Kitchen Heaven - Hardcover

Ramsay, Gordon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0718147316 ISBN 13: 9780718147310

Publisher: Michael Joseph, 2004

Synopsis

Each week in the television series Cutting the Mustard, a struggling restaurant receives the Gordon Ramsay treatment. His personality is forceful, to say the least. His reputation for explosive outbursts and sharp-tongued confrontations is matched only by his ability to create truly spectacular food in his restaurants. With only a couple of weeks to turn around a restaurant's flagging fortunes, nothing is sacred. There’s no time for polite small talk as Gordon reveals a few home truths to the exhausted, emotional restaurant owner or manager and embarks upon his mission to turn things around. Cutting the Mustard is a unique combination of practical insight and compelling entertainment. It offers an intriguing look at the ins and outs of the restaurant business, using the troubleshooting format to explore the secrets of success for running a profitable eatery. By turns exciting, moving, surprising and inspiring, this is a series that explodes the myths surrounding personal and professional ambition, success and motivation whilst revealing that even the most disastrous situation can be turned around with a bit of imagination and a lot of elbow grease.

About this title

About the Author:

Gordon Ramsay is considered by many to be the best chef in Britain. He began his colourful career as a professional footballer for Glasgow Rangers. A dramatic change of course took him to work for three years as Marco Pierre White's sous chef at Harvey's restaurant after which he worked with Albert Roux, Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon. At the age of 26 he launched his first restaurant, Aubergine, which gained two Michelin stars. In September 1998 he opened Gordon Ramsay which was awarded three Michelin stars and was named the second best restaurant in the world by a Restaurant magazine poll.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

SIRLOIN OF BEEF WITH ROASTED CHARLOTTE POTATOES AND RED WINE SHALLOTS

Charlotte potatoes are in the premier division of potatoes — they are waxy, with a dark yellow colour, incredibly flavoursome and the best potato to roast. At the Boxwood Cafe we use ribeye of beef for this recipe, but at home I suggest you use sirloin, or an individual ribeye. Even the T-bone steak, the retro classic, can be used as an alternative to sirloin. Don't be scared to serve this warm — there is nothing worse than being pressured into thinking you've got to serve it hot. I personally enjoy beef much better when it's warm, as it's been able to rest sufficiently, which tenderizes it.

SERVES 4
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper /1 x 1 kg sirloin beef / olive oil /1 head of garlic, broken into cloves / a few sprigs of fresh thyme and a few thyme leaves / 12 large Charlotte potatoes, peeled / 150g unsalted butter /16 medium shallots, peeled / 285ml port / 285ml red wine

Preheat the oven to l80°C/350°F/gas 4. Season the sirloin well, then heat some olive oil in a frying pan and brown the meat all over. Transfer it to an ovenproof dish. Add the garlic cloves, a sprig or two of thyme and a little fresh olive oil. Cook in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, then remove the dish from the oven and set aside. With this timing the sirloin will be nice and rare — cook it for longer if you prefer.

Meanwhile, in another pan heat some more olive oil and colour the potatoes all over until nice and golden. Add a few more sprigs of thyme and the butter and cook slowly until they are soft in the middle — 15-20 minutes.

In a small pan, sauté the shallots in olive oil until slightly coloured. Drain off the excess oil and add the port, red wine and thyme leaves. Simmer until the liquid has reduced and the shallots are cooked and glazed like rubies. Cut the beef into generous slices and arrange in a serving dish with the potatoes, shallots and garlic.

 

BANANA STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

This is a real old-fashioned favourite. Usually it's made with sultanas, but we've created a really modern twist by using bananas. Steam or bake the mixture in moulds in a bain-marie (see page 244). Best served with a sweet sticky toffee sauce. This pudding is also lovely with fresh custard or creme fraiche.

SERVES 4
170g unsalted butter/180g soft brown sugar/2 small eggs/180g plain flour/12g baking powder/ 200g chopped banana / butter and caster sugar for the moulds

TOFFEE SAUCE
250g soft brown sugar / 140ml double cream / 65g unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to l80°C/350°F/gas 4. Cream the butter and the sugar together in a large bowl, then slowly beat in the eggs. Gently fold in the sieved flour and baking powder, then mix in the chopped banana. Grease 6 baking moulds with a little butter and a sprinkling of caster sugar. Divide the mixture between the moulds, until each one is three-quarters full. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn the heat down to l50°C/300°F/gas 2 and cook for a further 1 hour and 20 minutes.

While the puddings are cooking, make your toffee sauce. Place the sugar, cream and butter in a pan and bring to the boil. When all the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat. Remove the puddings from the oven and leave to rest, then turn out of the moulds and serve topped with the toffee sauce.

About this edition

• Publisher: Michael Joseph
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0718147316
• ISBN 13: 9780718147310
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256