Table for Two: Recipes for the Ones You Love

by D.K. Publishing

Features 60 recipes split into "Easy to Impress" and "Just to Delight", six set menus with ideas for tablescaping, timings, and shopping lists and five essays on the emotions of cooking for the people you love

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

Published January 19, 2023

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful little book and is perfect for a newlywed couple (as in this case) or for one who likes to cook intimate meals for other loved ones---fathers, mothers, best friends, etc. Graham establishes in the first sentence: "Sharing food at a table set for two is where some of the most important moments of my life have taken place"(7). Food made with love and shared with love creates a calm place to introspect. Of course, when we generally think of "tables for two" we immediately to go romantic candle-lit dinners. Graham's book is not about romantic love necessarily but encompasses all one's loves.

She encourages you to cook with the ones you love, to feel the caring, and to make moments "as celebratory, as decadent, or as dreamy as we desire" (9).

Graham also encourages the reader to dog ear every page when a recipe speaks to you and you're reminded about a loved one. She also wants the reader/cook to make the recipes personal and experiment, using them as jumping off places.

The cookbook is divided into the following sections: Easy to Impress (including menus for All-Day Breakfast, Summer Sunset Dinner, and A Holiday when the Sky is Grey) and Just to Delight (including menus for Saltwater and Sunshine, Best Shared = Steak, Chips and a Bottle of Wine, and A Soothing Sunday Lunch)

There are just these two sections but sprinkled throughout are cocktails in the Aperitivo Hour two-page spread and other tips and essays. "A Single Rose on a Table for Two" (22-25) is a treatise to treat every night as an event. In "The Pleasure of Pre-Made Pizza (an ode to Ina's ethos)" (70-71), she reminisces about busting her ass to cook for "the man she thought she was falling in love with" only to have him cancel at the last minute. She would have been better off to have just ordered pizza. She shares her "Store-bought-is-fine" list of ravioli (because you can take it over the top with your sauce), ready-made lemon tarts (just garnish with fresh berries), roasted chicken, puff pastry, and frozen croissants. "The Romance of Food" (118-119) discusses the romance of fruits and vegetables (yes, imagine) and the thrill of going to farmers markets and buying seasonally. I love the tiny cheeseboard tips on page 140.

Comfort food is prevalent (although some might be considered elevated comfort food). There are a lot of pasta recipes. Nothing seems too elaborate or time consuming. Practicality abounds too. Don't have a pasta maker? You can still make pici (just long rolled noodles). How fun would it be to make Pici with Roasted Tomatoes, Olives and Anchovies (72) with a friend?

Graham's pairings are impeccable. Braised Beans with Roasted Pumpkin and Sage is best "alongside Italian fennel sausages or roast chicken" (132). Making this soon.

The only criticism I have is that most of these recipes are not servings for two. A few of the desserts are and some of the pasta dishes seem to be for a duo, but a lot of the recipes can serve more, like at least four servings. That's fine though. Share the extra leftovers with other loves in your life.

"Our time together is brief, and real love at times can feel rare.... Fight for delight in all you eat and with everyone you love" (9).

[Tyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter bought this cookbook in a charming shop in Richmond, VA and I was treated to borrowing it this week. The writing was beautiful-lyrical almost. When I read the MFK Fisher quote I almost swooned because Fisher's How to Cook a Wolf is one of my treasured books.

This morning I made the Browned Butter Sage Scrambled Eggs and (sage & eggs from our backyard). After a delightful summer of making herbed eggs from my garden I was excited to try them a different way. Delicious!

All the recipes look right up my alley and this is just the sweetest cookbook. I ordered my own copy and if you want one, hurry because it's less than $14.00 on Prime right now.

[Katinka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Så cute and fun