[Critique livre] Gastronogeek: Disney Enchanted Elixirs

Ten years after the creation of Gastronogeek in 2014, with more than 600,000 copies sold in France and works translated into around ten languages ​​around the world, Thibaud Villanova continues to combine the magic of cuisine and the cultures of the imagination. Its brand new publication, THE Elixirs enchantedpublished by Hachette Heroes, is the third volume devoted to the Disney and Pixar studios, after Enchanted Recipes et Enchanted Pastries.

The new culinary work homage to the Disney and Pixar studios

This time, it is no longer a question of dishes or desserts, but rather of all kinds of enchanted beverages: soups, stews and veloutés for the savory, milkshakes, smoothies and refreshing drinks for the sweet. The book is divided into three sections: Princess Cuisine – with recipes such as “La Fourbe potion” by The Little Mermaidor even “The Harvest Soup”, inspired by Pocahontas – Cuisine around the world, proposing in particular to reproduce “Le Freeze” (strawberry and watermelon smoothie) from Vice-Versaand the Cuisine of imaginary worlds, with “The Wonderland Potion”, or “The Carrot Tonic” from Zootopia.

Through 40 varied and appetizing recipes, Thibaud Villanova is aimed at cooks of all levels, amateurs or experienced, adding at the end of the book some tips to guide the reader. There you can find a table of seasonal fruits and vegetables, easy ideas for twisting drinks, or even equivalences of volume, weight, temperatures and thermostats. The objective of Gastronogeek is simple: to prolong the reader's immersion in an imaginary universe through a gourmet dish, or here, a succulent drink.

An elegant and practical book object

In addition to being a very comprehensive collection of recipes, THE Elixirs enchanted is a magnificent work illustrated with thick paper and a very beautiful parchment effect. The green hard cover with its splendid illuminations makes it a collector's item and a perfect gift for any Disney and good food lover. Inside, the photographs of Nicolas Lobbestaël and the styling of Sidonie Nalis elegantly illustrate the drinks and soups, with particular care taken in the arrangement of the elixir, its decoration and any accessories.

Each double page is devoted to a recipe: the left page generally contains the list of ingredients, the necessary equipment and step-by-step details of the preparation, while the right page contains the illustration or photograph, masterfully highlighting scene the food presented. The level of difficulty of the preparation is also indicated very explicitly at the head of the page, and a short paragraph in italics explains to the reader the link between the chosen film and the enchanted elixir.

Test in the kitchen!

In order to test the collection, we chose to make three recipes: firstly, as a dish, we opted for “Lucky cat ramen”, inspired by the animated film The New Heroes. It's a ramen with miso, marinated eggs and grilled bacon, with a difficulty level of two Tinkerbells (implied: medium! Editor's note) Indeed, we made this delicious broth without any problem, and the result was lived up to our expectations, cleverly combining the sweetness of barbecue sauce and maple syrup with the saltiness of miso and soy sauce.

For dessert, what could be more delicate and surprising than “Porridge and good manners”, inspired by Beauty and the Beast ? Its aromas of rose and pistachio won us over, as did its simplicity of execution. We just regret that the oatmeal was a little too mushy. The whole thing would probably have needed a little more coconut milk or skyr yogurt. Excellent nonetheless. Only the presentation lacked a little of the elegance of the photography presented in the book.

Finally, we concluded these tests with a perfectly comforting drink: Cinderella's “Midnight Drink”, or more simply a pumpkin and spice latte, covered with praline whipped cream. Announced with a difficulty level of 2, which undoubtedly concentrates on cutting the butternut squash, we made this recipe easily and quickly. A typical autumn drink, delicious and sweet, easily made as soon as you have a little strength in your arms!

THE Elixirs enchanted by Thibaud Villanova are therefore a new success. Elegantly presented in a magnificent modern-day grimoire, the recipes are both tasty and easy to follow. A very nice collector's item for any lover of good cuisine and geek culture.