Meat & Game - Cooking, British Cooking, Cooking - General & Miscellaneous

Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating

Name: Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating
Author: Fergus Henderson
ISBN: 9780060585365

by Fergus Henderson, Halpern (Editor), Anthony Bourdain (Introduction), Anthony Bourdain

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Overview

The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating is a certified "foodie" classic. In it, Fergus Henderson — whose London restaurant, St. John, is a world-renowned destination for people who love to eat "on the wild side" — presents the recipes that have marked him out as one of the most innovative, yet traditional, chefs. Here are recipes that hark back to a strong rural tradition of delicious thrift, and that literally represent Henderson's motto, "Nose to Tail Eating" — be they Pig's Trotter Stuffed with Potato, Rabbit Wrapped in Fennel and Bacon, or his signature dish of Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad. For those of a less carnivorous bent, there are also splendid dishes such as Deviled Crab; Smoked Haddock, Mustard, and Saffron; Green Beans, Shallots, Garlic, and Anchovies; and to keep the sweetest tooth happy, there are gloriously satisfying puddings, notably the St. John Eccles Cakes, and a very nearly perfect Chocolate Ice Cream.

Synopsis

The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating is a certified "foodie" classic. In it, Fergus Henderson — whose London restaurant, St. John, is a world-renowned destination for people who love to eat "on the wild side" — presents the recipes that have marked him out as one of the most innovative, yet traditional, chefs. Here are recipes that hark back to a strong rural tradition of delicious thrift, and that literally represent Henderson's motto, "Nose to Tail Eating" — be they Pig's Trotter Stuffed with Potato, Rabbit Wrapped in Fennel and Bacon, or his signature dish of Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad. For those of a less carnivorous bent, there are also splendid dishes such as Deviled Crab; Smoked Haddock, Mustard, and Saffron; Green Beans, Shallots, Garlic, and Anchovies; and to keep the sweetest tooth happy, there are gloriously satisfying puddings, notably the St. John Eccles Cakes, and a very nearly perfect Chocolate Ice Cream.

The New York Times - Dwight Garner

The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating, by the English chef Fergus Henderson, is a terrifically dour, Edward Gorey-ish guide to cooking with offal: everything from pig's trotters and lamb's kidneys to brains, tripe, spleen, heart and tongue.

About the Author, Fergus Henderson

Fergus Henderson trained as an architect before becoming a chef, opening the French House Dining Room in 1992 and St. John in 1995, which has won numerous awards and accolades, including Best British and Best Overall London Restaurant at the 2001 MoËt & Chandon Restaurant Awards. The Whole Beast won the 2000 Andre Simon Award.

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Editorials

Dwight Garner

Publishers Weekly

An audacious chef whose St. John restaurant in London draws legions of fans, Henderson is a staunch proponent of using virtually the entirety of any plant or animal being served up. Harking back to the days when very little went to waste, he practices what he preaches with such victuals as Rolled Pig's Spleen, Duck's Neck Terrine and Roast Woodcock, which is cooked with innards and head intact, the latter providing a bit of "delicious brains." Henderson recommends the use of a disposable Bic razor for depilating the primary ingredient in Crispy Pig Tails. And then there's Warm Pig's Head, which extreme chef Anthony Bourdain describes in his introduction as "so Goddamn amazing that it borders on religious epiphany." Here, too, are four recipes for lamb's brains, a commodity that Henderson admits is illegal in both the U.S. and England. Home chefs will encounter difficulties in obtaining other ingredients as well. Blood Cake and Fried Eggs calls for a quart of fresh pig's blood, and Soft Roes on Toast requires delicate white sacs of herring semen. Sprinkled among these challenging dishes, however, are more accessible fare: Kid and Fennel, Mussels Grilled on a Barbecue, and Radishes to Accompany Duck or Goose, wherein both the radish and its leaves are added to the bird's jus. Desserts include Treacle Tart and Carragheen Pudding made with red seaweed. (Apr.) Forecast: While much of its food is well beyond what most American home chefs will choose to cook for friends and families, this book is certain to generate a good deal of publicity because of its subject matter, prompting a large number of browsers, if not necessarily buyers. Admiring blurbs by Jim Harrison and Rose Gray will also help. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.