A Review of Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller

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Thomas Keller is a legend and one can only expect the best from culinary legends. His cookbooks are inspirational and accessible. However, they are not generally known for being doable. In truth, the recipes are considerably complicated for home cooks. Not everyone can actually replicate these recipes. For one thing, the ingredients are hard to find and the techniques are a bit complicated. This is what you would likely expect from his book, Ad Hoc at Home
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Surprisingly, however, this is not the case. The recipes are actually based on the food prepared and offered in his eatery in Yountville, California. Unlike his world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurants, this eatery is considerably casual. Accordingly, his book offers pages after pages of replicable and doable everyday meals. It is a great complement to his other books. It is also affordable, doable and accessible.

With this book, Keller went out of his way to offer in order to reach a slightly different audience. The layout of the book itself is a proof of that. The reader will find sidebars in many of the pages and written on these sidebars are tips and tricks. It’s easy to forget that you’re reading a Keller cookbook and not a food magazine.

If you’re thinking that it’s another book on Southern cooking or home cooking, however, then you’re wrong. It’s far from being one of these things. Although the book is simple, the cooking is not that ordinary. Yes, you will find meat and salad dishes. However, the food flavours and preparation is not that simple.. In fact, some people will likely find the procedures still a bit complex.

The recipes will require skills that some people or cooks may not possess. The preparation will also take a little bit more time… These are still special recipes – the kind of recipes you would prepare when you are throwing an intimate party, a get together. These are company food recipes or special occasion recipes. They take time to prepare but the result is just simply delicious! It takes time to prepare these dishes, but they are definitely worth it.

Going through this book is like going through the menu of the actual restaurant, Ad Hoc. You can liken the arrangement of the recipes to the restaurant’s menu; albeit, it is not as organized as the menu – a little bit strange considering how well organized and how well thought of the menus are in the actual restaurant. There is some sort of arrangement of the recipes and the arrangement offers good pairing ideas. You will find a section on cheese pairing for instance..

Should you buy this book? Definitely! The recipes are different – and yes, better – than the typical family recipes. Of course, this is typical of Chef Keller.

Ad Hoc was intended to be a temporary restaurant serving home-cooked like meals, particularly Keller’s favorite meals. Being Keller, it is impossible for him to do “easy and fun”. He has to make sure that attention is given to every little detail; thus, what was supposed to be easy, turned out to be complicated. This is the same thing that you can expect from his cookbook Ad Hoc at Home.. Do not expect recipes with foie gras or truffles however. These are recipes that you can actually prepare at home without spending a lot of money on fancy ingredients.

Chef Keller actually prepares these recipes for friends and families in special occasion or get together. However, do not think that they are as simple as a fancy macaroni and cheese. They are not as easy, simple or accessible. If you are up for a challenge, however, this is a good cookbook for you. In the right hands, these recipes can create marvellous results. In fact, there is not a single recipe that you would not want to make or at least try out.

Ad Hoc at Home contains recipes that are definitely “the recipes” for special occasions. You will have your guests praising you for your meals. Your guests will definitely enjoy every bite. This is the perfect cookbook for bringing people together. Keller says it more aptly, “When we eat together, when we set out to do so deliberately, life is better, no matter what your circumstances.” Should you buy this book? Yes, definitely!

Image Credit: uncork29.com

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