The Mirabelle Cookbook Book

At the back of Marco Pierre White's The Mirabelle Cookbook, he has reprinted a selection of menus from the famous London restaurant's past. It's fascinating comparing the menus to see how consistent The Mirabelle, one of a handful of grand Mayfair eateries founded just prior to World War II, has been over the years. Apart from the prices, the dishes are similar. On one of the old menus you will find "L'Omelette Normande ou Arnold Bennett" which reappears on the new as "Omelette--Arnold Bennett" and on page 69 of the book you find the recipe, a marvellous egg concoction with cheesy mornay sauce. Unlike other books by White--such as Wild Food from Land and Sea--the recipes in The Mirabelle Cookbook are accessible to the home cook. The simplest dishes, "Tomato Consommé", "Smoked Salmon Properly Garnished", "Cottage Pie" and "Tiramisú" can be cooked at home with no difficulty. "But my aim is to encourage you, as you gain confidence, to move on from these to the slightly more complicated recipes which really do repay the extra effort", White writes in the introduction. You'll find "Tart of Endive with Sea Scallops", "Wing of Skate with Capers and Balsamic Vinegar Dressing", and "Lamb a la Ficelle". Each dish is beautifully photographed and if that's not enough to get you to cook them, it will certainly persuade you to visit the restaurant. --Dale KneenRead More