Once again, Ghanian-born Dorinda Hafner takes us on a cultural/culinary journey, this time through the Caribbean islands. While a few of them are well-known, several of them are visited by cruise ships but languish in culinary obscurity — have you ever heard of Tickle Me Belly pancakes from Dominica, for example? Fish Mousse from Guadeloupe? [...]
This cookbook doesn’t have all the bells and whistles we’re used to seeing nowadays — that is, sidebars and photographs galore — but it does have a wealth of delicious recipes from Caribbean and South Pacific islands. It’s unusual to see those two areas paired in one cookbook…but now that I’ve lived vicariously through Jay [...]
Ming Tsai, creator of the real-life Blue Ginger restaurant and host of the friendly and accessible PBS show, “East Meets West with Ming Tsai,” has a rare touch: he seems to be able to effortlessly create fusion dishes that are fresh, innovative, and stay true to the parts of their sum. (His recipes are also [...]
“Finland, Finland, Finland/The country where I want to be/Eating breakfast or dinner/Or just watching TV”… Okay, all Monty Python jokes aside, after reading this book and trying a few of the recipes, I really would like to visit Finland some time to check out its culinary scene. (Fortunately, I like herring.) Its very-northern geographic location [...]
Ghanian-born Dorinda Hafner combines her artistic skills with her culinary ones to give us a detailed look at the many flavors Africa has to offer. From north to south, from east to west, she has presented us with a delicious array of traditional and modern dishes. (The recipes from Tanzania — home of Zanzibar, the [...]
Zingerman’s is the #2 reason why I go to Ann Arbor. (The #1 reason is Dawn Treader Bookshop, one of my all-time-favorite used bookstores. Fellow bibliophiles, if you’re in Ann Arbor, don’t miss it!) To walk through the doors of Zingerman’s is to walk into Foodie Heaven — there are dozens of vinegars and oils, [...]
This intriguing collection of recipes from off-the-beaten-path countries (some more so than others) is sure to excite both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. (All recipes are specifically vegetarian, though meat would compliment most of them.) Author Troth Wells — who has clearly traveled through a good number of the countries she features in her book — provides [...]
Culinary sleuth Shirley Corriher used to write my favorite column in Fine Cooking magazine: the “Food Science” column. She made kitchen mysteries make sense — Nancy Drew couldn’t come close to unveiling the phenomena that Shirley explained in every issue! CookWise is the culmination of those “mystery-solved!” moments. If you really want to understand why [...]
While this tome isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s certainly a wonderful addition to any cookbook shelf (assuming the shelf is sturdy). The history, description, and cultural significance of each ingredient is given, as are recipe collections–both historical and nouvelle–and tips on choosing, preparing, and storing the best of the best. In word, this [...]
Jeff Cox, former editor of Organic Gardening magazine, has brought together a beautiful collection of food information and recipes. He begins with a thorough explanation of organic and what it means for both our inner health and society’s health, then takes us through everything from vegetables and fruits to meats, dairy, and eggs. There aren’t [...]
