Cook, Eat, Repeat: Ingredients, Recipes and Stories

Nigella’s approach to food is always enthusiastic and to me, it feels honest. I enjoy food. I like cooking and over many decades, I’ve tried to understand ingredients and food from numerous different cultures. In addition to recipe books, I enjoy ‘food writing’ and Cook, Eat Repeat falls into that category. Whilst this book is packed with recipes, if you’re looking for a traditional cookery book, this probably won’t fit the bill. It’s a journey through food, by way of recipes, reminiscences, facts and fun. It’s an eclectic mix and despite the fact that I’m not keen on anchovy, I found the chapter dedicated to that subject fascinating and tempting. Nigella sets great store by Anna del Comte, the amazing nonagenarian cook and writer. I have her encyclopaedia of food and from that I learned that the dried up anchovy generally used in this country are very different to the carefully prepared and more expensive delicacy favoured by chefs. These are the type used by Nigella and her descriptions of the ways to prepare them ( the tinned variety) really whetted my appetite. The book is a joy if you love reading about food,, ingredients, people and places. Written in her easy going style, it’s inspirational. Fabulous addition to my cookery book shelves.

This is my favourite Nigella cookbook. I have cooked more recipes from this book than any other.

From PLEASURES, page 31: 📝 ‘If I could ban any phrase, it would, without doubt, be that overused, viscerally irritating, and far-from-innocent term itself, the Guilty Pleasure. I don’t think I actually groan out loud when I’m asked, every time I’m interviewed, ‘What are your guilty pleasures?’, but from deep within the cacophonous orchestra of my mind, the woodwind section starts up a searing wail, the cellos come in with their melancholy sob, only giving way to the brass section to end with the wah wah wah waah of the sad trombone. I maybe smiling, but I’m keening on the inside. My answer to that question is always the same, and while I worry that I repeat it so often it might be beginning to sound glib, I have to say that I feel it profoundly. And it is this; no one should feel guilty about what they eat, or the pleasure they get from eating; the only thing to feel guilty about (and even then I don’t recommend it) is the failure to be grateful for that pleasure.’ Yes…Nigella is undoubtedly back! As widely advertised, this chunky tome, launched to coincide with the new TV series, is more than just recipes & associated ingredients and, I think, it is fair to say, that it may not be the layout fans & followers are expecting, but it is important to note that the subtitle for ‘COOK, EAT, REPEAT’ (5 times!) is ‘INGREDIENTS, RECIPES AND STORIES.’ For me it is a curl up in the armchair by the fire publication with typically Nigella banter in the build-up that precedes the recipes. However, depending on eyesight, good light is required for the narrower book format as the font is generally on the small side, IMO, and there are large unbroken areas of writing, at times. It is also not the easiest binding to keep open at the chosen pages when the time comes to get in the kitchen and cook! From the back cover of my copy (also the closing paragraph to the INTRODUCTION) alongside the only photo of Nigella: 📝 ‘Food, for me, is a constant pleasure: I like to think greedily about it, reflect deeply on it, learn from it; it provides comfort, inspiration, meaning and beauty as well as sustenance and structure. More than just a mantra, ‘cook, eat, repeat’ is the story of my life.’ No quote sums it up better, IMO, than that from The Times: 📝 'Twenty-two years after her first book, How To Eat, Nigella Lawson has produced what feels like its answer: Cook, Eat, Repeat.' ooOoo Measuring around 17 cm x 24.5 cm x 3 cm, the thick hardboard cover with lightly indented titling to the front & spine opens to 344 matte finish pages, split over main chapters entitled: ~ WHAT IS A RECIPE? ~ A IS FOR ANCHOVY ~ PLEASURES ~ A LOVING DEFENCE OF BROWN FOOD ~ RHUBARB ~ MUCH DEPENDS ON DINNER ~ CHRISTMAS COMFORTS ~ MAKE-AHEAD, STORE AND FREEZE NOTES ~ applicable recipes are cross referenced with the relevant page number …all sandwiched between the aforementioned INTRODUCTION & a 6-page INDEX, enhanced by a handy colour coding system for VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, DAIRY FREE & GLUTEN FREE (image below refers). The book, which does have some ‘white space’ dotted around, plays out with a page of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, on page 344, which includes: 📝 ‘JONATHAN LOVEKIN, whose painterly photographs ~ taken under novel conditions ~ illuminate these pages…’ The book comes complete with a pinky-red fabric ribbon to keep your place, similar to the colour of the accent shade throughout including the subtitle on the cover and the recipe titles, headings etc. An example of the pre-amble from RHUBARB AND CUSTARD TRIFLE, on page 138: 📝 ‘I have published many recipes for trifle and made even more, and this is the one I return to most, even though it is the first time I have actually written it down. This simple, joyous pile-up of sponge, rhubarb, custard and cream remains my favourite, and will always remain my favourite; it’s time I shared it with you…’ From the recipe header: 📝 ‘Serves 8-10, although I still make this if there are fewer of us; leftovers are to be relished, or generously boxed up and given to people to take home.’ Each recipe has a numbered method, and credit is, as usual, given when applicable, e.g.: From RUBY NOODLES, on page 292: 📝 ‘These are, quite simply, a seasonal showstopper. I first came across pasta cooked in beetroot juice in Felicity Cloake’s wonderful ‘A-Z of Eating’ (she in turn had found it in an American food magazine) and I knew I had to make it. I did, and continue doing, although my recipe is rather different…’ From ROAST QUINCES, page 278: 📝 ‘I am always happy when I have quinces in the kitchen: their heady, honeyed perfume, mixed with a floral citrusiness that prevents it becoming cloying, is better than the most expensive scented candle in the world…’ A small taste of some of the other recipes included (in order of appearance): ~ CELERIAC AND ANCHOVY GRATIN ~ PASTA WITH CLAWS AND BOTTARGA ~ WIDE NOODLES WITH LAMB SHANK IN AROMATIC BROTH ~ FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH ~ LEMON AND ELDERFLOWER DRIZZLE CAKE ~ MINE-ALL-MINE SWEET AND SALTY CHOCOLATE COOKIES ~ CRÈME CARAMEL FOR ONE ~ BURNT ONION AND AUBERGINE DIP ~ SHORT RIB STEW FOR TWO ~ MARROWBONE MINCE ~ OXTAIL BOURGUIGNON ~ TOASTED MARSHMALLOW AND RHUBARB CAKE ~ CHICKEN WITH GARLIC CREAM SAUCE ~ LASAGNE OF LOVE ~ SPICED BULGAR WHEAT WITH ROAST VEGETABLES ~ FEAR-FREE FISH STEW ~ BEETROOT AND CHICKPEA DIP ~ BROWN BUTTER COLCANNON ~ FENNEL GRATIN ~ CRISP AND CREAMY ARTICHOKE HEARTS ~ CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE ~ CHERRY AND ALMOND CRUMBLE ~ RICE PUDDING CAKE ~ BLOOD ORANGE AND PASSIONFRUIT PAVLOVA ~ VEGAN LEMON POLENTA CAKE ~ NORWEGIAN PORK RIBS ~ GREEN, MEAN, DIRTY MARTINI ~ BLACK TREACLE SAUSAGES ~ NO-KNEAD BLACK BREAD ~ BLACK FOREST BROWNIES ~ POMEGRANATE POACHED QUINCES ~ CHRISTMAS BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING ~ NEW YEAR DOUGHNUTS I guess it is a sign of me getting old, and it is obviously very hard to produce such a book under lockdown restrictions, but with the narrower format, it slips back in the crowd of cookery books I have on the shelves. Given the price point, I miss the old Nigella style...the shiny pages with photographs that really draw the eye, including some of the lady herself. We all have to move on, but I can't help but feel it is the TV programme that is going to sell this title. [19 images attached © Nigella Lawson, Jonathan Lovekin & Chatto & Windus/2020]

Nigella keeps to her high standards of excellent receipes with dexterous use of evocative language. The choice of receipes reflects a good balance of current trends grounded in wholesome living.

It's great to see the range of recipes from Nigella, yet again, well worth collecting.

This is a wonderful book- in some senses it feels like a full circle back to the earlier books of How To Eat, Feast, Kitchen where you are hearing the voice of a friend talk you through a recipe ; however, this is that little bit more. No, it’s not your regular recipe/cookery book of recipe, photo, recipe , photo repeat which has a place and we all enjoy them. This feels like a deeply felt internal dialogue of a good food writer being shared with me. We are living in a time of challenge but also where food can be seen in terms of fad and fashion. Nigella debunks the latter by helping us celebrate what we have and challenging us to explore what we may not like or take for granted. Yes, I do hear the voices of Elizabeth David and Anna del Conte- but they all have a commonality of sharing a passion of cookery and food from within the kitchen. This is a book to enjoy as a recipe finder -head to the index if that’s what you instantly want but if you want to escape and rethink your attitude or ideas towards different food types( I love anchovies so that chapter just enhanced my pleasure) and rhubarb or mealtimes and edible pleasures then this book is for you. It is exquisitely written with the language and turn of phrase that Nigella is known for -which all again enhances the prose for the reader. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a cookery book that provides new delights but also a book to sit back ( have a coffee and cake or even a glass of something ) and enjoy as a celebration of food . A winner

This is quite a complex cookbook lots of written content and not many recipes. I’ll be honest I bought it because I liked the cover. It looks like a trendy book in my kitchen and I actually painted the spine grey to match. At £7 it was cheaper than the book boxes and looks just as good

I have several of Nigella’s books and I love them. I was very disappointed in this book. I just didn’t like the recipes, the lack of photo’s and generally the whole book. It will go straight out to a charity shop as I’ll never make use of it. I made a mistake as it’s not really a cookery book, it contains recipes but it’s a general book about food it seems, though I’ve not read it.

Love Nigella and love that she wrote a book that deep dives into the stories behind recipes. Try reading it aloud in her accent - it’s so much fun!

Suelo comprar los libros de Nigella y no defrauda. Hay recetas muy variadas y para todos los gustos, sencillas o más elaboradas. Personalmente me gustan sus guiños hacia las recetas vegetarianas y veganas, muy saludables. A nivel de edición, este último libro pienso que está mejor editado, de mejor calidad. Lo volvería a comprar.

J'ai déjà fait les 2 pains c'est un régal, merci.

I am a big Nigella Lawson fan, but I was disappointed with this book...the recipes aren’t that exciting..it’s very different than all her previous books

Another example Amazon's quality is going down. It is torn from the inside. Binding is separate from the pages. Never expected such quality for such a price