In Search of Total Perfection Review by Ruth Paget
Readers who like chef’s travel books with recipes will find much to love in In Search of Total Perfection by Heston Blumenthal, owner of The Fat Duck, a 3-star Michelin restaurant in England.
Blumenthal traces the history and industries behind contemporary British favorite menu items including the foreign sounding ones that have been transformed a bit for British tastes. He goes a step further for some recipes by putting gastronomical claims to scientific tests like MRIs.
His rationale for travel is to find the best model to emulate for inclusion on British menus including his own, which drives him to dine on steak at Delmonico’s in New York, Bresse chicken in Burgundy France, and Amadei chocolate for his Black Forest cake among his travel activities.
I am always on the lookout for 3-star Michelin recipes when I read chef’s travel books so I can try some of the simpler recipes at home. The simpler recipes in In Search of Perfection are made up of about 5 to 7 basic recipes that are put together simultaneously by a team of cooks who often outnumber restaurant diners at The Fat Duck.
I love all the sections about the various “industries” that go into making food products mentioned in the book. These sections prompt you to savor and enjoy food rather than gobble it for the dishes described below in this 436-page book:
1-Roast chicken and roast potatoes
2-Chicken tikka masala
3-Peking duck
4-Steak
5-Spaghetti Bolognese
6-Chili con carne
7-Hamburger
8-Bangers and mash
9-Fish and chips
10-Fish Pie
11-Pizza
12-Risotto
13-Black Forest gateau
14-Treacle tart and ice cream
15-Baked Alaska
16-Trifle
In Search of Total Perfection by Heston Blumenthal could help readers interested in the following careers:
-anthropologist
-chef
-restaurant worker
-restaurant critic
-pastry chef
-travel planner
-recipe developer
-cookware salesman
-film crew worker
-restaurant publicist
Readers who would enjoy learning about the history, industries, and science involved in everyday food items will like In Search of Total Perfection by Heston Blumenthal, especially with its bonus recipes given with step-by-step directions.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
