Tom's Big Dinners: Big-Time Home Cooking for Family and Friends

I love this book. Tom's a legend in the Seattle area. You'll see his first book reviewed by many Northwesterners. I prefer this book to his first. It's beautiful, well laid out and has a wealth of information for those who seriously love to cook...or beginners who are at least willing to get put some effort into a few spectacular dishes. I find the variety of recipes accessible to people with varying skills in the kitchen. I have had about a dozen dishes from this book (made by me and friends) and each has been fabulous. Enjoy!

Tom's Big Dinners is a big ambitious cookbook, which will be perfect for all ambitious chefs out there who have plenty of friends and kitchen space. Tom Douglas has planned 10 wonderful dinners, complete with the wine and mixed drinks. The dinners are all fabulously planned and wonderfully varied. You could please vegetarians and carnivores at each of these feasts. These recipes, however, are not really for the kitchen novice, but certainly are something to set your sights on if you are one. Douglas provides some helpful "prepare ahead" tips, but not too many shortcuts. He tells wonderful stories about all of these meals--they certainly have worked for him.

This is neat concept, that of "big dinner." Tom and his wife both knew what this was all about, everyone has their own job. Now, for Tom it means that everybody contributes something to the meal. What a great idea!He starts it with helping us home chefs to "Basics" that is making stuff in advance and saving it, e.g. stocks,dough, etc. so that it comes in handy in putting together spectacular dinners.Additionally cool about this are the some thirteen feats that are Tom's big dinner gang's favs. There is the rarified Wine Cellar Dinner with Chocolate Crepes for the finale, or the inviting "Merlot Release Picnic." This has as its continuous theme, you guessed it, "merlot." Included is yummy "Lamb Chop T-bones in crushed cherry marinade with tarragon mustard," with merlot in the marinade. This is great picnic or barbie fare.The book is warmly written with great color photography and source info and wine & drink suggestions galore. Big dinners will be advanced significantly and funnier with this aid.