Friday, September 14, 2007
Cookbook Review and Opinion: Rathways to Plate: Destinations and Dishes from Delaware North
Delaware North Companies is a holding firm that runs many resorts and restaurants in high-profile tourist destinations, including Yosemite National Park, Niagra Falls, the Kennedy Space Center, and the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel. Rathways to Plate: Destinations and Dishes from Delaware North is a well-produced cookbook with recipes from their many properties and photographs, both of the food as well as iconic shots representing the locations.
The company was wise enough to have a chef test each of the recipes, because scaling down what works in a commercial kitchen can be a disaster. Many of the dishes are intriguing and off the beaten track, like the Pine Nut Pie with Port Wine Sauce from the Wawona Hotel, Avocado Faux Gras from Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds, and The Balsams's Maple-Cured Salmon Gravlax. Other recipes are a bit more predictable, but still interesting, such as Rib Eye Steaks with Spiced Coffee Rub from Delaware North's restaurant at the Grand Canyon, or Frozen Key Lime Pie via the Kennedy Space Center. Over all, an interesting book, though, self-published with a list price of $50, expensive. But profits go to a charitable foundation of the company, so it's hard to begrudge them some money.
The company was wise enough to have a chef test each of the recipes, because scaling down what works in a commercial kitchen can be a disaster. Many of the dishes are intriguing and off the beaten track, like the Pine Nut Pie with Port Wine Sauce from the Wawona Hotel, Avocado Faux Gras from Asilomar State Beach & Conference Grounds, and The Balsams's Maple-Cured Salmon Gravlax. Other recipes are a bit more predictable, but still interesting, such as Rib Eye Steaks with Spiced Coffee Rub from Delaware North's restaurant at the Grand Canyon, or Frozen Key Lime Pie via the Kennedy Space Center. Over all, an interesting book, though, self-published with a list price of $50, expensive. But profits go to a charitable foundation of the company, so it's hard to begrudge them some money.
Labels: Balsams, cookbook, Delaware North, Grand Canyon, Kennedy Space Center, Niagra Falls, opinion, review, Yosemite
