Leading restaurateur and chef Luke Mangan’s foodie influence extends over land, sea and air. With his food featuring in restaurants, cruise ships, an airline, a train and in books, it’s easy to see why his plate is so full.
In his new book, Sharing Plates, Luke shows us that even during our busiest times it’s important to sit down, relax and share a meal with our nearest and dearest.
After the success of his last book, Salt Grill, Mangan wanted his next book to reflect the recipes that so many of his customers love when dining at his restaurants. “[Sharing Plates is] a little more informal this time around than Salt Grill, with small plates and sharing food,” Luke said.
“From bar snacks to shared brunch plates, I think this book covers the true meaning of sharing.”
Sharing Plates is designed for the everyday Australian who enjoys making the most out of shared occasions, from easy brunches and relaxed weekend dinners to special occasional lunches or fancy drinks and nibbles. Most importantly, it shows readers how much time they have to prepare and what elements of the menu can be made well in advance, to leave you free for the fun stuff – leisurely grazing and feasting with your guests!
Mangan said the key ingredient to hosting a successful party is to keep relaxed and enjoy your meal with your guests.
“There is nothing worse than having the host stuck in the kitchen while all the guests have all the fun,” Mangan said.
“Don’t be too tricky, keep it simple with things you know and try to prepare as much as you can in advance.
“Opt for colder starters that don’t involve too much cooking, like some of the beautiful oysters we have in the book or fresh sliced sashimi then a few meats and salads for main.”
As someone who’s restaurants and books typically reflect traditional dining, Mangan said Sharing Plates caters for those who don’t want to be limited by entrée’s, main’s and dessert’s.
“People want to try a little bit of everything,” Mangan said.
“Sharing creates such great interaction and conversation at the table and let’s people choose what they want.
“It’s relaxed and informal – just the way a family meal should be.”
If you’re wondering what his favourite recipe from the book is, there’s not just one.
“I really couldn’t choose just one,” Mangan said. “I’m loving the small bites like the beef sliders, lamb empanandas and chicken katsu sandwiches – their fun recipes really reflect what this book is about.”
