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You are here: Home / books / Cookbook Review: Chef Michael Smith’s The Best of Chef at Home

Cookbook Review: Chef Michael Smith’s The Best of Chef at Home

February 17, 2011 by Suzie the Foodie 7 Comments

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

When I won this copy of The Best of Chef at Home by Chef Michael Smith printed by Whitecap Books thanks to my seafood potato skins recipe, I was so excited! Not only is Michael Smith the food ambassador of PEI, he is possibly the nicest chef on television. Do not believe me? Watch one episode of Chef at Home and tell me I am wrong.

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

He is such a great teacher and so approachable I call him The Friendly Giant. He is astoundingly tall and seems to be one of the easiest people in the world to get along with. This cookbook combines many recipes from his television show, as well as some new ones, in one large trade paper book that is stunningly illustrated with fantastic photos for every recipe:

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

When I saw this photograph for Maple Mustard Grilled Salmon I just had to make it!

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

Now I did not season the fish like he says to before adding the marinade. That kind of goes against everything I have heard and did not want to dry out the fish. I whisked together equal parts maple syrup and grainy mustard and covered a large fillet of salmon, coating both sides. I did not want to run the risk of grilling it and having the salmon stick so I pan fried it in butter on both sides, finishing it off in the oven. I seasoned the fish with salt and pepper right before pan frying, by the way…

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

I have had maple salmon before and been unimpressed with its subtlety so to avoid that issue, after I took this photograph, I drizzled it with some more maple syrup. My god, I finally found a salmon recipe that both my husband and I loved! Reg actually said that it was one of the best salmon dishes he had ever had. I give this recipe made this way five out of five wooden spoons. Alright!

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

Then… the heartbreaking results of making his Classic Chicken Stew and Old-Fashioned Beef Stew. I found them both very basic and boring. Not dishes I would ever make again. I know his “shtick” is to not cook with a recipe but make the recipe your own with your own flavours but still, I will never make either of these again.

Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home Cookbook Review of The Best of Chef at Home

Thankfully his Country Bread was a big hit for me and made fantastic toast with my wild blueberry jam and it made OK French Toast but terrible croutons! No crunch, LOL.

Michael Smith's Mushroom Miso Broth with Buckwheat Noodles Michael Smith's Moroccan Couscous & Chickpeas

His Miso Soup was fine but nothing special and his Couscous and Chickpeas was a a little weird tasting.

Michael Smith's Butterscotch Sauce

My favourite recipe of his I made was his Butterscotch Sauce…

This is perhaps the hardest cookbook I have had to review. I wanted to love it. I think Michael Smith is a great person and I wanted to adore each and every recipe and I don’t. I recipe tested more than usual, just hoping to get consistently positive results, but I didn’t.

The book is gorgeous and beautifully illustrated so it gets full marks when it comes to quality of printing and foodie eye candy. Still, I do not trust these recipes. Every time I seem to have different results so they are very inconsistent. As a result, I have to give the book three out of five wooden spoons.

That said, if you adore the show Chef at Home and like the recipes, I highly recommend this book. Instead of printing out all the recipes and keeping them in a binder, I would honour them by buying this cookbook with its stunning photographs instead. For you, the Michael Smith Chef at Home fan, I give this book four out of five wooden spoons. 

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Filed Under: books, fish, Michael Smith, recipe review

Comments

  1. Debra She Who Seeks says

    February 17, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    I’ve watched his show a couple of times. That’s about all I can say!

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      April 23, 2015 at 2:30 am

      I have made several recipes and they never turn out right I don’t like this book at all

      Reply
      • suziethefoodie says

        April 23, 2015 at 2:49 am

        Well he lost big time on Iron Chef and there might be a reason! I have had some hits with his recipes but sometimes big time misses. Sorry you have too.

        Reply
  2. TheSweetOne says

    February 17, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    I’ve been through this book a few times but it didn’t wow me the same way his first Chef At Home collection did. Glad you’re loving it though! He is a phenomenal chef and has great personality!

    Reply
  3. AvaDJ says

    February 17, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    I have this cookbook as well, and you’re right, it’s just stunning to look at. I think the book is great for basic recipes and I like how he always adds a little blurb about variations. It’s simple and family friendly with easy to find ingredients. I find it might be a little too simple for the advanced/experienced cook.

    I have to agree with the Butterscotch Sauce lol…I’ve made that one over and over again. He also has some other cool little recipes in the back of the book for sauces, dressings, condiments etc. He truly is the friendly giant, just adorable!

    Reply
  4. Suzie Ridler says

    February 17, 2011 at 3:06 pm

    I think you’re right Ava, it is a very basic cookbook and the blurbs and suggestions are well done. I guess I just need more and I would rather a kitchen disaster than boring flavours. I am looking forward to the sauces and condiments section at the back and will be trying them out. He is adorable! I wish I could have given the book a higher rating because he is so great.

    Reply
  5. JavaChick says

    February 17, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    I enjoy watching Chef At Home as well, and I have this cookbook but the only thing I’ve made is the bread (which I was happy with). Will have to try that butterscotch sauce – my husband would love it!

    Reply

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