Originally published August 2008

Available at Amazon.com

Okay, I’ll admit it. I have a huge crush on Gordon Ramsay. (Though I hated that last season of Hell’s Kitchen, it was like watching the Jerry Springer show…) And this book has only fueled my feelings — adorable cover shot, by the way.

That being said, I have no desire to try to cook like Gordon Ramsay — at least not insofar as trying to replicate any of his restaurant dishes. I’m a pretty decent home cook, but I’m no professional chef and, frankly, don’t have the interest or energy to attempt complicated, time-consuming recipes.

Which is why I’m crazy about this book — including Ramsay’s direct (no surprise there) statement of his goal with this book: “to redefine the concept of fast food and prove that anyone can prepare speedy meals in less time than it takes to get a pizza delivered.”

Honestly, this is how I cook on a daily basis — a few ingredients, all of excellent quality, simply prepared. So it was wonderful to get some of Ramsay’s inspiration and take on the same concept.

The Bresaola with Arugula & Parmesan was a nice reminder of how much I love this kind of simple “salad” — and I proceeded to make it for weeks at a time.

His quick take on an Easy Tiramisu was also a winner — and I don’t typically even like tiramisu. But a simple whipping together of sweetened cream and mascarone made a delicious no-cook “custard” and dolloped nicely on espresso-dipped ladyfingers.

And the Green Bean, Red Onion & Romano Salad offered easy instructions on how to tame the bite of sliced red onion — making the finished salad seem much more professionally done than if I had simply tossed the ingredients together.

“Fast Food’ is easy to read and easy to use. Next up for me? I’m thinking it will be the Baked Chicken with Eggplant, Zucchini & Tomato Ragout. Or maybe the Easy Vegetable Curry. Or the Loin Chops with Garlic & Herb Butter… Yup, that’s the one!

Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food
by Gordon Ramsay (Author)
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Key Porter Books (March 28, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554700647
ISBN-13: 978-1554700646
Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.2 x 1.4 inches