Food Books

This book is a comprehensive guide to entertaining made easy. Every meal is planned out and the combinations are excellent. My family and friends rave about the meals. Fresh ingredients, uncomplicated recipes and clear directions make this book a must have for any hostess. I bought ten copies and hand it out at birthdays and holidays.

My sister, Marguerite, has created another awesome resource for lifelong foodies, inspired as she says by our mother, Rose. But this time she has brought entertaining and pre-preparing for gatherings with friends and family into a new perspective - one that is easy, fun and sure to bring joy and pleasure to those who appreciate great food. Fresh ingredients in easy to follow recipes wrapped within a cool selection of occasions and recipe titles make for fun preparation and entertaining.

I am so impressed with this cookbook! I have Marguerite's other two books (which I love), but this one tops them all. She knows how to combine fresh ingredients to create recipes that are so delicious and unique. My friends all think that I am a good cook. This is not true! I simply follow Marguerite's recipes and present the food as I've learned from her. She also writes recipes that are practical for anyone to do. This is a beautiful book written from the heart and her love of food.

The first recipe I tried - the Cassoulet - was a smash. I served it for a wintry birthday party in February. Everyone wanted the recipe, as they have with all of Marguerite's offerings in each of her books. The chicken cooked with a brick is a new twist, and was scrumptious with mashed potatoes. Thanks again, Marguerite, for passing on your love of food and making this hostess and her guests so satisfied!

Once again, Marguerite does an amazing job of creating beautiful recipes for the home cook! I was so excited to get this latest book and immediately began planning all the wonderful dinner parties that I could host in order to use her menus and recipes! This cookbook is gorgeous with it's stunning and luscious photography bringing the intimacy of her own family and lovely home for all of us to share! It will hold a prominent place on my cookbook shelf right next to her well-worn first two cookbooks! I highly recommend this book and her other two beautiful books as well! Bravo Marguerite! Bon Appetite!

Our 4 year old son has multiple food allergies. We started cooking dairy, egg and peanut free 10 months ago and we recently had to add wheat and gluten to the list of banned foods. This is the only cookbook that I could find that provided recipes that are wheat, gluten, egg and dairy free. Don't worry, if you can eggs and/or dairy this is still the cookbook for you. The recipes are given with and without eggs and dairy. I have used the dessert section extensively and some of the breads and breakfast recipes.

This book has been a lifesaver for our family. Anyone with a small child knows that they still want bread, pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, birthday cakes, and brownies. Everyone in the family enjoys the food we cook using this book - even our 2-1/2 year old.

The only thing I would caution new users on is to thoroughly read the recipes before starting and you may not want too many little helpers in the kitchen the first time. My first try at pancakes had to be disposed of!

This is more than a cookbook. Special Diet Celebrations has helpful information on Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet. Every recipe I have tried so far in "Special Diet Celebrations" is delicious. This is a "must have" cookbook for anyone on a gluten-free diet.

This book was a tremendous help to me when I had to cook for weekend guests - since I was gluten intolerant and didn't want to make two different meals, this book contains recipes on how to make "normal" meals that everybody can enjoy, yet be gluten-free. What is especially helpful is the menu plans for special occasions - no more pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to serve. And when my birthday came up, I was thrilled to see all the different cake recipes I can use. The cake and muffin recipes I tried were light, fluffy and scrumptuous. My guests had no idea they were gluten-free. And there are even several cake shapes and decorating ideas that would be especially fun for children. I highly recommend this book for anyone that is gluten-intolerant or has food sensitivities.

If you thought that you have to miss out on special treats because of food allergies or intolerances, think again! With recipes for everything from Cookies to Wedding Cakes, this book is just what you need. It is a complete guide to cooking special foods for those with food allergies or intolerances. Dr. Fenster writes from her own experience as a culinary professional and as an individual with wheat intolerance. In addition to original recipes, the book contains directions on how to make substitutions in other recipes and where to buy special products such as wheat-free flours. Her list of hidden sources of wheat, gluten, eggs, milk, corn and soy is an invaluable resource for those who need to avoid even small amounts of those foods. This book could help make cooking easy and eating enjoyable again!

Since I have checked this book out from our local library about five times, I guess it's time I bought one! I just baked the scones and I could not believe they did not use wheat flour, and I was the one who baked them! This book is wonderful and I honestly don't think I could stay gluten-free without it!

I purchased this cookbook so I could cook something for a Native American presentation in my sociology college course. This book is great because it has lots of pictures and info about where the recipe came from or something else interesting about it. I haven't cooked anything from it yet, but I look foward to using the recipes for everyday cooking in adition to my presentation.

This is a "must have" cookbook if you'd like to prepare authentic Native American food. The ingredients are easy to find in any well stocked grocery store, and the recipes are not difficult. No "weird" ethnic foods here- just good meals made with what's available. The historical background for the foods of different tribes is an interesting read. The photographs and drawings are absolutely beautiful- those alone are good reasons to purchase this book!

i loved the book it gives you many different ideas to make things out of the ordinary

The photography is unbelievable and the recipes work! The book gives us a palatable way to enjoy the true native american way of cooking. I would highly reccomend this book to everyone that loves to experience the enjoyment of cooking new recepies and the even greater enjoyment of eating what they have re-created. A great book for all ages and ethnic backrounds. Good food and lots of it!

Great recipes...I orignally bought a copy of this book in 1994 and have tried virtually every recipe in the book. I subsequently purchased a copy in 2006 as a gift for a family member. I asked my family to consider a new tradition in 2006; replacing the standard Christmas dinner with a "Native Harvest" the outcome was brilliant. Consequently my entire family agreed to embrace this concept and pass it along to the children. We found inspiration in the recipes from this truly amazing cook book and an opportunity to honor our ancesters and Native American culture as a whole.

While it is about dieting and weight loss as an attempt to try to fit in to a world that demand a certain body shape for women, that is not the entire purpose of this book. "Squeezing Your Size 14 Self into a Size 6 World" is about trying to fit yourself into other people's ideas of what you should be. The book is about breaking free from the molds you are trying to squeeze into just to satisfy others. Throughout the book Carrie Smith provides a gentle coaching method to get you to start breaking free and living a life true to yourself.

The book starts out by correcting false conceptions of reality - Barbie is not real, most magazine images are fake, don't base your idea of reality on fantasy, don't compare yourself to other women. Of course it does not end there but goes on into other ways that women tend to try to fit into the molds of others. Examples of these include games like the perfection game, reward and punishment, and head games you use to fool yourself into thinking you are healthier than you really are. All the head games are basically things we do to ourselves or that others do to us in order to alter our perception of reality. She concludes the body size section with a simple, yet profound statement. Don't give yourself away to the marketing hype, your true size is the size you were meant to be - the size your body is most happy with. Instead of striving for a size, strive for well-being.

Other suggestions include getting rid of clutter, both physical and mental. Decide what is important and get on with your life. She then turns back to the striving for well-being and discusses using your eating personality to your advantage, choosing a personal trainer, and myths and misunderstandings about exercise, strength training, etc. This is a recommended book for anyone who wants to proclaim independence from the commercial and social entrapments of life and become who they were meant to be. Will it work? I don't know. For many people it is an intense struggle to try to overcome the constant bombardments of the media trying to force you into a mold that will create a regular stream of monetary income for them. This book shines a light onto the correct path, but it is not an easy walk in our current social environment.

It seems there is no end to diet and self-help books -- with most of them not being worth the paper they are printed on. Then there is Squeezing Your Size 14 Self Into A Size 6 World: A Real Woman's Guide To Food, Fitness And Self-Acceptance by Carrie Myers Smith who draws upon her considerable experience and undeniable expertise to create a truly effective and "user friendly" manual that will enable her readers to successfully deal with the kinds of head games and body games that so often derail simple happiness and ordinary satisfaction with our selves. Carrie delivers the keys to successful self-care; shows how to control stress and not let stress be in control; how wellness means uncluttering our lives; how to overcome obstacles to fitness; figure out a fitness plan specifically appropriate for the reader's particular needs; as well as discovering what "eating personality" is ours and how to use it to advantage. Also very highly recommended is the companion title, Carrie Myers Smith's Squeezing Your Size 14 Self Into A Size 6 World Workbook (1891400967, $18.95) complete with exercises and worksheets to create a truly customized personal wellness plan.

Finally a book that has a realistic approach to who we are and how we feel about ourselves. The author reveals a very realistic and attainable approach to the health and well-being of women. Thank you Carrie for writing this book! I feel better already!

This book should/could be required reading for ALL women throughout the lifespan! The author, in a clever but straightforward manner, de-myths the impossible images and roles women feel compelled to fulfill. Her unique "coaching" approach can teach anyone how to analyze, cast-off, and adopt a love for her own self: body, mind, and spriit.

"...did you know you have a higher chance of dying from being skinny and sedentary than you do from being overweight and active? It's true." ~Carrie Myers Smith

With all the makeover shows on TV, we already realize it takes a lot of effort to look like a model. Since I tend to be one of those tall people who can't fit into petite clothes no matter how much I weigh, I'm always hunting for longer sleeves and wondering why being taller often forces me to buy clothes that are just too big for me. I had also started to disassociate myself from those who wield photo-capturing devices because I rarely liked how my pictures turned out. Is this because I'm comparing my pictures to pictures on the covers of magazines?

As I viewed the most recent Swimsuit Edition, I did wonder if even men were not longing to view some women with hips or a more comfortable shape. The facts are, most of the models we view are tiny or look sickly in reality. If pictures add pounds, imagine how skinny they really are. Many models (size 2-8) say they feel sick all the time. Why do we all want to look like teenage boys? I don't. I'm proud of my hips and feminine curves.

Carrie Myers Smith is also tired of the Media pushing an unrealistic image on the public and presents a realistic view of the fashion industry. Most of us will never be a size 4 or 6 and the facts are that the average American woman is a size 14. So, this book is definitely needed to show us the reality instead of the fantasy.

There is the fantasy body image and then there is reality. You can be healthy and not be a size 6. If you are tired of quick-fix theories and want to be who you are, then you can read about what is "eating you" instead of what to eat. Topics Include:

Why Diets Don't Work
Living Life on Purpose - Not by Accident
Stress-Savers
Self-Care or Self-Nurturing
Games Other People Play


Carrie talks about the much-needed topic of "Healthy Living Saboteurs." As my husband said, "Those are people who are purposely trying to sabotage your diet." To him I say: "Honey, stop bringing home those boxes of cookies and giant tubs of cashew nuts." OK, I can't eat either of those items, but still I think after reading this book I realized he does tend to bring home all the food I would never buy.

There is also a spiral-bound version of this book or you can download a workbook from the books' site. Each chapter has "Stepping Stones" points for reflection.

Do you need to:

De-clutter your life? Donate Items to Charity?
Develop healthy habits?
Be happier with your body type?
Set realistic goals?
Hire a personal trainer?

So, can you enjoy a few Leonidas chocolate squares and not feel guilty about it? Sure the author isn't presenting a diet plan. She is presenting an "Indi-Fit-ual" Plan. What are you trying to accomplish? There are many ideas for how you can multitask to fit in exercise. I've found I can fold laundry while doing the Walk Away the Pounds workouts, but you could also listen to motivational CDs while on your treadmill or take your pet out for a walk. I was thinking I couldn't go walking with my pets, but then I found a pet stroller for my cats.

Carrie Myers Smith has decided that no one and absolutely nothing is going to get in the way of her self-esteem. So, reading this book gives you a good helping of personal power and creative ideas for implementing her ideas. I loved her "Bringing the Spa Home" section where she talks about creating a sanctuary. Can I just say: "Er'go candles!"

This book could take any woman from tired and frazzled to self-nurturing and in control. It is amazing how much information this book provides in 250 pages. A must-read for every woman in our society who is fed up with being told she has to look like she is starving to death. While I know I'll never be a size 6 I have nothing against airbrushing a picture. I sure hope someone airbrushes the pictures from my last photo shoot. Hee..hee...

Buy this book and then go sit out in the sun, read this book and enjoy life. Life is far too short to worry about being a size 6 when you may always be a size 14. Look into Yoga, Pilates and a walking routine, it helps with the stress of life.

~The Rebecca Review

I was suprised by how much valuable information this book has. I happened across it while helping my Mother-in-Law clean out her shelves one day. I've only recently become aware of the garbage we eat in America today, and wanted to change for the health of my family, but wasn't sure where to start. This book was a huge help in that pursuit. I would highly recommend it to anyone trying to eat organically, or "as God intended" as I like to call it. Our bodies aren't made to run on all the unpronounceable man-made chemicals in the food in most grocery stores (& most homes today). It's unfortunate that most people aren't aware of how destroying their bodies from the inside out they are, this book will show you a natural approach to eating and fighting disease. It's great.

My copy is nearly falling apart.I bought it in 1981 and have referred to it over and over since then. I love it and use it often. Not just for recipes though, as a matter of fact, I think I have gone to it more often for general nutritional information about a particular food item. I realize that some of the information in this book might be a bit outdated but I still find it very helpful.

This book, which I've used for years, contains menus, recipes, and very helpful information about vitamins and minerals (including in which foods we can find them). Under the "Vegetable" section, we are shown ways to prepare 97 different vegetables. I am ordering one as a gift.

This book, while overpriced for the condition and binding,was indeed very helpful in our quest for natural healthy food. A lot of good recipes as well as information on grains, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients.

This book, which I've used for years, contains menus, recipes, and very helpful information about vitamins and minerals (including in which foods we can find them). Under the "Vegetable" section, we are shown ways to prepare 97 different vegetables. I am ordering one as a gift.

This book is pretty short and is very easy to read -Its filled with a lot of interesting information. I would highly recommend it.

This book is so informative. I really think every woman should read this. I have learned so much!

I liked the way this book didn't take a completely one-size-fits-all approach, but gave you ideas about changes or suppliments that may help with different common female complaints. The exceptions were in regard to sugar and sweeteners (the authors don't like most of them) and the requisite meal plan and recipes at the end. If I tried to eat that menu, I'd be sick as a dog from dairy and gluten issues. However, the rest of the book was good enough to earn a place on my (relatively small) reference book shelf.

This books really should be read by every woman. It's very user-friendly, it explains simply how many problems women typically suffer from are simply symptoms of conditions that can be easily solved (and she tells you how).
This is not a diet book per se, but she includes also an explanation of what might be hindering a woman's weight loss efforts. However she also targets things that go more to the general wellbeing, and you can choose to implement all of her suggestions or just a few - either way, you'll see a definite improvement in your health and wellbeing!

This is one book you'll want to share with every woman you know. But don't lend out your copy for too long, you'll want to refer to it again and again because it contains so much info and it's so accessible.

Ann Louise Gittleman a nutritionist and weight loss expert has put together a fantastic comprehensive guide that is educational and eye opening. This book is full of common sense health and nutrition advice every woman should know.

The book begins by categorizing general eating habits based on the current nutritional trends of the last 45-50 years and then details to our horror, how insufficient those eating habits are in maintaining a healthy weight let alone a healthy body. Whether low fat, low carb, high carb, or chronic dieting the book demonstrates the damage women inflict on their health by indulging in diets that are trendy and harmful. The book promotes balance and natural foods for both weight loss and overall health while detailing the importance of quality choices in our food consumption.

For me the most interesting and educational are the chapters that deal with fats and sugars in our diets. Gittleman's theorem is that the right kind of fats can be and are beneficial to women. For example, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are essential to proper bodily function and assist in the distribution of other vitamins and minerals throughout the body.

I also found the book informative in regards to the hormonal and reproductive health of women and the correlation to proper and balanced nutrition. She not only explains why but how to get all that you need by making wise choices in available foods and how they effect menstrual cycles, menopause, and P.M.S..

I will admit at times the book will detail scientific studies by different doctors and universities that reaffirm Gittleman's nutritional stance that although necessary I thought a bit dry. Overall this book is full of information about what women should be eating, should be avoiding, and how to go about it. On top of all the education the book has recipes, suggested menus, and a shopping list to help you on your way to a more balanced healthy lifestyle. I thought the book exceptional.

girldiver:)

I was intrigued by the flavors of the recipes; not just another italian cook book. The many cultural influences on the island culture are apparent in this book's recipes. Exquisite and delicious. I also recommend Finger Licking Different if you love something tasty, quick to prepare and unique.

My most anticipated book purchase has exceeded all of my expectations!

If you think this is just another Italian cookbook, think again. As the author explains in the book, after centuries of raids from foreign cultures like Phoenicia, Arabia, and Spain (just to name a very small few), Sardinia finally became a part of Italy in the 1850s. This excerpt says it best; "Some of the pasta shapes, meats and cheeses (like lamb and pecorino) and of course olive oil will be familiar. But lingering Roman, Arabian, Moorish, Catalan, and other Mediterranean influences (like myrtle and saffron) make our cuisine a hybrid".

Efisio guides you through each of these exquisitely authentic recipes, shared from his own family's kitchen and effortlessly weaves in his deep devotion to Sardinian culture and history so that every page just drips with his love of country (and food). His use of indigenous ingredients such as Botarga (dried grey mullet), Miele Amaro (bitter honey) and Malloreddus (one of their pastas), paired of course with either a good Cannonau (red wine) or Vermintino (white wine) offer an exciting array of surprisingly uncomplicated recipes which makes this a treasure trove of refreshing new ideas for everyday cooking.

In true Sardinian style, you are his guest in his "home" as he takes you on tour through his beloved country. And, being the generous host, you almost don't realize that you too are falling in love with his country and its culture. Yet it seems that is the hope, for at the end Efisio has provided not only a "pantry" for places to purchase authentic Sardinian ingredients (a must have to do any of these recipes justice), he also provides a short list of hotels and restaurants to get your actual travels to Sardinia a leg up in the right direction.

This book is such a breathtaking tribute to Sardinia and its culture, it is a must read even for those with no interest in cooking, it's that good!

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily). It has a very beautiful and rugged typography with gorgeous seashores, rugged mountains and many gorgeous views. D. H. Lawrence wrote Sea and Sardinia, an excellent description of this fascinating place. Sweet Myrtle contains many beautiful pictures of the island, and it is peppered with information about the island's unique culture.

In some regards, Sardinia cuisine is typical Mediterranean cooking, featuring olive oil, fish, and fresh vegetables. It has a number of unique foods. Casu Marzu is a cheese delicacy notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Sardines were named after the country where they were once found in abundance. Malloreddus is a small Sardinian ridged pasta that is often flavored with saffron; it can be white, bright yellow or tricolored. Other indigenous ingredients are becoming trendy in America: pecorino, flatbread, fava beans, fregula, and bottarga. But some of the most important ingredients are not easily available here.

Authentic Sardinian cuisine requires some hard to find ingredients. Fregula, the Sardinian version of couscous and a legacy of the Moors is served in Soup of Fregula with Baby Clams flavored with garlic, saffron and tomatoes. For many of the appetizers you'll have to find Sardinian Bottarga, a dried grey mullet fish roe. It appears in Fennel and Crabmeat Salad with Bottarga and in Calamari Stuffed with Ricotta and Bottarga. The book is filled with excellent seafood dishes as well as pork and beef - some made with the unusual heritage Reggiana cows that have a beautiful red coat. Parmigiano Reggiano Vacche Rosse is a very expensive cheese made from its milk.

The bitter honey of the title is another important and unusual ingredient in Roasted Cheese with Pane Carasu and Bitter Honey. The pane (bread) has a lyrical name: Pane Carasau or Sardinian Music Bread. It is a thin, puffed bread almost like a pita. "Bitter honey is made from the flowers of the codbezzolo, or strawberry tree, which grow wild along Sardinia's coast and mountain valleys. As children, we used to grab the white bell-shaped flowers from the trees and suck out the uniquely flavored pollen. Of course, we had to dodge the bees to do it." The honey also appears in Sweet Ravioli with Bitter Honey in which the pasta is filled with sheep's milk ricotta.

Altogether the book contains over a hundred recipes, including Watermelon Salad with Arugula and Ricotta Salata; Pannacotta with Bitter Honey; and Bruschetta with Sausage and Pecorino Sardo.

Efisio Farris has become an ambassador for food for his beautiful island, appearing on Food TV, food fairs around the US and establishing an import company that imports Sardinian specialties for his restaurants and for retail. He has two restaurants, Arcodoro and Pomodoro Ristoranti Italiani in Dallas and Arcodoro Ristorante Italiano in Houston that are introducing this cuisine to the United States. Google on gourmet sardinia to find his retail food store.

This is a lovely book to read, and if you can find the special Sardinian ingredients a great cuisine to learn.

Recently surfing the web, I discovered this Sardinian cookbook and ordered it not knowing what to expect. I instantly fell in love with the stories and the receipes. As I am a Sardinian living in New York originally from a region close to Effisio Farris, I found so many similarities in our dishes and life stories. I purchased five more books and gave them to my brothers and sisters as Christmas presents, which they also loved. This book should definetely be read by every Sardinian living in America and for all those curious about true Sardinian cuisine.

Everybody that comes to my house gets Sardinian food these days. The recipes are deceptively easy and fill my house with lusty, irristable aromas. The lamb stew, gorgonzola-asparagus pasta (which the author cooks on Martha Stewart show) and the pork tenderloin are staple dishes in my kitchen now. Plus the beautifully written book and pitcures transport me back to Sardinia and all my wonderful trips to that magical island. This is a special book that will be a part of my kitchen for a long time!

My grandson is THE pickiest eater I have ever experienced, and this book gave me insight on how to relate to it! Relax, children will eat when they are hungry!!!

Finally a book that really addresses the needs and wants of both parents and children. As a mother of four, I am finally able to help each one of my children develop their own eating styles that will enable them to have a healthy lifestyle. Thank you!

"I was constantly running after my 2 year old with food; that's how worried I was that he was too thin. Even though my doctor said not to worry, I always left the office wondering what to do, and how to stop worrying; this book saved me from becoming a nervous wreck and from creating more problems!"

I was being driven nuts by all my kids' different demands for meals! This book helped me figure out how to deal with all of their differences, and to stop fighting about it with my husband! Excellent guide !

There wasn't anything that I thought was revolutionary here, but since I tend to get really stressed when my son doesn't eat (especially since he's pretty slim) this book helped and continues to help me relax some about it. I understand that my pushing food on him is a bad tactic in the long run. So, I'm glad I have it. Two unique things: a focus on our own "food legacy" that for some may ring true but for me was just not really an issue (I didn't have overly involved parents pushing or preventing my food habits) and two-a stronger focus on OVEReaters (reasonable in this era of obesity but far from my area of concern).

It may give you some peace of mind.

Absolutely fantastic!!!! Some could ask for pictures to go along with it. However, I feel as though part of utilizing recipes is unwrapping the mystery of it's visual beauty. As a culinary student I find that not having pictures allows me to add my own touches to the dishes without visual bias.

I'm impressed with the author's use of authentic as well as contemporary ingredients and techniques. And I was quite taken by the vast coverage of the topic - appetizers, gumbos, salads, sides, entrees, desserts, lovely book!!

I love this cookbook. The recipies are well written and easy to follow! Try the Shrimp Creole!! You wont Regret it!!!

This book is excellent. I like it because the recipes are good for everyone to try. Chef Joe's cooking school in Savannah is a rare treat also for an activity during your Savannah weekend.
After he tortures and teases you with the sights and aromas, he gives you a meal you'll never forget.

I love this book. So far every recipe I have tried has turned out excellent. The recipes are easy to read and well written for the home chef. To date I have tried the Oven Roasted Rosemary-Garlic Chicken with Corn Bread Dressing, The Rustic Macaroni and Cheese and the Potato Salad to name a few. I just tried the Sweet Potato Pie and everyone loved it. The Authors did a wonderful job, and I have recommended it to my friends and plan on giving the book as gifts.

For anyone who's dined at this gorgeous restaurant in St. Helena and wants to get better acquainted with it's secrets, this book is a must buy! I got this book as a Christmas gift for my husband and we've cooked a couple of the recipes and both turned out really well.

A book of artistry and inspiration, Terra is sure to please the intermediate to advance chef and their diners. A cookbook and a reference, simply wonderful.

Great cookbook for those special occasions where you want to spend the time and resources on making something special. The recipes are a little more time-consuming, the ingredients a little harder to find, but the result is wonderful. Jacques Pepin is simpler (and excellent) and French Laundry Cookbook is even more complicated (but also excellent) - Terra is a great in-between.

I've cooked over 10 of their recipes already and every single one has turned out really well. They're not simple nor for a beginner cook, but if you have a little experience, it'll make for some very memorable dinners.

The desserts are especially great, as are the appetizers.

For those of you fortunate enough to have dined at this world class restaurant, Hiro & Lissa'a book needs no introduction. I was fortunate enough to have found Terra shortly after it opened in 1988 (living in St. Helena at the time) & have been hooked ever since. The BEST dishes of their menus past & present are included in this beautifully illustrated book. Most importantly the instructions are well detailed & the dishes turn out exactly as they do in the restaurant. What more can I say? THIS IS A FABULOUS BOOK!!!!!

Much like it's worthy counterpart's book (Tra Vigne), this wonderful piece should not fail to delight and please all those who happen across it.

First, if you are lucky enough to have dined at Terra, you'll already understand the beauty of (and behind) this book. Quite simply, this is a work of art. Why is that the case? Well...

Design--Beautiful graphic design and photographs. The layout is incredible and the photos are enough to make you drool.

Dialogue--Add to that delightful text and dialogue. Much closer to what this book achieves is the word "prose" as opposed to merely "text." The stories and dialogue are true pleasure to read. It makes this much more than simply a "cookbook."

Recipes--The recipes are, much like the food at the restaurant, exquisite. They are just delicious. Their difficulty ranges from relatively easy to moderately difficult. But, they are very easy to follow, making even the harder recipes accessible to the average "joe."

I strongly urge those considering this one to just go ahead and make the purchase. You will not be disappointed. It will be book you will treasure, and will reach for time and again.

Also, look into the Tra Vigne cookbook. It too is on the same level as this piece.