Food Glorious Food
by Patrick Holford & Fiona McDonald Joyce.
Patrick Holford is founder of the Institute of Optimum Nutrition (ION) and one of the UK’s best known nutritionists. Fiona McDonald Joyce trained at ION and also at the Leith School of Food and Wine. I believe this makes her a fully qualified nutritionist foodie!!
This dynamic duo have product the most fantastic cookbook. Yes, this will sit on the shelf alongside my other cookbooks (I have to confess to being a bit of a cookbook addict!) and I shall be just as likely to dip into Food Glorious Food if I am looking for mouthwatering recipes for a dinner party as I would any of my other treasured cookbooks.
Recipes are inspired from around the world, so you can still have your favourite Indian, Caribbean or Chinese food. And the recipes really are a delight. You will find everything from Thai Fish Cakes to Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies, Greek-style Stuffed Pork Tenderloin to Bloody Mary, Sea Bass with Braised Fennel and Roast New Potatoes to Strawberry and Banana Cheesecake and many more. So please, don’t think of this as a diet book. This is a book that celebrates the pleasure of food.
Food Glorious Food takes this pleasure a step further. Now you can enjoy delicious food that also positively promotes health. Part One of the book is called ‘The Health Bit’ and Patrick explains more about the various nutrients we need; the GI (glycemic index) and low-GL (glycemic load)foods; superfood secrets; cholesterol-busting foods; cooking methods; and much more. There are helpful illustrations and charts throughout. Not only will this information help anyone who is watching their weight and wishing to boost energy levels, but eating a low-GL diet is also proven to prevent diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Good nutrition is about using fresh, high quality ingredients which provide maximum flavour as well as maximum nutrients. In Part Two ‘The Delicious Bit’, Fiona expands on the information already presented by Patrick. She discusses the cuisines of different countries and highlights the superfoods from each of those cultures, as well as possible pitfalls; she provides menu ideas for entertaining; and then the recipes begin in earnest! Fiona provides a foreword to each recipe describing the benefits of the individual ingredients and also serving suggestions. Cook’s Notes at the end provide allergy information (a large percentage of the recipes are wheat and dairy free, many are gluten free), indicate suitability for vegetarians, and whether or not the recipes can be made in advance and / or frozen.
Dr Fedon Alexander Linberg, author of The Greek Doctor’s Diet says “Food Glorious Food’ will revolutionise the way you think about healthy eating.” I wholeheartedly agree! Buy yourself a copy now, and a few extra copies for Christmas presents!.
ISBN 978-0-7499-0995-6
Available at www.piatkus.co.uk, www.patrickholford.com
and Amazon
Reviewed: November 2008