Cravat-A-licious by Preston, Matt (2012) Paperback

by Matt Preston

Australia knows him as the cravat-wearing critic and hulking soulful judge on TV's crazily successful MasterChef Australia but it's his writing that has had the food world talking for the last ten years.Here are all his best stories and columns. A collection of Matt's irreverent, intelligent, and amusing adventures in food. This book will take you from the best restaurants in the world to grungy hole in the walls on the wrong side of town; from the ritual of a traditional pig annual kill to lunch at a Sikh temple in the suburbs; basically wherever the world's best food can be found.There are Matt's insightful interviews with some of the world's most influential food thinkers, romps across continents in search of the world's finest salt and sugars, and more than a few insights - from the compelling to ther completely bizarre - from the set of Australia's biggest TV show, MasterChef.You'll also find simple solutions for making everything from jam to the perfect risotto - even how to create an authentic Seventies soiree - each told in Matt's unique style.It's all here. The stories that won him the title of Australia's Best New Food Writer in 2000, those that subsequently saw him win top national awards for both his food and recipe writing and the pieces that earned him his current title, that of the Le Cordon Bleu World's Best Food Journalist. Now read what's inside to see if that's a title he deserves."Matt Preston is dangerously close to becoming a fetish," Miranda Devine, Sydney Morning Herald."MasterChef judge Matt Preston … has earned near-cult status on the back of his dandified turn on the show," Ros Reines, Sunday Telegraph"Debonair and cultured, this master critic is winning over Australian audiences with his wicked sense of humour," Rove, Network Ten

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Cookbooks

Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started off enjoying Matt's columns but by halfway through, I started really hating this book. It's pompous and self-important and way too long. It was simply an attempt to cash in on the Masterchef fame and has honestly turned me off Matt Preston entirely. I gave up torturing myself two-thirds of the way in and moved on to better writing.

[Jenna Vidal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this book as much as I anticipated. There is no doubt that Matt is witty and entertaining to read, but this book is a collection of articles and it reads just that way. I read it back to back and I would not recommend this. It gets pretty boring and monotonous after a while. Recommending reading it in parts fir maximum enjoyment.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is the best part

I still agree with what Keith Floyd said about all the horrifical things he wanted to do to celebrity chefs

[Diane Morter · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. However, I am a fan of both Master Chef and love his columns in Delicious, so perhaps that influenced me. It contains stories and columns from his travels around the world, a few recipes, hints and recommendations. Some parts are laugh-out-loud.

[Merete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvellous book in this category, Food & Anecdotes, so interesting, instructive and full of humour! No need to read it A to Z, each chapter can be read independently in between other readings.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this guy was a bit of a cock but picked up this collection of his articles cheap and to my surprise, he's a very good writer and his articles are enjoyable, informative, funny and smart. I have a new respect for him now, but still don't really get the cravat thing.

[Beck Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Some proper laugh out loud moments. Some dull bits, but as it is a collection of articles, no guilt in skipping past the less exciting pages.
I really enjoyed how much I actually learnt from this book, and that's what bumped it from 3 to 4 stars.

[The Blurb Radio Show]

Matt Preston is a great fool writer - evocative, funny and self-deprecating, as well as being educational. Also you can dip in and out as you like.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sort of book you just "dip into" from time to time rather than read from cover to cover. It has some interesting items and musings.