Let’s be honest, every time I have gone to a pub or bar I am looking forward to the drinks more than the food. There are a few pubs I have gone to that have exquisite food, but it sometimes feels jumbled together. There’s not a lot of special attention to food pairings, specialty cocktails, or the theme seems to be fairly identical across the board. There are always tacos, burgers, fries, salads, and other pub foods with pretty generic cocktail staples – Old Fashioned, Gin and Tonics, and Dark and Stormy… I just want something unique!
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Seeing a cookbook from a two Michelin starred pub made my jaw drop. I have never heard of The Hand and Flowers until stumbling upon their cookbook! This cute pub is located in the UK, and I will have to visit it when I can! In the meantime, we can take some of their delightful cuisine home with us from across the pond.
Clearly, the food is beautiful. Tom Kerridge, the author, is an artist and very well known in the culinary world. With the help of The Hand & Flowers Cookbook we can easily elevate our food to a place that is worth two Michelin stars.
This cookbook is divided into very simple sections: Introduction, Starters, Mains, Desserts, and a Glossary. I like the no nonsense design of this cookbook as it makes it easy to use to host for guests in the future!
There are 70 incredible recipes in this cookbook. To no one’s surprise, they are better suited for more seasoned cooks. It utilizes ingredients such as liquid smoke, charcoal powder, nasturtium leaves, and other ingredients that are quite distinct. Most of the ingredients provided need to be made ahead before using them in the dish in the first place.
Some recipes you will find in this cookbook are: Smoked haddock omelette, oak salmon with raw salmon parfait, pine emulsion, a beer cracker, and chocolate and ale cake with salted caramel and muscovado ice cream. All of these sound incredible! These dishes show off the best of the 15 years The Hand and Flower have been around.
As for serving these up for a party or an ordinary dinner, most of these dishes are definitely out of my league, but I enjoy the book overall.
It is filled with elegant black and white photos in addition to color pics for the dishes on the menu. This is to illustrate the world of The Hand & Flowers pub. The message that I get is we are taking home a piece of art. Both Tom and his wife Beth are phenomenal when it comes to creating the dishes. The photos will astound you!
The narration is eloquent and honest, especially when discussing the pros and cons of owning your own business in the hospitality industry. It can be one of the most fulfilling and stress inducing paths to take. Tom Kerridge speaks frankly about his personal and work life. Running a business can be taxing but worth it with a lot of patience and support.
If you’re looking for a bit of a challenge and ways to wow your guests, Tom Kerridge’s The Hand & Flowers cookbook will have to be in your arsenal.
What is the most exquisite dish you’ve had at a pub that needs a shoutout?!
~Kaiti
