Emeril's Potluck: Comfort Food with a Kicked-Up Attitude - Hardcover

Lagasse, Emeril

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688164315 ISBN 13: 9780688164317

Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks, 2004

Synopsis

America's favorite chef Emeril Lagasse is ready to party. Parties and celebrations mean food. Lots of food: tureens of soup, platters of chicken, bowls of salad, casseroles of baked pasta. From family reunions to holiday buffets, summer barbecues to tailgate parties, and weekend brunches to bridal showers, Emeril's Potluck offers crowd-pleasing dishes perfect for gatherings with friends and family.

Emeril's Potluck brings together everything Emeril loves most about cooking and eating. The food is simple, flavorful, and perfect for sharing at any get-together. Each recipe serves a whopping 8 to 10 people, but don't assume you're making too much -- everyone will be heading back for seconds and thirds of these Emerilized starters, entrees, drinks, sides, and desserts.

Start by toasting the occasion with a glass of Champagne Punch, a Watermelon Daiquiri, or an Orange Emeril. Then let the feast begin! Classic Blue Cheese Dip, Alain's Sweet and Spicy Asian Wings, or Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms will get your party started right! Main courses range from Olive-Stuffed Leg of Lamb and Creole Mustard and Herb-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin to homey favorites such as Charlotte's Lasagna Bolognese, Penne à la Vodka Casserole, and Tuna Tetrazzini. Of course, it wouldn't be a party without dessert, so save room for Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Emeril's Tiramisu.

The recipes are quick, easy, and portable. Enjoy these dishes at home or take them on the road. Emeril's Potluck -- so foolproof, so easy, so crowd pleasing that luck has nothing to do with it.

About this title

Review:

Emeril Lagasse needs no introduction. TV chef par excellence, and author of eight other cookbooks, he's become something of a one-man industry. Emeril's Potluck, concerned with "comfort food with a kicked-up attitude," follows the MO of his other books--easy, attractive recipes (in this case 150-plus of them) presented in a voce that will be reassuring to some, while all-too-familiar to others. If Potluck seems even more mechanically formulaic than the other books, it nonetheless contains many valuable recipes for a full range of dishes and drinks. Among these, Cajun Quiche, Oven-Poached Salmon with a Pink Grapefruit and Tarragon Sauce, and Slow-Cooked Pork Roast with Barbecue Sauce are representative and worthy. The drink section shouldn't be overlooked and contains recipes for the likes of Milk Shakes for grownups, which include kalúa, and the nonalcoholic mango lassai. Two casserole chapters offer easy treats like Mexican Breakfast Casserole and Risotto and Mushroom Casserole. Desserts like Deep-Dish Banana Pudding with Chocolate Sauce are satisfyingly no-frills. The guiding--perhaps, nominal--idea is that the dishes are perfect for gatherings, picnics, and tailgate parties, but they're also suitable for everyday enjoyment. Readers should also note that many of the recipes require Emeril's food products--for which online sources are given, but no descriptions. --Arthur Boehm

About the Author:

Emeril Lagasse is the chef/owner of several critically acclaimed restaurants, including Emeril's Restaurant, NOLA, and Emeril's Delmonico in New Orleans. He also owns and runs Emeril's New Orleans Fish House and Delmonico Steakhouse in Las Vegas, as well as Emeril's Orlando and Emeril's Tchoup Chop in Orlando, Emeril's Miami Beach, and Emeril's Atlanta.

In addition, Emeril Lagasse is the host of Emeril Live and The Essence of Emeril on the Food Network and the food correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America. His previous cookbooks include Emeril's Potluck; Emeril's There's a Chef in My Family!; From Emeril's Kitchens; Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup!; Emeril's TV Dinners; and Every Day's a Party.

Emeril Lagasse's enthusiasm for mentoring and teaching young people inspired him to establish The Emeril Lagasse Foundation®, a nonprofit organization that seeks to mentor, inspire, and enable young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive and creative individuals. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation® supports a diverse network of organizations -- including St. Michael Special School for Exceptional Children in New Orleans and the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation® -- and will continue to cultivate relationships with organizations that are committed to improving the quality of young people's lives in each of the communities where Emeril's restaurants operate.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0688164315
• ISBN 13: 9780688164317
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320