Cooking Under the Influence
By Ben Canaider and Greg Duncan Powell.
There are several good things you can do under the influence. But most of them are illegal. Still no one can stop you getting pissed in your own house and whipping together a slap up meal. It’s really good to see though that these two blokes have apparently made a career out of it – and good on ‘em.
As you can tell, this ain’t your regular cook book. It starts with a preface on the five points to select a good wine to match your meal. Also all 100 recipies have a suggested wine (or beer) to bring out the flavour of the food. Oh, and not forgetting the wine glossary and guide at the back of the book. So it’s not just under the influence, it’s influencial.
Unlike their metrosexual, cockney counterparts these boys keep it down to earth. They have substitute items for when pay day is too far away, but don’t hold back telling you when you need to get the really good French wine either. Recipies in the book range from cheats’ pizza (highly recommended), consisting of dodgy fridge items to very flash, posh Euro recipies these bogany types learnt whilst ‘working abroad darling’. But nothing you can’t cook with a stubby in one hand.
This really is more than a cookbook. It’s funnily written and you can learn a hell of a lot from it without having to change your whole wardrobe or get tips in your hair. These recipies are far more fun than Bill Granger ones. So if you wear pink shirts with the collar up, check out his books instead. Finally a good cook book for us salt of the earth, Aussie types with a taste for fine (and bad) things! I say buy it. Broaden your palette and still remain a bogan!
Published by Murdoch Books. ISBN 1740453700.
Posted: January 5th, 2005 under Book Reviews, Food.
