The off cuts, the odd bits, the variety meats, the fifth quarter—it seems that offal is always hidden, given a soft-pedaled name, and left for someone else to eat. But it wasn't always this way, and it certainly shouldn't be. Offal—the organs and the under-heralded parts from tongue to trotter—are some of the most delicious, flavorful, nutritious cuts of meat, and this is your guide to mastering how to cook them. Through both traditional and wildly creative recipes, Chris Cosentino takes you from nose-to-tail, describing the basic prep and best cooking methods for every offal cut from beef, pork, lamb, and poultry. Anatomy class was never so delicious.
“Offal” has the same pronunciation as “awful”—an appropriate homophone, given that offal comprises the whole spectrum of an animal’s glands, essential organs, skin, muscle, guts, and every unmentionable in between. Yet as Nina Edwards shows in this intriguing history, offal has been consumed and enjoyed across ages and continents, often hidden by the rich variety of terms—like fois gras and sweetbread—that have evolved to veil their origins. Edwards dissects the complicated relationship we have with offal and the extreme reactions it inspires, asking if we can enjoy a pig’s heart, a cow’s eyes, or a sheep’s brain when it reminds us so viscerally of our own flesh and blood. She explores the offal dishes that are specific to regional cuisines and holidays, such as Scottish haggis, Jewish chopped liver, and Southern states’ chitterlings. As she reveals, offal is a food of contradictions—it is high in nutrients but also dangerously high in cholesterol, and it can range from expensive haute cuisine to a cheap alternative for the impoverished. From tongue in Sichuan and gizzard stew in Rio de Janeiro to spicy cartilage in Calcutta, Offal sheds new light on the sometimes stomach-churning foods we consume.
Love it or hate it, offal excites extreme reactions in us all. Offal provides an intriguing history of the consumption of offal down the ages and across continents and examines our varied responses to the meatiest of meats. Offal is glands, essential organs, skin, muscle, guts and everything unmentionable in between.
Anissa Helou's classic work, The Fifth Quarter, first published in 2004, is now re-issued as Offal, updated and expanded with the addition of striking colour food photography. This is the only book currently in print in the English language dedicated exclusively to the subject of offal - a subject currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity and fashion - in all its many and surprising forms. From foie gras to cod's roe and from sheep's head to testicles, Offal draws on recipes and traditions from all over the world.
A classic workThe Fifth Quarter is the only book dedicated exclusively to the subject of offalA book dedicated to offal - currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity and fashion - in all its many and surprising formsNeatly categorised, stylishly designed and of interest to any offal eater - from the tame and curious to the daring and decadentFrom foie gras and co' s roe to shee' s head and testicles, this book draws on recipes and traditions from all over the world.
The eagerly anticipated follow-up to the author’s award-winning Bones and Fat, Odd Bits features over 100 recipes devoted to the “rest of the animal,” those under-appreciated but incredibly flavorful and versatile alternative cuts of meat. We’re all familiar with the prime cuts—the beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, and pork chops. But what about kidneys, tripe, liver, belly, cheek, and shank? Odd Bits will not only restore our taste for these cuts, but will also remove the mystery of cooking with offal, so food lovers can approach them as confidently as they would a steak. From the familiar (pork belly), to the novel (cockscomb), to the downright challenging (lamb testicles), Jennifer McLagan provides expert advice and delicious recipes to make these odd bits part of every enthusiastic cook’s repertoire.
"Don't be afraid of offal. Some of the greatest of all French classics involve organ meats such as brains and sweetbreads." - Michel Roux Jr Celebrated chef Michel Roux Jr passionately believes that we are missing out. At a time when food shortage is a global concern, health fears over processed meat are making headlines and the cost of living is higher than ever, he can't understand our reluctance to utilise every part of an animal's carcass. Brains, organs, intestines, hooves - items that are traditionally viewed with distaste in our society - are an integral part of French and world cuisine. With this book, the two-star Michelin chef hopes to change the way we think about offal and demonstrate that, with a little time and effort, it can be used to produce enticing and delicious food to impress friends and feed families. The book will contain recipes ranging from the simple sweetbreads Michel's mother fed him as a child, to the more adventurous dishes in the style served at his award-winning restaurants. Dishes range from La Salade Aveyronnaise (Warm salad with sweetbreads and Roquefort) or Soupe aux abattis (Giblet soup), to Cervelle de veau zingara (Calves' brains with zingara) or Langue de boefu au persil et cares (Salted ox tongue with caper parsley sauce).
'The Book of St John is too witty to be a manifesto, but it is a sturdy invocation of the need for comfort, generosity and ritual at the table. And it is a gurglingly delightful compendium of - quite simply - delicious ideas and stories' Nigella Lawson 'An unutterable joy from the team behind one of the most influential and important restaurants in Britain ... This is much more than a book of recipes, though (glorious as they are). It’s also about the importance of the table, of feasting, of friendship, of the white cloth napkin on your knee. And it sings of simple but wonderful pleasures: a bacon sandwich and a glass of cider, a doughnut and a glass of champagne.’ Diana Henry, The Telegraph 'The Book of St. JOHN, part food gospel, part memoir, part recipe book.' Observer Food Monthly Join the inimitable Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver as they welcome you into their world-famous restaurant, inviting you to celebrate 25 years of unforgettable, innovative food. Established in 1994, St. JOHN has become renowned for its simplicity, its respect for quality ingredients and for being a pioneer in zero waste cooking – they strive to use every part of an ingredient, from leftover stale bread for puddings, bones for broths and stocks, to typically unused parts of the animal (such as the tongue) being made the hero of a dish. Recipes include: Braised rabbit, mustard and bacon Ox tongue, carrots and caper sauce Duck fat toast Smoked cod’s roe, egg and potato cake Confit suckling pig shoulder and dandelion The Smithfield pickled cucumbers St. JOHN chutney Butterbean, rosemary and garlic wuzz Honey and bay rice pudding Featuring all the best-loved seminal recipes as well as comprehensive menus and wine recommendations, Fergus and Trevor will take a look back at the ethos and working practices of a food dynasty that has inspired a generation of chefs and home cooks.
The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating is a certified "foodie" classic. In it, Fergus Henderson -- whose London restaurant, St. John, is a world-renowned destination for people who love to eat "on the wild side" -- presents the recipes that have marked him out as one of the most innovative, yet traditional, chefs. Here are recipes that hark back to a strong rural tradition of delicious thrift, and that literally represent Henderson's motto, "Nose to Tail Eating" -- be they Pig's Trotter Stuffed with Potato, Rabbit Wrapped in Fennel and Bacon, or his signature dish of Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad. For those of a less carnivorous bent, there are also splendid dishes such as Deviled Crab; Smoked Haddock, Mustard, and Saffron; Green Beans, Shallots, Garlic, and Anchovies; and to keep the sweetest tooth happy, there are gloriously satisfying puddings, notably the St. John Eccles Cakes, and a very nearly perfect Chocolate Ice Cream.
Buying large, unbutchered pieces of meat from a local farm or butcher shop means knowing where and how your food was raised, and getting meat that is more reasonably priced. It means getting what you want, not just what a grocery store puts out for sale—and tailoring your cuts to what you want to cook, not the other way around. For the average cook ready to take on the challenge, The Meat Hook Meat Book is the perfect guide: equal parts cookbook and butchering handbook, it will open readers up to a whole new world—start by cutting up a chicken, and soon you’ll be breaking down an entire pig, creating your own custom burger blends, and throwing a legendary barbecue (hint: it will include The Man Steak—the be-all and end-all of grilling one-upmanship—and a cooler full of ice-cold cheap beer). This first cookbook from meat maven Tom Mylan, co-owner of The Meat Hook, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is filled with more than 60 recipes and hundreds of photographs and clever illustrations to make the average cook a butchering enthusiast. With stories that capture the Meat Hook experience, even those who haven’t shopped there will become fans.
