BOOK REVIEW The Restaurant

This book highlights the big weakness of ‘The Restaurant’, suffused as it is with a ‘Dublin Village’ cosiness that would make old Glenroe seem like a Big Brother menage. Chef, Paolo, Guest Critic, Uncle Tom Doorley and all, everyone seems anxious not to offend. Even Helen Lucy Burke seems, these days, viper with drawn fangs. Surely confrontation is the stuff of TV? Where’s the aggro? Nevertheless, ‘The Restaurant’ is a brilliant concept and there’s nothing amiss that a butt-kicking chef, celebs with huge egos and persecution complexes, and stroppy, nit-picking critics couldn’t put right.
Anyhow, that’s the programme, what about the book? Well, its either The Book of the TV Programme for Those Who Don’t Have a TV or The Book of the TV Programme for Those Who Love ‘The Restaurant’ and as the ratings are sky high it should sell well. I have to say the reproduction does neither food nor photographer any favours, though. Not much more to add, except kudos to Gillian Bowler for providing the most tempting of the 50-odd recipes

The Restaurant by Gary Flood, Regina Looby and Sharon Moore. Poolbeg Press