not offer me too many things to try.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment

Sarah
10/28/08
Sarah rated it: 5 of 5 stars

lots of meat, but otherwise I want to make pretty much everything in here.
Like this review?   yes  
  add a comment


« previous 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9


recent status updates | recommend it | blog it








groups with this book

Food is Fine Art






Corn: A Country Garden Cookbook (Country Garden Cookbooks) by David Tanis

More…