FoodReference.com (since 1999)
BOOK REVIEW SECTION

 You are here > Home > 

Next

Simply Fresh: Casual Dining at Home

by Jeff Morgan

Description
The first Ruby Tuesday opened its doors to guests in 1972 near the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and today there are more than 900 of them across the United States and around the world. The original vision for Ruby Tuesday and casual dining extends from cover-to-cover inside ‘Simply Fresh’ by professional gourmet Jeff Morgan.

In addition to more than 100 recipes that take their inspiration and cues from Ruby Tuesday's brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert menus, ‘Simply Fresh’ features more than 100 full-color photographs that show the reader how to prepare restaurant-quality casual dining at home. It also includes creative beverage recipes for an extensive selection of mixed drinks, along with suggestions for handcrafted boutique beers. There are tips on how to successfully host gatherings of friends and family, as well as direct and useful information about pairing wine with food.

In ‘Simply Fresh’, Morgan showcases the best of casual dining at home, with easy-to-follow recipes that resonate with consumers who crave colorful, tasty dishes such as Tai Phoon Shrimp, Saffron Tomato Soup, or Curried Chicken with Coconut Rice and Cucumber Raita, not to mention Ruby Tuesday's signature burgers and famous Mac 'n Cheese.

$5 Gift With The Purchase Of This Book. Every copy of ‘Simply Fresh’ includes a coupon for $5 off a $15 food purchase at any Ruby Tuesday restaurant in the U.S. Mainland. Offer good through May 31, 2012.

Review
The founders of Ruby Tuesday have created this book of recipes that are based on some of their most popular dishes. The recipes include; drinks, appetizers and side dishes, brunch, salads and soups, pasta, seafood, beef, pork and poultry and desserts.
     There is a short introduction before each section giving information such as food and wine pairings and giving ideas of what to serve with the dishes and the page numbers. Inserts are included among the recipes with tips such as; how to follow a recipe, making hollandaise and tips for backyard barbeques. Most recipes have pictures of the finished dishes, an index included.
     The food is not that out of the ordinary, but they are good basic tasty dishes. We have enjoyed spinach, mushroom, feta cheese omelet, avocado and shrimp salad with creole seasoning and avocado ranch dressing, ham and pea salad with fresh dill ranch dressing (friends have even asked for this recipe), scallops with shallots, parsley and white wine sauce and Italian cream cake.
     The only exception has been their version of crab cakes, in which the crab is absolutely overpowered by 3 tablespoons of cilantro and chutney.
     These are not difficult recipes to prepare or ones with exotic ingredients, but they do turn out good food.
wogan 'the book reader' (amazon.com)