Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Table for One newsletter creator Wilkinson debuts with a practical if slight collection that reads like a chirpy blog. The recipes tend to fall into one of two categories: gussied-up convenience foods (for example, a fish stick sandwich on a baguette, and frozen dumplings served with vegetables) or ersatz takes on international favorites (including a shrimp pil pil with no trace of the namesake sauce, risotto carbonara, and the contents of a meatball banh mi transformed into a salad). The organization occasionally feels arbitrary: penne with broccoli in a cream sauce appears in a chapter on comfort foods, while linguine with broccoli in a cheese and egg sauce (the author's first recipe to go viral) appears in a chapter on simple foods. The "Special" chapter, for solo celebrations, features recipes that require a bit of extra effort, such as a mozzarella, mortadella, and pesto sandwich on a single-serving homemade focaccia. Desserts round things out, including a sticky toffee pudding assembled by mixing the ingredients in the pan in which it bakes and a chocolate mug cake made in the microwave. Though little here is innovative, it's sure to prove a helpful resource for those living and cooking on their own for the first time. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Wilkinson is a content creator and recipe developer with a large following, whose TikTok series "One Pot, One Portion" led to this cookbook. A welcome addition to the slim ranks of books for solo cooks, this volume is sure to please those who cook for one every day or on occasion. Recipes are collected in four sections: "Comfort," showcasing warming dishes such as risotto carbonara; "Fresh," featuring vibrant colors and seasonal options; "Simple," celebrating quick and easy dishes; "Special," dishes that take a little longer, including lobster spaghetti with lemon and tomatoes; and "Sweet," allowing cooks to feed their sweet tooth with desserts such as chocolate pot. A welcome element is Wilkinson's advice to use what is leftover from one recipe for another, recognizing that ingredients are rarely sold in single portions. Each recipe is highlighted by a gorgeous photograph that will inspire readers. VERDICT An often-overlooked need gets a gorgeous entry that will inspire solo cooks to make memorable dishes.--Ron Block
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