Notes from My Kitchen Table

by Gwyneth Paltrow

The Academy-Award-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is an icon of style and taste around the world. But for her, family comes above everything, and cooking and eating together are the key ingredients of a happy home. Now she has put her passion for food into her first cookbook which is full of 150 fresh, original and practical recipes (both healthy and indulgent) that all the family will love. Both accessible and inspiring, this beautifully illustrated and easy-to-use cookbook is full of lavish photographs, many featuring Gwyneth's family and friends. This is Gwyneth Paltrow as you have never seen her before - a busy working mum who understands the time pressures on all of us as well as the desire to cook delicious and original food. Inspired by precious memories of cooking with her father, it is a truly personal book that celebrates cooking with - and for - the ones you love.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Food and Drink

413 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Gwyneth Kate Paltrow is an American actress.

The daughter of Bruce Paltrow and Blythe Danner, Paltrow dropped out of her university to follow an acting career. She began her career in theatre in 1990, and made her film debut the following year. Her early films include such successes as Se7en (1995), Emma (1996), in which she played the title role, and Sliding Doors (1998). Her performance in Shakespeare in Love (1998) brought her widespread recognition; she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, for Outstanding Lead Actress and as a member of the Outstanding Cast, among other awards and nominations.

She followed this success with roles in such films as The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and Shallow Hal (2001). She also starred in the film Duets (2000), produced and directed by her father, Bruce Paltrow, and sang on two singles released from the film's soundtrack, which were hits in some countries. She received a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in Motion Picture Drama for Proof (2005). More recently she appeared in the box-office success Iron Man (2008).

Her personal life has often been scrutinized in the media; she dated Brad Pitt from 1995 until 1997, and married Chris Martin, the lead singer of British rock band Coldplay, in 2003. They are the parents of two children. Paltrow has commented that she curtailed her work commitments following the birth of her first child.

Reviews

[Philippa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally wrote this off as yet another celebrity cookbook: glad I gave it a go as it's excellent. Loads of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free recipes, and a lovely insight into GP's life, showing a very different side of her. The stories about her father are very touching, and the story of her last meal with him had me in tears.

[Sharlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cookbooks like this have a story to tell. By reading this you learn about Gwyneth Paltrow's upbringing and the love she has for family, especially her father.
The recipes all look and sound delicious.

It became quite a scandal that Gwyneth did not write this book alone. I'm not sure why there was so much drama around this. She says it right from the get go that she had someone helping her with this. She also couldn't try all the recipes herself as she is a vegetarian or vegan.

The cover definitely sets the scene for the entire book. As I was reading, I felt like I was sitting at Gwyneth's kitchen table as she was sharing her passion of food with me. There is a highlight of bringing your family around a table and "breaking bread". This image is one that I would love to experience with my future children.

I love food, I love cookbooks and I love reading about how someone else connects with food.

I look forward to testing a recipe or two. Will let you know how I get on.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is nice, I suppose, if you like Gwyneth Paltrow. And I do, hence why I bought it, but as a cookbook, it's pretty dire. Most of the recipes are just common sense, like assembling salads and sandwiches. There was about three recipes in total that I wanted to try, the others didn't sway me in the slightest. The anecdotes are sweet, but seem a bit forced sometimes. And the constant health reminders are quite annoying. I'll give this 3 stars, and that's just because I like her. Stick to the acting.

[Leta · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked this book up at the library I didn't know what to expect. But Gwyneth has produced a high quality cookbook. It is made up of simple recipes with short interesting anecdotes and lots of recipe photos.
She does try and make the recipes some-what healthy but still delicious. For example: she shares her mother's recipe for traditional blueberry muffins, and on the following page, her 'a little more healthy' version. I have made both versions and both are equally scrumptious.
If it cost more to photocopy than to buy the book.. we are onto a winner! haha

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The recipes are pretty basic, but there are a lot of other basic cookbooks available. I definitely feel like you're paying for Paltrow and pictures of her, rather than quality recipes. Nothing from it made it to the table without being pretty heavily modified. I don't really like that the attempts to make healthier recipes involved leaving less healthy ingredients out without adding more vegetables or spices to make up for the loss of flavor.

[Ashley Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my full review and photos from the recipes I've made so far on Pink Julep: http://www.pinkjulepabroad.com/2013/0...

[Serena Jane Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her books, she makes lovely hearty recipes and the books are lovely

[Judi Mckay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of brilliant recipes for healthy but delicious eating. I am a convert!