The River Cottage Meat Book

This is what I would describe as a "proper cookery" book. No sexy salads, no decadent desserts (I've always wondered why someone would want pudding marked by cultural and moral decline).

This is meat, preferably from an animal you killed yourself (though my suburban lifestyle leads me to the butcher instead), cooked with earthy recipes that savour real food for what it is. The author balances meat, vegetables, herbs and fruit to perfection, and barely a shred of any animal is spared.

Now, could someone pass me some brains on toast (p.362)?

This is my favorite cookbook! This is a serious book for a serious cook ... Hugh does not mess around with nancy food and he does not follow the current trends. This is one of the few cookbooks that I read from cover to cover and still use on a regular basis. Want to know how to make the perfect roast chicken or cottage pie, then this is the book for you!

This is a favourite of mine, as, thanks to this book, I perfected the art of roasting and cooking meat to a point where my guests are always impressed with what I serve them! All meats are covered (game and otherwise), birds, pork, beef, lamb, etc. The introductory chapters are well worth the read, as they really go into details on the cooking methods, or the ways to cut meat, before moving on to recipes. The book is full of detailled pictures and recipes, and goes way deeper on the subject than the 'River Cottage cookbook'. Well worth having on the cookery shelves if you are a meat-eater. Also, it can be a very fine gift for men who enjoy cooking meat. Highly recommended.

The section on preserving meat is rife with references to the River Cottage cookbook. Rarely does the rest of the book refer to it (only in a few pointers to recipes in it). But this section consists of a few introductory paragraphs on each subject, and then a reference to the cookbook for the details, over and over. I counted 3 references to it on two facing pages alone. Infuriating!

I suspect that he got near the end of the book and they realized this behemoth was going to outgrow the binding, and cut it. Although less charitable thoughts could be thought.

More than just a cookbook, this is a cookbook with a conscience.

Everything you ever wanted to know about meat and game. The guide to different cuts and how to use them is particularly helpful. One of my favourite cookbooks.

If meat's your thing. Then so is this book