Journey To Fine Dishes

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 4

Journey To Fine Dishes

The Galloping Gourmets. By Graham Kerr and Len Evan*. Reed. 186 pp. and Indexes. Those who enjoy Graham Kerr’s brilliant personality on their television screen* will no doubt revel in this book

written by him and Len Evans, a noted Australian wine expert Th* reverse is also true. Those who shudder and reach for the “Off” switch when Mr Kerr bounces on screen to “slosh up” some dish (one of his own overworked expressions) will do well to avoid thia volume.

Messrs Kerr and Evans set off from Sydney for a fiveweek round-the-world trip to some of the celebrated centres of fine cuisine. (There must be, one supposes, some good reason for speeding round the world, and perhaps eating and drinking is a* good a reason a* any other.) This book is a record of their trip and meal*. The bright breesy. informal style is very amusing in the hetrinninv lest amusing in th* middle, and a trifle jarring by the end. The chapters are headed with the name* of the cities, though, ohe feels they could more appropriately have been the names of the restaurants visited. There are no more than a few odd comments on th* cities' themselves; this 1* a book for food and wine enthusiasts, not for armchair travellers. Each chapter ends with a collection of some of the Outstanding recipe* tasted and one cannot help but hear the shade of Mr* Beeton cheering faintly as one read* Such direction* a* “serve surrounded by crayfish tails” or “season pheasants and add cream. However, one must not cavil too much. It will be a rare reader who does not chuckle frequently at the text or find some idea to interest him in the recipes. The book is well indexed and delightfully Illustrated by Roslyn Locke.