Conscious Cuisine: A New Style of Cooking from the Kitchens of Chef Cary Neff

I love this book so much that I don't know where to start. To put this review into perspective for you, it is written by an amateur cook that has been seriously studying cooking on her own for 25 years. My favorite cookbook is "The Professional Chef", this book ties for second place with "Healthy Techniques by the CIA". Anyone can make a dish taste better by adding cream, butter, eggs or sugar. But when someone can take most of things away and still come up with food that you want to eat, all I can say is WOW. If I could nominate this man for sainthood I would. First, I love that the chef gives you nutritional information on every recipe. If you are a numbers geek like me, you just need to know the calories, fat, saturated fat, etc. in each recipe. Second, anyone that can come up with a Caesar salad dressing with 25 calories in 2 tablespoons, and make it take good, is a genius in my book. There has not been a single recipe from this book that wasn't at least good. And given the numbers (nutritional information) that is really saying something. If you want to really be blown away there is a Chilled Chocolate Souffle with a Berry Consomme (230 calories) that is mind blowing. On the down side, some of the recipes in this book are a little labor intensive. If you don't get pleasure from cooking this might not be the book for you. However, if you relax by cooking and love to learn new techniques I highly recommend this book. I would have given it more than 5 stars if that were an option. This book is definitely at least an 11 on a 10 scale.

I am a personal chef. I use the recipes and techniques in this book for all of my customers. Everything is flavorful, healthy and creative. So often healthy recipes are bland, the food dull and listless. Cary Neff has created recipes that pay attention to the whole experience, the textures are right, the flavors unbelievable. I feel good about serving my customers and family foods that are good for them. This book helps me do that with flair.

Those who love good foods can keep "Conscious Cuisine" on the shelf for a long-time to come. There is lots of variety, and most of the savoring dishes and sauce recipes are low in sodium, carbohydrates, and sugar. Worth noting, is that this is not for the quick throw-together at-home food enthusiasts. It's a step up into a little more planning and stocking. But the results will give you 5-star dishes such as Saffron-chive sauce, Carrot Mousse, Layered Spinach, Wild Mushroom, are a few of the many high-end cuisine you can create in your own kitchen.

I have tried several recipes in this book. My favorite is the Margarita Cheesecake. The recipes are perfect for anyone looking to improve their eating choices as well as those who have had gastric bypass. They're low in sugar, carbs, sodium, but full of flavor!!!!!

Having experienced the tastes of what is now one of the best resorts in the world on a first hand basis, this book is for everyone that wishes to experience a world of intricate details, fine dining, into a healthful and refreshing way. Experience 5 STAR resort healthful eating right at your own home. Chef Neff has brought together a passion and love of food that he has refined into a healthful and abundantley tasteful book. Finally food for those of us that love it, and want the tastes of real food without fealing guilty. I know that this has taken him years to perfect to bring to the rest of the world, but like all fine things in life.. perfection takes time.