3.75 Deliciously Piratical Stars

Pirates, explosions and Gourmet? Oh my!

The basic premise that a chef taken captive on a pirate ship forced to cook one gourmet meal a week for the dastardly lady pirate, is a wonderful hook. Yet this book offers so much more than mere echoes of the Romantic adventure stories. Eli Brown tantalizes the reader’s taste and smell with evocative descriptions of ingredients, cooking and final serving. If you enjoy food and reading of food then Owen Wedgewood is your dear friend.

However, the creation and science of the food is explored as Wedgewood must develop basic ingredients from the crudest of pantries. I must admit I found this fascinating, reading how the development of a yeast culture was essential for baking but the conditions forced him to inventive measures.

The plot was not new, but the politics behind the tale was curious. Highlighting the devastating impact of expanding European consumption of ‘exotic’ teas/fabrics/trade, the abuse of opium and the idealist supremacy behind colonialist ventures. The character arc was pleasantly developed and allowed the reader to join him in the gradual understanding of wider politics.

A fun tale that moved swiftly with action and captivated me with food. A recommended read for any foodies wanting an adventure with pirates on the high seas.

Click below to watch a video of Eli Brown discussing his book Cinnamon and Gunpowder