Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Never been disappointed... Review: After having the pleasure of eating at Olives, it was such a treat to be able to recreate the dishes at home. Everything from the book has come out exceptionally well, with the Carrot and Littleneck Clam Bisque an all-time favorite. Recipes are very easy to follow, and guests are always asking for seconds and thirds.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: When's the next book coming? Review: After watching Todd English on the PBS series, I had to have the book. I never missed an episode - He's a culinary genius to the point you can only just sit back and shake your head. I recently gave a dinner for my sister's birthday and made the Falling Chocolate cake for desert. Prepared in ramekins, this delightfully chocolately desert is served individually, sprinkled with powedered sugar, garnished with fresh raspberries (or sauce as the recipie calls for)and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, which I adorned with an extra flourish of a chocolate lace sculpture. The room fell silent as each warm & delicate, yet rich cake was served. It remained silent throughout except for an occassional groan of delight, until every plate was as clean as each gues could get it. My gourmet brother-in-law, Dennis, said in a serious tone,"Mimi, that's the best desert I've ever had in any restaurant." that's high praise from someone who lived and dined in New Orleans for 7 years. My friend Kathy asked for the recipie then went off to a corner to read the book for about an hour. What can I say? We're hooked on English. If you have the courage to try these amazing recipies, you'll never be sorry. Needless to say, I'm giving both Kathy and Dennis this book for Christmas. - Mimi Lujan
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Put a little "English" in your cooking Review: After watching Todd English on the PBS series, I had to have the book. I never missed an episode - He's a culinary genius to the point you can only just sit back and shake your head. I recently gave a dinner for my sister's birthday and made the Falling Chocolate cake for desert. Prepared in ramekins, this delightfully chocolately desert is served individually, sprinkled with powedered sugar, garnished with fresh raspberries (or sauce as the recipie calls for)and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, which I adorned with an extra flourish of a chocolate lace sculpture. The room fell silent as each warm & delicate, yet rich cake was served. It remained silent throughout except for an occassional groan of delight, until every plate was as clean as each gues could get it. My gourmet brother-in-law, Dennis, said in a serious tone,"Mimi, that's the best desert I've ever had in any restaurant." that's high praise from someone who lived and dined in New Orleans for 7 years. My friend Kathy asked for the recipie then went off to a corner to read the book for about an hour. What can I say? We're hooked on English. If you have the courage to try these amazing recipies, you'll never be sorry. Needless to say, I'm giving both Kathy and Dennis this book for Christmas. - Mimi Lujan
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: One Of America's Best Chefs Review: I have been following Todd English's rise to fame, and was very pleased to hear about the release of this cookbook. Inspired by the Mediterraneam influence, the recipes in this book are full of flavor and quite easy to follow. Some of my favorite recipes are Chilled Black Olive Spaghetti Salad, and Garlic Lobster Risotto Calabrese. Even novice cooks would find this book helpful, although there are many more involved recipes to keep those who enjoy more of a challenge in the kitchen happy. This is definitely one of my favorites, and considering I have over 300 cookbooks in my collection, that is saying a lot!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Great flavors, but heavy on the prep Review: I love dining at Olives, but I'm not certain how much I like cooking the dishes myself. Truth is, if you want some great flavors from Todd English without as much of the prep time (and often with lower fat content), you'll probably get a lot of the value out of his Figs Table cookbook.Having said that, Olives Table holds some outstanding recipes. Creative rissottos, great main courses, interesting soups. Even some of the salads and vegetable sides are outstanding. For example, there's a shaved fennel salad that is perfect for entertaining. Or a wonderful grilled portabello mushroom dish that makes a perfect side to many of the outstanding meat entrees. A great source of creative dishes if you're entertaining or want to go to a little extra trouble for some really great flavors.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Great restaurant, boring book Review: I loved eating at Olives, but the cookbook left me cold. English's approach doesn't inspire the home cook in the same way that other hot chefs have managed to: see Alfred Portale's Gotham Bar and Grill Book for an example of how a top-rated restaurant chef can translate his specialties for the home cook. While I've cooked often from Portale's book, I haven't been moved to make one thing from this book. I even suspect that English kept his best recipes to himself!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: tasty, unusual flavors and presentations Review: I own many cookbooks purchased for that one particular recipe or ingredient. This cookbook contains recipes that made me want to give 5 dinner parties the first time I browsed through it. In fact, I cooked three of the recipes the first week. While there are some recipes that may be out of the mainstream for home-cooked meals, there are plenty of recipes that fit a family style dinner. The char-grilled tuna and avocado salad with toasted corn vinaigrette was a particular favorite, and the desserts are great too. Having received this book as a gift, I have decided that it will be my housewarming or thankyou gift of choice.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: worth perusing! Review: I was a little leery of this book after having read other reviews, but ordered it anyway. I'm really glad I did. So many of the recipes sounded good that I didn't know where to start, but I began with the pork with leeks and apples. It went together much faster than I expected, and the taste was wonderful!! I can't wait to try some of the others.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: When's the next book coming? Review: I was actually given this book by Todd English after dining in one of his terrific restaurants. As such, I just had to give some of the recipes a try. What incredible taste sensations! The fried green olives stuffed with sausage and goat cheese were outstanding and incredibly easy. I was also intrigued by his pointing out the dishes that his little daughter liked. I've cooked them for my own kids with tremendous results. Can't wait for the next book!
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: An Excellent Restaurant Cookbook Review: Many restauranteurs publish cookbooks featuring recipes from their restaurants. I have a fair number of these books. This is the *only* such book that I return to, repeatedly. I've made the goat cheese and sausage stuffed olives, the Falling Chocolate Cake (many times and is as excellent as another reviewer said), the Fennel Salad, the Tuna Tartare, and probably a good number of other recipes. The outcomes are consistently good. I've also eaten at Olives a fair number of times, so I'm confident that I'm capturing the essence of Todd's cooking. This is a high-quality hardcover book with high-quality paper, meaning that it should survive in the kitchen for a good long time. The recipes are well-laid-out on the pages and easy to refer to while you're cooking (a stark contrast from my "old" Joy of Cooking - which I love but does have a shortcoming in this area).
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