Food Books

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.

This cookbook may not have a ton of recipes, but it is all worth it for the Cilantro-Arugula pesto. One of my favorite recipes of all time. This stuff goes great with noodles, as a spread, on sandwiches, everything. The spring rolls were the first new recipe that I tried, I had a little bit of trouble with them, but the directions were very easy to understand,they came out tasting great! Like I said, it's not a huge book of recipes, but the commentary was so interesting and a great read, they really add to the cooking.

The personal essays in this book make the food that comes from the recipes...I'm serious...better. I have already made Panzanella from this book, even though I just got it. I didn't have much to season with (onion, ol. oil, salt, pepper, and vinegar)...so it was truly the peasant's version...yet it tasted rich. I love this book because it lets you cook with the spirit of recipes, not just ingredients. There are so many lists in life we are required to follow...why not loosen up and cook?! Highly recommended.

This complilation of recipes is not your usual cookbook, but I appreciated the personal writing style, the bits of history, and the author's love of creating in the kitchen -- all the things that should go into good cooking. This has been a great guide for me, as I have been intimidated to buy anything outside my of my usual repertoire at the my local farmer's market, but the cookbook has some simple suggestions for how to prepare seasonal produce such as greens and root vegetables. The spring rolls are superb, and it is worth purchasing this book for that recipe alone.

A cultural infusion of yummy and easy to make recipes. This book is filled with delicious, creative, and fun to make meals. So get your cook on!

This has got to be the most unique and charming cookbook I've ever read. I say plunk down the $5.50 and treat yourself to a good time. I find myself reading it over and over. It's pretty amazing. Is it really a cookbook, or a book that also has recipes? I think it's a little of both. I say check it out.

I liked this book because it had recipes for all of the soy foods I wanted to learn about, including some for soy protein powder.

I have been experimenting with tofu for a number of years and found this book to be not only a great way to learn more about how to prepare tofu, but also why I should be eating more soyfoods.

Wow this is a great book,the auther came up with such intresting dishes.He even made my kids like tofu.I'm giving this to all my friends,5 stars.

This book gives an excellent overview of soy products and cooking with them. I have tried about a dozen of the recipes and each one of them was delicious! This is a great book to use when trying to introduce more soy products into your diet!

I loved the recipes and nutritional information. There is even a list of manufacturers in the back of the book.

I've been in a tofu kick recently but I was getting tired of the usual Asian tofu stir-fry recipes. This book features classic American recipes that feature tofu in them, thus making them much much healthier. I love that the book is very approachable for both meat and non-meat-eaters alike. I love trying out the recipes that camouflage tofu in them. I mean, who would've thought that one can make cookies with tofu? Not only are the recipes simple and healthy, they are also very delicious! Most of the ingredients required are accessible and can be easily found in most supermarkets. I like that the author also takes the time to introduce the less familliar ingredients and how to store and pre-treat tofu (eg. draining, rinsing and drawing out most of the moisture) to optimize its flavor. Overall, this is a great buy for anyone who wants to incorporate this healthy food into his/her diet!

This is a cookbook that is easy to read. Not only that, but I have found that a high percentage of the recipes are useable and appealing. That says a lot about a cookbook in my estimation. A real pleasure. Though each of these dishes contain tofu of some type, you wouldn't know it by sight or taste. Try the hot apples with cashew cream!

I've been a vegetarian most of life, but have unsuccessfully found a good, simple tofu cookbook - until now. I've made numerous recipes from this book and every recipe is easy, quick and delicious. It is gourmet without the elusive ingredients. If you like to cook, you'll most likely have all of the ingredients in your pantry. The first recipe I made was the tofu chocolate mousse (go light on the almond extract) for my semi-vegetarian husband. He couldn't even tell it was tofu. I HIGHLY recommend this cookbook.

This is such a great book. I have yet to make a recipe that is not tasty. The great thing is that the recipes are easy, fast and taste great! If you are trying to learn to cook with tofu, this is the best book!

Great food easy to make. Recipes are very clear and the ingredients are familiar. It has become a family favorite.

Readers young and old will relate to Honigsberg's message that too much picnic is no picnic at all. The main character, Cocoa Mole, shows us the consequences of overeating and illustrates that the better choice is to indulge in the company of friends rather than self-indulgence. With whimsical and likeable characters, fun and enticing descriptions, and a clear, solid message, this book is an enjoyable read and subtle tool for teaching healthful eating habits. It gently reminds us to think before we eat, regardless of the vast array of tasty morsels available. The illustrator brings the characters to life with beautiful detail and a dash of humor sprinkled throughout. After your first read you'll find your kids going back for a second helping of this book.

If you'd like to encourage healthful eating habits, I highly recommend you share this book with the children in your life. I've sent this book to many of my friend's kids and they've all eaten it up!

Too Much Picnic
Book Review
By Chrissa Ventrelle

As parents, we try logic, discipline, and even bribery to encourage our children to make healthy food choices. Despite our efforts, the Center for Disease Control reports that the number of overweight children in the U.S. has tripled since 1980. Perhaps a wiser alternative to our ceaseless cajoling is for our children to read Peter Honigsberg's imaginative tale, Too Much Picnic.

In Honigsberg's third children's book, we meet the loveably gluttonous Cocoa Mole as he heads to a community picnic complete with tasty treats like wiggle-worm sandwiches and beetle crackers. Cocoa foolishly gorges himself with second and third helpings of Mama Squirrel's nut bread and Mr. Fox's wild mushroom pizza and soon suffers from a miserable bellyache. As his animal friends play and swap stories, Cocoa falls into a dreamy sleep where a fantastical journey with three Munchie Monkeys teaches him the repercussions of overindulgence.

Honigsberg takes the universal experience of overeating and adds a dash of fantasy to engage kids in thinking about healthy eating. Unlike so many children's books that rely on a preachy formulaic tone, Honigsberg teaches gently without skimping on Cocoa's dreamy journey. This makes Too Much Picnic a nice compliment to a nonfiction title that focuses more on the nitty-gritty of healthy eating.

The memorable illustrations by Ryan Jones are even richer than the homemade cream that Mother Fox brings to the picnic. Children will delight in the playful illustrations, like one where Cocoa sits on the edge of a giant chocolate bundt cake surrounded by decadent desserts. Jones' whimsical style enhances the dreaminess of this story and reflects the talent and humor of this first-time illustrator.

Children ages 4-8 will devour Too Much Picnic. Parents will find them pulling this book off the shelf more than once.

At the community picnic one Cocoa Mole gets to eat as much as he wants: so he does. Then it's time to play - but he's too full, and falls asleep instead where he journeys into the world of dreams. Ryan Jones' drawings are exquisite and fun additions to the story of a greedy mole who discovers it's more fun to be with friends than to stuff himself!

This is a fantastic book. I send it to all my friends' children and they love it because it is beautifully illustrated and funny. My friends say they actually enjoy reading it to their children because they keep spotting clever little quips in the writing. It's about time someone wrote a children's book that encourages dialogue on the important topic of children & overeating.

How fortunate I was in my job to have received an advance copy of this wonderful book. As parents we have all slogged through other children's books with stories that adults can hardly tolerate. Here, you'll find the text as compelling for adults as it is enjoyable for the younger ones. The message is far from overbearing, yet one cannot help but be moved by the important point. And, on the topic of that ageless and timeless message, it is high time that someone broke through the wall of fear that typically, but unnecessarily, shields this topic from open discourse. I've mentioned this book to both of my sisters who each have children, and they cannot wait to get their own copies. I'm buying another one for my son's school's library. The artwork is also fun for children. I can best sum up my thoughts with this ironic twist - I just can't get enough of "Too Much Picnic." Read it yourself, and you'll understand why.

Caribbean foods and their recipes are versatile and different. I have tried many Caribbean recipes but this book had some more surprises for me. I like this book because it has some very nice recipes, has some interesting inforomation about the recipes and background to them and they are pretty simple to make. Recipes I have tried are" chicken in lime sauce (9.6/10); butternut squash in lime (9.4/10); fried tomatoes (9.4/10); banana grumby (9.4/10)Singapore scallops (9.6/10); curry tuna creole (9.4/10). I have many more to try (there are 350 recipes). You'll be glad you will have tried some of the recipes of your choice.

Having lived in the Caribbean, I am hard to please when it comes to our dishes...they have to taste "just right" and be authentic. This cookbook definitely has many recipies that are very familiar to me. True island cooking at its best! You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Gwaan an enjoy it!

My wife loves the fact that I like to cook. Our kitchen shelves are filled with cookbooks and most have a few recipes that I like. Tropic Cooking is one that I consistently use and everyone, including my kids, loves the results.

The Florida Avocado Dip is wonderful, I usually leave off the olives though.

Pork Chops Negril is a sweet treat that just takes a few minutes to create. It's perfect for an evening when you're strapped for time.

Potatoes Bonaventure is always a hit at pot lucks, I think it's the pastrami that catches peoples attention as well as tickles their tastbuds.

If you can get fresh ripe tomatoes that don't taste like cardboard then one of these two recipes are wonderful.

Broiled Tomatoes with Mushroom Bits.

Fried Tomatoes.

I wish I was more of a dessert person because some of these sound wonderful. Cicely's Baked Bananas was an experiment once for a dessert party and it was very well received. I took home an empty plate which is always a good sign.

I highly recommend Tropic Cooking!

I have a libary of cookbooks and "Tropic Cooking" is the one I constantly use.

Love this cookbook. Recipes are from the Caribbean, as well as a number of Florida's best restaurants. I use this book all the time and have for years. It's fun!

My husband read this book to my kids and it was an instant success with all three of my children. They started repeating the rhyme and giggling so loudly. They had a great time with it.

I bought "Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar" for my two-and-a-half-year-old niece. I was visiting during bath time the other day, when my sister said: "Come here little mouse. Let me wipe your face." My nieces response was: "Please don't tease. I eat cheese."

I had no idea what my neice was talking about until my sister explained that that is what the mouse says from the book. Infact, my niece has the entire book memorized. She loves it!

When we read "Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar" later that same night, my niece proudly explained how if you look at the page you can tell who's coming next, how Mommy taught her that. She reads this book over and over. And each time she reads it, it's like discovering this secret of who is coming next for the first time, fresh and exciting.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a todler or young child. It's full of a love for animlals, as well as the sense of wonder and curiosity that makes this book and young children so magical.

Fresh new life infuses this familiar children's playground song/chant/rhyme. As Skunk puzzles out the mystery of the missing cookies with help from his animal friends, children are introduced to the landscape of the southwestern desert, as well as many of its animal inhabitants.This presents a fun opportunity for gentle lessons in science.And for teachers/parents looking for patterned books to nudge reading skills along, this fits the bill with its rhyme and repetition. The large, colorful pictures portray animals that are endearing but not cutesy. Bright and bouncy, this is just the kind of book that works well with lap sharing for very young children but just as easily lends itself to sharing with a group. Kids will be developing their sleuthing skills as they use clues in the pictures to predict which animal did steal the cookies. They'll be having so much FUN that you'll have to steal the book back from them to do anything else!

This book was an instant hit in our house. My daughter enjoys having it read to her as well as participating in the rhymes herself. We also like going through each page to solve the mystery behind who's on the next page. Beautifully illustrated and lots of fun for both parent and child.

I am a kindergarten teacher and LOVE this book. My students enjoy the repetition of the phrases, "Who me, couldn't be!" and "Mmm... Oh!... Now I know..." as on each page skunk thinks he has solved the mystery of the missing cookies. Clever clues on each page help students predict which friend of skunk will appear on the next page. The happy ending, with all the friends sharing the cookies, brings the story to a warm conclusion. The illustrations are colorful and large, with limited text on each page, perfect for younger children.

I use this book early in the school year to help the students learn each others names. I hide a small baggie of cookies in a child's lap. Students then have to guess who has the cookies by saying, "Mary took the cookies from the cookie jar." Mary responds, "Who me, couldn't be!" and guesses another child. When the cookies are discovered, we rehide them. Finally, we get to enjoy our cookie snack. I also adapt the activity for use throughout the year, with each child being an alphabet letter, an alphabet sound, a number or a site word. For example, "14 took the cookie from the cookie jar." "Who me, couldn't be!" "17 took the cookie from the cookie jar." and so on.

My students truly enjoy experiencing this story all year long. I highly recommend it for your students or your child.

Fantastic cookbook. Beautiful photos and recipes that are stunning.
Local foods and people. A must for anyone who enjoys food and life!

I received this book very quickly and in perfect condition. I will definitely do business with them again!

One of the best cookbooks in my collection.

What's really interesting to me is that almost every recipe in the book goes very well with a nice Oregon Pinot Noir.

Let me be clear - I have never laid eyes on this book. I bought it based on the description for a friend who lives in CA but is from the Northwest and is an avid cook. She absolutely loved it and continues to rave about it. Based on that, I give it a 5.

This beautiful book has been the source of wonderful meals, inspired by the deep, imaginative recipes, exploring the best of the Pacific Northwest. Schreiber puts his own interesting spin on classic flavor combinations. Recipes are complex, but are easily broken down into do-able steps. They are not overly chefy, and have been well tested for home kitchens. This was one of my favorite cookbooks of the year, and I own a lot of cookbooks.

As TOMS wife and house chef--------This book is fantastic--I have made many of the recipes and they are so very flavorful and please the palettes of many of our freiends--I would always show off this book --------BUY itREALLY!!! get the spices and herbs and have a great time--Pauline from AZ

Absolutely breathtaking color photos of exotic locales and foods emblazon every page and corner of this vibrant cookbook. Contents are grouped by location from Middle East/Africa to Asia, India, and Americas. Incredibly delicious healthful vegetarian recipes with authentic origins are presented from all cuisines along with fascinating stories of the Caldicotts' travels and adventures finding the recipes. These recipes are served in the World Food Cafe, which the Caldicotts operate in London. For those of us not lucky enough to visit their restaurant, here are some tasty entrees to whip up at home: Caribbean Vegetables in Mustard Coconut and Rum Sauce (from Costa Rica), Saag Paneer (from India), Sweet Apple Salad (from the Seychelles), Cardamom Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Pepper Relish (from Tanzania) and many more. There are low spice suggestions and special adaptations for the home chef. Exotic and homely, World Food Cafe marries the ordinary and the divine, the fabulous and the mundane. What a beautiful response to the global village experience!

In short: This is one of the most inspiring cookbooks I've come across in ages. Nicely designed but not overdone, interesting and often funny personal travelogue tidbits, luscious photographs, easy instructions and best of all, the dishes are divine. There are a couple of hard-to-find ingredients such as paneer (Indian cheese) and I wish the authors had suggested replacements for such items, but overall, I've had very good luck with these recipes. Dinner guests love 'em, too. Add one or two to make add pizzazz to an ordinary meal, or mix'n'match a whole bunch of them for an eclectic smorgasbord of world cuisine.

I loved this book. Illustrated with beautiful photos, this is a mixture of a travel and a recipe book, covering Asia, Africa and South America. Whilst some of the recipes have an (authentic) array of ingredients, there are few difficult techniques involved. You do sometimes have to persevere with surprising instructions though, in the belief that it will all be good in the end! And so far, it always has been.

I was lucky enough to find thid cookbook in the Oslo Public Library. For me is this cookbook really the best one I have ever had. I have tried maybe 10 dishes and ALL of them were very tasty! My husband and I have some favourites, like Saag Paneer and Kashmiri Gobi but we are constantly trying new ones. It is true, though, that if I lived in the Czech Republic (where I originally come from) it would be very hard to get all the ingredients. But here in Oslo where 25% of the population are immigrants, it is not very hard! And the paneer is actually possible to make at home-that is what I do! Just find the receipe on the net! I really recommend this cookbook to those who want to enjoy vegetarian meals even though they are not vegetarians! Because eating this, you won't miss meat!!