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A Recipe for Disaster: Cooking Up A Big Italian Idea
A RECIPE FOR DISASTER is the entertaining journey of an Englishman struggling with the ups and downs of living in rural Italy. After giving up a successful career in television, Stephen finds himself dragged back into a world he had happily forsaken when his neighbor, Lia, persuades him to listen to her BIG IDEA – making a TV cookery series. But Lia speaks no English. And Stephen’s partner, Tam, can't cook. So, much against Stephen's better judgement, the three of them set out to make a six-part cookery series in a medieval town in the rolling hills of the little-known, but spectacularly beautiful, Italian region of Le Marche. In the COOKUCINA TV series Lia teaches Tam to cook alla marchigiana, while Tam translates. A RECIPE FOR DISASTER follows their many encounters with the real Italy – a world away from summer holiday crowds in Tuscany or the Amalfi coast. As the team try to construct a professional series with no funding they come to rely on the generosity of the marchigiana people, while attempting to overcome the constant difficulties thrown up by those whose stubborn adherence to their age-old way of life is rooted in their beloved fields and woods. A RECIPE FOR DISASTER is a goldmine of simple yet delicious recipes, while peeling back the veneer of television professionalism and opening the door to a world of Italian surprise and delight. A RECIPE FOR DISASTER is best read alongside COOKUCINA, the final six-part TV series, so you can see for yourself how the team cracked their problems and (just about) held it all together in a blistering heatwave. Experience this contradictory world of vendettas and kind hearts through the laughter and frustrations of Stephen and the team, as you follow A RECIPE FOR DISASTER slowly coming to its surprising fruition.
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Published July 19, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 7, 2017
5☆ Simply Scrumptious!! A real Gem to read!
A Recipe For disaster was simply a joy to read. If you love Italian food, Italy and are looking for a book with a sprinkling of recipes with a difference then this is definitely one for you!
A story about Stephen, his wife Tam and their decision to create a Cookery TV show from nothing but passion, and determination!
Plus if you enjoy the book as much as i did don't forget that this is accompanied by the Actual Cooking TV Show! Links can be found on my blog post.
I have never been to Italy, and have always wanted to go. Stephen took me on a journey and left nothing out.
From the delicious smells, scenery, weather, language differences, the culture, to setting up a Cookery TV show with no funding and no equipment. I was fully absorbed into their adventures and the beautiful Italian atmosphere.
This book is more than just a literature book it's a delicious mix of food, recipes, humour, life, ups and downs, a real journey.
Stephen's wife Tam can't cook which made for a humorous read and Lia wasn't able to speak English which only added to their adventures when setting up their Cookery TV show from nothing but pure passion and a dream!
A Recipe for Disaster is a feel good read, but be warned it will leave your tummy rumbling.
Example of a few recipes :
*Soft Chocolate Cake and Ice Cream (I can't wait to try)
*Grandma Giudi's Cream Pudding
*Sibillini Pasta
*Baked Trout withVegetables
* Pears In Red Wine
* Vincisgrassi
I also would like to point out how beautifully illustrated the book is.
Not only do we get little photographs of the food, but also the scenery and schedules etc.. Stephen has left nothing out.
Each little detail has been thought of.
This book is honest, funny and written from the heart. The ups and downs.
After reading the book and seeing the trailer I can't wait to watch the TV series as I know I will be in for a treat!
A Recipe for Disaster is the Perfect book for a Foodie who loves food and literature mixed in. With an appetite for Italy!
I really hope you enjoy this Gem of a book as much as i did!
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/1...
Also you can find the links to the You Tube Trailer on my blog. Plus there is a fab competition where you could win a copy of the book and some other goodies.
A Recipe For disaster was simply a joy to read. If you love Italian food, Italy and are looking for a book with a sprinkling of recipes with a difference then this is definitely one for you!
A story about Stephen, his wife Tam and their decision to create a Cookery TV show from nothing but passion, and determination!
Plus if you enjoy the book as much as i did don't forget that this is accompanied by the Actual Cooking TV Show! Links can be found on my blog post.
I have never been to Italy, and have always wanted to go. Stephen took me on a journey and left nothing out.
From the delicious smells, scenery, weather, language differences, the culture, to setting up a Cookery TV show with no funding and no equipment. I was fully absorbed into their adventures and the beautiful Italian atmosphere.
This book is more than just a literature book it's a delicious mix of food, recipes, humour, life, ups and downs, a real journey.
Stephen's wife Tam can't cook which made for a humorous read and Lia wasn't able to speak English which only added to their adventures when setting up their Cookery TV show from nothing but pure passion and a dream!
A Recipe for Disaster is a feel good read, but be warned it will leave your tummy rumbling.
Example of a few recipes :
*Soft Chocolate Cake and Ice Cream (I can't wait to try)
*Grandma Giudi's Cream Pudding
*Sibillini Pasta
*Baked Trout withVegetables
* Pears In Red Wine
* Vincisgrassi
I also would like to point out how beautifully illustrated the book is.
Not only do we get little photographs of the food, but also the scenery and schedules etc.. Stephen has left nothing out.
Each little detail has been thought of.
This book is honest, funny and written from the heart. The ups and downs.
After reading the book and seeing the trailer I can't wait to watch the TV series as I know I will be in for a treat!
A Recipe for Disaster is the Perfect book for a Foodie who loves food and literature mixed in. With an appetite for Italy!
I really hope you enjoy this Gem of a book as much as i did!
I received this book from the Publisher in exchange for a honest and fair in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/1...
Also you can find the links to the You Tube Trailer on my blog. Plus there is a fab competition where you could win a copy of the book and some other goodies.
November 3, 2017
Memoir: The filming of Cookucina in Sarnano, Le Marche, Italy
“Not-So-Famous 5 conquer the (cookery) world…..”
Stephen Phelps has done his stint in the TV industry and it is time to try something new. Like living in Le Marche, Italy, for example. He and his partner, Tam, head out to this beautiful but lesser known area of the country. But it is an area of earthquakes and he shares how the reverberations from the 2016 devastating event in Amatrice could very much be felt in Sarnano – a beautiful small town constructed largely of pink, cotto tiles (and dating right back to the 13th century) – where he was living. A place where allotments have delightfully been created in an orto (footprint) of former houses. L’Aquila, destroyed in an earthquake several years ago, is only 55 miles away.
Sarnano is one of those hilltop villages, of which there are many dotted around Italy, beautiful, quaint and each so very unique. This particular town can boast a Museum of Hammers and no less than seven churches in the centro storico alone! He settles on a project to film and then chart in this book a cooking series, but it is so much more than a cooking series! As the project progresses, the author becomes clear that “Sarnano was definitely going to be a “character” in our films“. And indeed it seemed to.
The memoir of the filming process opens, each chapter labelled as a course of a lengthy and typical Italian meal. It is over a meal with Lia and Sergio, owners of the Piatto Ricco, that plans to make a TV series starring Lia and Stephen’s partner Tam come to fruition. However, located in the middle of nowhere, it is certainly going to be a challenge to source all the people and talent needed to make a series of programmes, both in the kitchen and choosing local ingredients. Notwithstanding that Lia can hardly speak English (but cooks like a demon) and Tam fails to make anything other than red or green gloop and can speak little Italian. The odds, surely, are stacked against this project? Indeed, a veritable recipe for disaster.
Six half hour episodes were agreed, and as their plans evolved, the series began to encompass regional Italian cooking, with a quick blast of Italian language primer, history lesson, oh, and whilst they are at it, a travelogue. Overall, quite a pot pourri of elements.
You will discover how the project panned out and hear about wonderful little details of the locality, for example, how lentils are a specialty in Castelluccio and Norcia; a bit of history about cobbles (sanpietrini); and that you should add the porchetta from Monterotti to your list of things to try. Even a side trip to Picciolo di Rame to sample some of the delicious food is a recommendation. A visit to the ancient Urbs Salvia? Not a problem, it’s just a 20 minute drive along the SS 77 of this fabulous area of Italy..
The narrative is punctuated with recipes, none overly convoluted because in this area of Italy it is the simplicity and mix of flavours that is valued. There is something for everyone, from Soft Chocolate Cake and Ice cream, to Grandma Giudi’s Cream Pudding, and from Sibillini Pasta (named after the Sibilllini Mountains) to Crostini with Ciabuscolo and to Stracchino (but the secret ingredient that “makes” the dish is just that, secret!); and finally the most complex dish in the book, Vincisgrassi….
This memoir is as much about life settling in to a foreign country and culture, as it is about making a series of episodes for TV. As the author says: I have come to realise that one of the joys of living in another country is the constant reminders of what you DON’T know about the language. Wise thoughts indeed!
It is a light, chatty – often self deprecating – and informative take on this part of Italy that will have the readers lusting after their next Italian trip. The filming process structures the narrative and is the raison d’être for the book, but in fact is perhaps less interesting than the observations of life and food. Extracts from the shooting scripts and images of personal notes and pictures of schedules are included, maybe overly so. The writing is like a stream of consciousness, giving the prose the feel of a series blogposts brought together, and a tightening of the narrative would give the book a more cohesive focus. The author butterflies over the filming, adds in a bit of history, shares the glorious scenery and comes back to the vagaries of making programmes to be televised; and it is his enthusiasm that comes through the words and keeps the reader engaged.
“Not-So-Famous 5 conquer the (cookery) world…..”
Stephen Phelps has done his stint in the TV industry and it is time to try something new. Like living in Le Marche, Italy, for example. He and his partner, Tam, head out to this beautiful but lesser known area of the country. But it is an area of earthquakes and he shares how the reverberations from the 2016 devastating event in Amatrice could very much be felt in Sarnano – a beautiful small town constructed largely of pink, cotto tiles (and dating right back to the 13th century) – where he was living. A place where allotments have delightfully been created in an orto (footprint) of former houses. L’Aquila, destroyed in an earthquake several years ago, is only 55 miles away.
Sarnano is one of those hilltop villages, of which there are many dotted around Italy, beautiful, quaint and each so very unique. This particular town can boast a Museum of Hammers and no less than seven churches in the centro storico alone! He settles on a project to film and then chart in this book a cooking series, but it is so much more than a cooking series! As the project progresses, the author becomes clear that “Sarnano was definitely going to be a “character” in our films“. And indeed it seemed to.
The memoir of the filming process opens, each chapter labelled as a course of a lengthy and typical Italian meal. It is over a meal with Lia and Sergio, owners of the Piatto Ricco, that plans to make a TV series starring Lia and Stephen’s partner Tam come to fruition. However, located in the middle of nowhere, it is certainly going to be a challenge to source all the people and talent needed to make a series of programmes, both in the kitchen and choosing local ingredients. Notwithstanding that Lia can hardly speak English (but cooks like a demon) and Tam fails to make anything other than red or green gloop and can speak little Italian. The odds, surely, are stacked against this project? Indeed, a veritable recipe for disaster.
Six half hour episodes were agreed, and as their plans evolved, the series began to encompass regional Italian cooking, with a quick blast of Italian language primer, history lesson, oh, and whilst they are at it, a travelogue. Overall, quite a pot pourri of elements.
You will discover how the project panned out and hear about wonderful little details of the locality, for example, how lentils are a specialty in Castelluccio and Norcia; a bit of history about cobbles (sanpietrini); and that you should add the porchetta from Monterotti to your list of things to try. Even a side trip to Picciolo di Rame to sample some of the delicious food is a recommendation. A visit to the ancient Urbs Salvia? Not a problem, it’s just a 20 minute drive along the SS 77 of this fabulous area of Italy..
The narrative is punctuated with recipes, none overly convoluted because in this area of Italy it is the simplicity and mix of flavours that is valued. There is something for everyone, from Soft Chocolate Cake and Ice cream, to Grandma Giudi’s Cream Pudding, and from Sibillini Pasta (named after the Sibilllini Mountains) to Crostini with Ciabuscolo and to Stracchino (but the secret ingredient that “makes” the dish is just that, secret!); and finally the most complex dish in the book, Vincisgrassi….
This memoir is as much about life settling in to a foreign country and culture, as it is about making a series of episodes for TV. As the author says: I have come to realise that one of the joys of living in another country is the constant reminders of what you DON’T know about the language. Wise thoughts indeed!
It is a light, chatty – often self deprecating – and informative take on this part of Italy that will have the readers lusting after their next Italian trip. The filming process structures the narrative and is the raison d’être for the book, but in fact is perhaps less interesting than the observations of life and food. Extracts from the shooting scripts and images of personal notes and pictures of schedules are included, maybe overly so. The writing is like a stream of consciousness, giving the prose the feel of a series blogposts brought together, and a tightening of the narrative would give the book a more cohesive focus. The author butterflies over the filming, adds in a bit of history, shares the glorious scenery and comes back to the vagaries of making programmes to be televised; and it is his enthusiasm that comes through the words and keeps the reader engaged.
October 30, 2017
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I began reading "A Recipe for Disaster". Was it a cookbook? A travel or food commentary? It was a bit of both, really.
I had no idea how much work went into producing even the simplest TV / video segment. Stephen as director (D), recounts the ups and downs (or should I say (the different degrees of how excessively hot it can get) of filming in different locations around the Italian countryside. His description of different Italian towns, country settings, local foods, lovable characters and the odd overprotective dog thrown in makes for a highly entertaining and educational read. I learned so much about Italian history and, well, at this point, just want to pack up and move there (hey, we have earthquakes here on Vancouver Island as well).
The author had me smiling and laughing at some of the unusual situations they found themselves in. His use of word pictures made me feel that I was right there watching it all. I haven't seen the video series yet but am keen to do so.
The recipes were very simple to prepare as Lia (a chef) is teaching Tam (who is learning to cook) how to cook traditional Italian dishes. The only drawback was that the recipes were written for a European audience (I would imagine). In North America we don't use the metric system for cooking (we use Imperial measurements such as cups and tablespoons) and these would have to be converted.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cooking, Italy and a good laugh!
I had no idea how much work went into producing even the simplest TV / video segment. Stephen as director (D), recounts the ups and downs (or should I say (the different degrees of how excessively hot it can get) of filming in different locations around the Italian countryside. His description of different Italian towns, country settings, local foods, lovable characters and the odd overprotective dog thrown in makes for a highly entertaining and educational read. I learned so much about Italian history and, well, at this point, just want to pack up and move there (hey, we have earthquakes here on Vancouver Island as well).
The author had me smiling and laughing at some of the unusual situations they found themselves in. His use of word pictures made me feel that I was right there watching it all. I haven't seen the video series yet but am keen to do so.
The recipes were very simple to prepare as Lia (a chef) is teaching Tam (who is learning to cook) how to cook traditional Italian dishes. The only drawback was that the recipes were written for a European audience (I would imagine). In North America we don't use the metric system for cooking (we use Imperial measurements such as cups and tablespoons) and these would have to be converted.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cooking, Italy and a good laugh!
November 10, 2017
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
This is quite different from the books that I would normally read on a regular basis but I found it to be a refreshing change. I do enjoy non fiction books and I liked the description of this book as soon as I saw it so I was really keen to get started on it.
The book is honest, funny and brilliantly written - the recipes are nice and easy to follow and I thought that the whole concept was a great idea - and I'm definitely pleased that the author chose to put his words and thoughts down on paper to share with us!
It is always hard I feel to give a rating to a book that is non fiction but having read this one I couldn't give it anything other than 5 stars - really would recommend this one for anyone who loves Italy, anyone who loves cooking and anyone who loves a good read!
This is quite different from the books that I would normally read on a regular basis but I found it to be a refreshing change. I do enjoy non fiction books and I liked the description of this book as soon as I saw it so I was really keen to get started on it.
The book is honest, funny and brilliantly written - the recipes are nice and easy to follow and I thought that the whole concept was a great idea - and I'm definitely pleased that the author chose to put his words and thoughts down on paper to share with us!
It is always hard I feel to give a rating to a book that is non fiction but having read this one I couldn't give it anything other than 5 stars - really would recommend this one for anyone who loves Italy, anyone who loves cooking and anyone who loves a good read!
October 25, 2017
How hard can it be to make a TV programme when you are a producer/director? OK, do it in a different country, the “chef” doesn’t speak much, if any, English, you have no crew, no money and you don’t speak much of the lingo either and your target audience is English. You get the gist! This is written from the heart and is a wonderful , highly enjoyable read. There are some pictures (which explain a few things) and some recipes which are very appealing. an tempting. Think “Summer in Provence” but Italy and cooking. The recipes are what I would fondly call “bucket cookery”- a tablespoon of this, a handful of that and a “glass” of brandy- shot or tumbler? Recipes as they would be traditionally-ie. left to the cook to decide. I made some of them and the chocolate tart was to die for, A lighthearted read for anyone who is into cooking, Italy or just a little bit of escapism . Just off to make another one…..
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
November 29, 2017
I love travelogues and cookbooks and true stories about people undertaking bold things. Under the Tuscan Sun and Peter Mayle’s Provence series are some of my favorite books in this genre. I read them, and I imagine leaving my cushy suburban lifestyle and relocating to Guadalajara, MX, or somewhere in Scotland.
Agreeing to read and review A Recipe for Disaster: Cooking Up a Big Italian Idea was obviously a no-brainer for me. I expected that I would enjoy Stephen Phelps’ story about living and cooking in Italy, especially when he has a non-cooking partner. (My own partner has a limited repertoire of boxed pudding, soup from the deli, and pasta with pre-made sauce, and I still have to walk him through the latter.)
What I did not expect was to fall in love with the book so hard that I paid the $12 to buy the series from Amazon. What I did not expect was to spend page after page laughing, crying, and drooling over Stephen, Tam, and Lia, the process of making a tv show, the process of learning to cook, and the shared experience of living in such a surreal bubble in time.
Reading this book makes you want to get your grandmother’s recipe box and systematically work through every family favorite you’ve ever known, but it also makes you want to start a restaurant, make a tv show, and learn to cook a new-to-you kind of food, or speak a new-to-you language.
At the same time, makes you want to run far away from all those things because each one has its own frustrations.
Candid, funny, sometimes poignant, A Recipe for Disaster is one tasty piece of fiction.
Goes well with any of the food mentioned in the book with a glass of a good Italian table wine. Need not be fancy. (I really want to make the roasted tomatoes (with breadcrumbs, baked herbs and orange zest).)
Agreeing to read and review A Recipe for Disaster: Cooking Up a Big Italian Idea was obviously a no-brainer for me. I expected that I would enjoy Stephen Phelps’ story about living and cooking in Italy, especially when he has a non-cooking partner. (My own partner has a limited repertoire of boxed pudding, soup from the deli, and pasta with pre-made sauce, and I still have to walk him through the latter.)
What I did not expect was to fall in love with the book so hard that I paid the $12 to buy the series from Amazon. What I did not expect was to spend page after page laughing, crying, and drooling over Stephen, Tam, and Lia, the process of making a tv show, the process of learning to cook, and the shared experience of living in such a surreal bubble in time.
Reading this book makes you want to get your grandmother’s recipe box and systematically work through every family favorite you’ve ever known, but it also makes you want to start a restaurant, make a tv show, and learn to cook a new-to-you kind of food, or speak a new-to-you language.
At the same time, makes you want to run far away from all those things because each one has its own frustrations.
Candid, funny, sometimes poignant, A Recipe for Disaster is one tasty piece of fiction.
Goes well with any of the food mentioned in the book with a glass of a good Italian table wine. Need not be fancy. (I really want to make the roasted tomatoes (with breadcrumbs, baked herbs and orange zest).)
November 7, 2017
I like Stephen have little knowledge of Italy. Although, I have never been there. Reading this book, I felt like I was there with Stephen, Tam, and Lia. Plus, I learned some history about Italy. Book your passport as you travel Italy in a fun filled, yummy and funny journey in A Recipe for Disaster!
Instantly, I loved the way that Mr. Phelps wrote this book. He has an ease about him as a storyteller. His description of places and the foods he tasted were great. They had my mouth watering. Yet, I kind of suspect that part of this had to do with the pictures and recipes inserted throughout the book. Which, the recipes are simple and can easily be made by home cooks. Also, Mr. Phelps has a good sense of humor about him as well. It showed in this book.
You never really realize just how much work and long hours are put into producing a television show; especially if the show is only a half hour. All of the reshoots, beauty shoots, angles, scripts, production crew, etc. It definitely gives me a better appreciation for everyone involved in making a show. If you are on the look for a new book to read, than you have to check out A Recipe for Disaster. It will have you craving more.
Instantly, I loved the way that Mr. Phelps wrote this book. He has an ease about him as a storyteller. His description of places and the foods he tasted were great. They had my mouth watering. Yet, I kind of suspect that part of this had to do with the pictures and recipes inserted throughout the book. Which, the recipes are simple and can easily be made by home cooks. Also, Mr. Phelps has a good sense of humor about him as well. It showed in this book.
You never really realize just how much work and long hours are put into producing a television show; especially if the show is only a half hour. All of the reshoots, beauty shoots, angles, scripts, production crew, etc. It definitely gives me a better appreciation for everyone involved in making a show. If you are on the look for a new book to read, than you have to check out A Recipe for Disaster. It will have you craving more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews