Rating: 
Summary: Superlative Chef and Fantastic Food
Review: I watched Oliver's very first TV program in England and admit that I was going to be very critical (I was working as a Chef at the time with my own restaurant). When the half hour show ended I was enchanted with the young man and his approach to food and life. I never missed another show all the time I remained living and working in England. I have all three of his books and they are all great. He is so enthuiasitc about food that you can't help but be caught up in the joy of cooking and sharing your efforts. Since his success he has helped and encouraged and acted as a mentor to many young people who are interested in entering into the world of catering/food service.
Rating:
Summary: Superlative Chef and Fantastic Food
Review: I watched Oliver's very first TV program in England and admit that I was going to be very critical (I was working as a Chef at the time with my own restaurant). When the half hour show ended I was enchanted with the young man and his approach to food and life. I never missed another show all the time I remained living and working in England. I have all three of his books and they are all great. He is so enthuiasitc about food that you can't help but be caught up in the joy of cooking and sharing your efforts. Since his success he has helped and encouraged and acted as a mentor to many young people who are interested in entering into the world of catering/food service.
Rating:
Summary: Unpretensious recipes for beginners and chefs alike
Review: I'll admit I am biased. I love Jamie's approach to cooking and I rarely miss his shows on TV. "The Naked Chef" and "Oliver's Twist" show him in his own kitchen cooking for real friends. This book captures that spirit. He has a relaxed attitude in the kitchen, which to me should be the only one to have. This is after all supposed to be fun. His recipes here are a continuation to the previous book (The Naked Chef) and so far I have not been dissapointed with any of them. Some which sound too simple to be interesting turn out to be fantastic crowd pleasers such as the tagliatelle with spicy sausage and wild mushrooms. His approach and ingredients usually tend toward Italian--it's no secret that this is his favorite style--but there are plenty of other influences from Indian to Asian to just plain hearty pub food. There are some great roasts and some fantastic seafood ideas here as well as some really nice bread recipes. If you want an easy to follow, unpretensious cookbook that is just as much fun to read as it is to use, get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Unpretensious recipes for beginners and chefs alike
Review: I'll admit I am biased. I love Jamie's approach to cooking and I rarely miss his shows on TV. "The Naked Chef" and "Oliver's Twist" show him in his own kitchen cooking for real friends. This book captures that spirit. He has a relaxed attitude in the kitchen, which to me should be the only one to have. This is after all supposed to be fun. His recipes here are a continuation to the previous book (The Naked Chef) and so far I have not been dissapointed with any of them. Some which sound too simple to be interesting turn out to be fantastic crowd pleasers such as the tagliatelle with spicy sausage and wild mushrooms. His approach and ingredients usually tend toward Italian--it's no secret that this is his favorite style--but there are plenty of other influences from Indian to Asian to just plain hearty pub food. There are some great roasts and some fantastic seafood ideas here as well as some really nice bread recipes. If you want an easy to follow, unpretensious cookbook that is just as much fun to read as it is to use, get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Book for all cooks
Review: I've been a big fan of the FoodTV since I got cable and I've always been extremely impressed with Oliver's approach to "raw" cooking. He's innovative methods of using fresh ingredients make the his dishes just a little different than others. I found myself anxiously flipping through the pages when I first got it as a present. The colorful pages and the exotic but simple ingredients in his receipes made me drool. The boldness of his cooking as well as his creativity are very displayed. I was a little sad about not having outdoor markets such as ones in London available in my area. But non the less, he cleverly expressed the message of cooking "naked" in this book. Afterall, developing your own style and being innovative is what makes cooking fun.
Rating:
Summary: Book for all cooks
Review: I've been a big fan of the FoodTV since I got cable and I've always been extremely impressed with Oliver's approach to "raw" cooking. He's innovative methods of using fresh ingredients make the his dishes just a little different than others. I found myself anxiously flipping through the pages when I first got it as a present. The colorful pages and the exotic but simple ingredients in his receipes made me drool. The boldness of his cooking as well as his creativity are very displayed. I was a little sad about not having outdoor markets such as ones in London available in my area. But non the less, he cleverly expressed the message of cooking "naked" in this book. Afterall, developing your own style and being innovative is what makes cooking fun.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I've never written a review for any book before, but I had to for this one. I've had the best food of my life from the recipes in this book.
For example, I bought this book about 3 months ago, I eat pasta daily (literally) and for the past 3 months *every day* I've used Jamie's sauce on my pasta. Before that I used about 30 different store-bought flavors. The amazing part is how simple *and healthy* it is: Plum tomatoes, olives, olive oil, salt, and pepper - that's *it*. Cooked properly, it's perfect.
I also made a shrimp dish that was awesome. Forgot what it was called but it was some kind of crispy shrimp.
I hope he writes 100 more books.
His show can inspire the heck out of you too.
Rating:
Summary: Same book as "Return of..."
Review: If you're a big Naked Chef fan, beware that this is the same book as "Return of the Naked Chef" available through the UK site. (I thought the cover photo looked familiar...)If you're new to the Naked Chef through the Food TV show, this cookbook has the same easy-peasy approach as Jamie prepares on TV. Lots of good photos and appetite stimulators in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the culinary novice, but highly recommended
Review: If you're looking for a book to teach you how to cook, check out the Betty Crocker series. If, however, you already know the basics of how to cook, you will love to try out the recipes in The Naked Chef Takes Off. With both Asian fusion and noveau Italian recipes, Jamie Oliver can help anyone create a truly memorable meal that will make you look like a genius in the kitchen. The book is also full of the unique expressions and sense of humor that have made The Naked Chef TV program so popular. Overall, I would highly recommend The Naked Chef Takes Off!
Rating:
Summary: Wish he'd cook for me
Review: Jamie Oliver makes cooking fun. Reading the cookbook is as much fun as making the recipes, and he makes you feel like one of his mates! Wish he'd cook dinner for me sometime! The instructions are sometimes pretty basic, but this is good for beginner or intermediate cooks, since it makes you realize that you can improvise a little and the food will still turn out good -- it will just have more of your own personal touch.
| 
