EGGS
Eggs by Michel Roux is the first of many cookbooks I own written by the great Michel Roux. As the title suggests, it is a cookbook about Eggs!
If you are not a fan of eggs, this cookbook probably isn’t for you. Thankfully I absolutely love eating and cooking with eggs. Which is why I grabbed my copy when I transited through Hong Kong Airport and needed something to read on the plane ride. This book has a wide array of recipes all centred on hero-ing the humble egg. This is a cookbook suited for cooks and chefs of all skill levels as Roux covers pretty much everything there is to know about an egg. From how to select, boil or scramble an egg, to using the humble egg as the base of a luxurious sauce or more complicated pastry.
Review
Eggs by Michel Roux is structured in an easy to read and logical way. It is divided into sections based on the cooking of the egg. In each section, Roux teaches you how to cook the egg with easy to follow instructions and images. He then introduces recipes and variations based on these basic skills. The recipes themselves are a pleasure to read and follow. Roux so eloquently describes the dish that you will soon find yourself hungry to try cooking and eating it!
Eggs is a practical cookbook with many recipes that will be cooked and eaten on a daily basis. The recipes are mostly European with a heavy French influence and are achievable by the average home cook. There are a wide array of featured recipes that demonstrate using the egg as the basis for a side dish, main dish or dessert. It demonstrates the versatility of the humble egg, well and truly celebrating it. Additionally, it is also a great introduction to some basics of French cooking and will contribute to a solid foundation in French cuisine. There are recipes included for basic choux pastry, ice cream bases and fresh pasta. At the end of the book, there is a section dedicated to sauces and dressings. The recipes included, such as mayonnaise and hollandaise sauce are highly adaptable and useful.
Eggs also includes beautiful photography by Martin Brigade that will surely inspire and motivate you to get into the kitchen.
Michel Roux
Michel Roux Snr. is a highly awarded three Michelin starred chef. He is often referred to as one of the Roux Brothers, alongside his brother Albert Roux. Together, they opened La Gavroche – the first restaurant to gain three Michelin stars in Britain. He has trained and mentored many other Michelin-starred chefs including Marco Pierre White. Roux’s Waterside Inn was the first restaurant outside of France to have held three Michelin stars for over 25 years. The Waterside Inn is on the top of my list of my dream restaurants I would love to visit!
Should you buy Eggs by Michel Roux?
You should definitely buy Eggs by Michel Roux! Whether for yourself or as a gift to a food-loving friend, Eggs is definitely a cookbook that will be appreciated.
Eggs includes skills and recipes that are practical, and highly adaptable. There are a wide range of recipes including basics for the beginner cook, and sophisticated dishes to challenge the more advanced cook.
I was only 12 or 13 when I got this book and absolutely fell in love with the culinary arts after reading Eggs. Roux has a wonderful way of talking about ingredients and food. You can really feel his passion through his words. This cookbook definitely ignited my passion for cooking and food. It also taught me the importance of understanding and using good produce. I definitely think Eggs by Michel Roux is a worthy addition to any cook’s collection.
