CUISINE REVIEW: Rick Stein's Spain - Rick Stein

Release Date: 09/06/11

SYNOPSIS:

'I’ve wanted to make a series in Spain for a long time. I love Spanish food, I’ve been going there since I was a young boy – but until quite recently I don’t think people really took the food seriously. Thanks to a handful of really dedicated Spanish chefs and a growing enthusiasm for its rugged flavours, that has all begun to change. To me the underlying point of journeying to Spain would be to discover the ‘duende’ in the cooking. By that I mean a sense of soul, of authenticity. The word is normally used in flamenco but I think it could be equally applied to the art of Spanish cooking because to my mind, in really good food, there is a communication between the cook and diner that amounts to art.' Rick Stein

In his beautifully designed and illustrated cookbook to accompany a major BBC2, 4-part series, Rick has selected over 140 recipes that capture the authentic taste of Spain today.

Spain is a country that tantalises every sense with its colourful sights, evocative music, vibrant traditions and bold cookery. Spanish cooking has a rich history, with flavours reflecting a broad range of cultural influences. Rick samples his way through the specialties and hidden treats of each region, taking in the changing landscape from the mountainous northern regions through the Spanish plains to Mediterranean beaches.

With over 100 location and recipe photographs, this is an essential book for food-lovers as well as a stunning culinary guide to a diverse country.


REVIEW:

In a world where we tend to rush and miss things, it’s a real joy when you get chance to savour something not only healthy and delicious but something that you’ve made yourself. Whilst Rick is well known for his recipes that incorporate the freshest ingredients, it’s a wonder when you get the chance to try something a little different and a world away from Curry’s or traditional British Cuisine, so I was overjoyed at the chance to get to try something with a Spanish take on it. Not that I don’t like our own food, but there are times I yearn for something a little different with tastes and flavours that I can take my time to enjoy.

What this title does, is bring the taste of Spain, with its Moorish influences to the British table. It’s full of flavour, the recipes are easy to follow and to be honest, for someone who doesn’t eat as much fish as they should, it made more than a welcome addition to my own table. (So far my favourite recipe in here is a Rice Stew with Monkfish, Langoustines and wild mushrooms.) All in it’s a great book and one that I’ll definitely be using time and again, I just wish that these titles came laminated and ringbound so that they’d be easy to clean.