Book Review - Great Pub Food

I hope you're hungry because this weeks book review is on Great Pub Food by Rachael Lane, Hardie Grant, 2013

This 192 pages paperback edition has over 80 recipes and 86 color photographs.  With a kitchen friendly size of 8 3/4" x 9 3/4"  it's perfect for propping up on the counter so you can get your whisk on!

Great Pub Food is a wonderful compilation of international pub favorites.  The best part is that you can create pub meals from around the world in the comfort of your own kitchen.  The book is broken down into 5 easy to follow chapters

• Burgers, Pies and Pastries
• Classics
• Special Board
• Salads and Sides
• Desserts

Whip up familiar fare such as Pulled Pork Sliders, Steak Sandwiches, gourmet Hotdogs, or Steak and Mushroom Pie.  Feeling adventurous?  Try your hand at some of the more intriguing classics such as Beef and Guinness Pie, Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash or Pumpkin Gnocchi.  The Specials Board contains classics such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Chinese Barbecue Pork Ribs.  Side dishes like Macaroni and Four Cheeses or Creamy Roast Garlic Potato Mash will have you going back for seconds.   Make sure you leave plenty of room for desserts like classic Apple Pie, Mud Cake or Bakewell Tart.

One of the best aspects about reviewing a cookbook is that I take the time to make a few of the recipes.  First of all, I like photos that make me want to make a recipe and there was a long list of recipes here that I wanted to try based on the photos alone.  Second, I like to see if the recipes are easy to follow and the 3 that I chose were well written and precise.  Finally, the proof is in the pudding so to speak - how good does the food actually taste and more importantly, does my family like it and would I make it again?

Want to see what we made?

The unanimous first choice was Eggplant Parmigiana.  First I prepared the eggplant...

Added the cheese and easy to make sauce....

I baked it and look at this -  How delicious does that look?  It was excellent!!  When my husband states that a dinner I made is the best he ever had, I know I have a winner.  This was by far the best eggplant parmigiana I've ever made.

Next up was a Mushroom Risotto.  I've never made any kind of risotto and I have no idea why not.  It was super easy to make, quick and very good. 

I served the Mushroom Risotto as a side dish with the Chicken Parmigiana, which was easily another winning recipe.  It consisted of chicken breasts with a homemade sauce and cheese.  Paired with the risotto, it was a perfect meal and one I will make again.

Great Pub Food offers a lot of fun Pub recipes from around the world.  The food photos will make you want to try your hand at recreating delicious Pub Food at home.  Pour yourself a beer or a glass of wine, sit back and enjoy.

I was provided an advance copy of the book for review purposes and asked to give an honest review. All opinions are my own.  All photos are property of Rizzoli Publishing and cannot be reproduced.