Her devotees will be relieved to learn that, in Nigella Bites, the goddess returns among us, her attributes unmodified: the cashmere twinsets, the hair, the postmodern penchant for trailer trash, the eerily intense gaze, the Kim Novak eyebrows, all are present in this lavishly illustrated accompaniment to the TV series. To these may now be added the Playboy-bunny T-shirt and the lilac pashmina worn recklessly and negligently at the barbecue. So much for the essentials, now what about the food?

The Nigella formula of fashion-flouting comfort food with knobs on is now pretty firmly established, so it will come as no surprise to find here American Pancakes with Wafer-Bacon and Maple Syrup, Chicken Soup with Kniedlach, Italian Sausages with Lentils, Whitebait or Chocolate Fudge Cake; yet there is room too for more sophisticated fare such as Thai Yellow Pumpkin and Seafood Curry, Bitter Orange Ice-Cream and Bagna Cauda. The chapter titles give as good an indication of the approach as one might want: they include All-Day Breakfast, Comfort Food, TV Dinners, Rainy Day and Trashy. Trashy (and one feels this chapter will in many ways give the most pleasure) offers a modified version of the now-notorious Ham in Coca-Cola from How to Eat, deep-fried Bounty bars in batter and the calorifically devastating Elvis Presley's Fried Peanut-Butter and Banana Sandwich.

This exemplifies the Lawson approach, teasing but serious, liberating too. It would be fair to say that there is probably nothing in this luscious and clever book that you wouldn't find a pleasure to cook and eat at home. --Robin Davidson

With the success of her two bestselling cookery books How to Eat and How to be a Domestic Goddess and her first television series, Nigella has become a household name, symbolising all that is best, most pleasurable and least fussy about the place of good food--making it and eating it--in our lives.

Now she's back with this ravishing new book to accompany her new Channel Four television series, Nigella Bites. Full of mouth-watering recipes, including all those featured in her new television series, Nigella Bites offers some recipes based on her popular Vogue columns, others which are new and different, and all of them characteristic of Nigella and the ethos of her TV series--uncomplicated, original, fresh and perfect for the way we live today. They're easy to produce after a busy day at the office, fun to linger over at weekends or to make with the kids, delectable to read about, dreamy to look at and delicious to eat. Recipes include Late Breakfasts, Party Food, TV Dinners, Trailer Trash Munches, Big Lunches, Simple Suppers and a host of other daily delights. Nigella wants her readers and her viewers to enjoy the pleasures of eating and cooking. How could anyone resist?

Nigella is now not only the best and most glamorous young home cook in Britain, and a great cookery writer, she's also become a household name. Her first short series on Channel 4 had over 2 million viewers and propelled her from success into stardom. How to Eat sold spectacularly on the back of the first unheralded 5-part series. Nigella Bites is a must-have for every viewer and all her fans. Some recipes are based on her popular Vogue columns, others are new and different, and all are characteristic of Nigella and the ethos of the TV series - uncomplicated, original, fresh, and perfect for the way we live today. They're easy to produce after a busy day at the office, fun to linger over at weekends or to make with the kids, delectable to read about, dreamy to look at and delicious to eat. They include Late Breakfasts, Party Food, TV Dinners, Trailer Trash , Big Lunches, Indoor Picnics, and other delights. Nigella wants her readers and her viewers to enjoy eating and cooking. With her, how could anyone resist!

2008-08-11 The best fudge cake recipe ever!

Nigellas book for me are like having a big sister in the kitchen with you talking you through something in a friendly, none threatening way.

I must say when I read a few reviews that gave one star I began to wonder if I was reading my book right. But I figured that Nigellas way of cooking, presenting her food and the recipes themselves are never going to be everyones cup of tea. I find Nigellas recipes quite retro with the right about of modern added to them to balance them.

If you have yet to purchase this book I can recommend all the recipes but give a particular thumbs up to:

The Kerela style omelette with green chutney. I have no ties to Kerela but can safely say omelettes are made the same way across the pond in Karachi. This dish makes a lovely brunch or light lunch dish too.

Chocolate fudge cake-my far the best recipe in the world for fudge cake. I have made it so many times I've lost count. I often substitute the sour cream for a low fat greek yogurt and have has success everytime. The cake is so good you won't want to share it.

The squid recipe (TV dinners) is amazing. Something so simple is so tasty.

Bitter orange ice cream is so quick and easy to make you'll make it again and again.

There are so many recipes you'll find something for any occasion.

I would recommend this book along with Nigella Express if you are looking for books that not only inspire you to cook but also look nice on your coffee table.