Caribbean & West Indian Books

Memories of a Cuban Kitchen: More Than 200 Classic Recipes

Mary Urrutia Randelman, Joan Schwartz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Greatest CUBAN HOME COOKING book ever! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

After sitting in the bookstore, going over about 10-20 so called Cuban recipe cookbooks, this is the ONE in my kitchen. Both my parents are from Cuba, I was born there as well, so naturally my siblings and I grew up on traditional Cuban recipes. This book is the closest to Mom's cooking I have ever found, and with some help from Mom, these recipes are just like being home. Easy to follow, simple, traditional recipes. Once you get the hang of "sofrito", which is base for most of our dishes, you won't be disappointed. LOVE this cookbook, and its wonderful, savory Cuban dishes!

Editorial Review:

Authentic Cuban recipes offer a mixture of Spanish, Indian, African, Chinese, and Portuguese cuisine, from appetizers like Green Plantain Chips, to such entrees as Roast Pork Creole, to tropical rum-based drinks and desserts.

Filled with reminiscences and evocative halftone photos of Randelman's childhood in pre-Castro Cuba, this book presents more than 200 traditional recipes for Cuban dishes, a cuisine that lusciously combines Spanish, Indian, African, Chinese, and Portuguese influences.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude

Ann Vanderhoof

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Essays & Travelogues

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Under the Tuscan Sun meets the wide-open sea . . . An Embarrassment of Mangoes is a delicious chronicle of leaving the type-A lifestyle behind -- and discovering the seductive secrets of life in the Caribbean.

Who hasn’t fantasized about chucking the job, saying goodbye to the rat race, and escaping to some exotic destination in search of sun, sand, and a different way of life? Canadians Ann Vanderhoof and her husband, Steve did just that.

In the mid 1990s, they were driven, forty-something professionals who were desperate for a break from their deadline-dominated, career-defined lives. So they quit their jobs, rented out their house, moved onto a 42-foot sailboat called Receta (“recipe,” in Spanish), and set sail for the Caribbean on a two-year voyage of culinary and cultural discovery.

In lavish detail that will have you packing your swimsuit and dashing for the airport, Vanderhoof describes the sun-drenched landscapes, enchanting characters and mouthwatering tastes that season their new lifestyle. Come along for the ride and be seduced by Caribbean rhythms as she and Steve sip rum with their island neighbors, hike lush rain forests, pull their supper out of the sea, and adapt to life on “island time.”

Exchanging business clothes for bare feet, they drop anchor in 16 countries -- 47 individual islands -- where they explore secluded beaches and shop lively local markets. Along the way, Ann records the delectable dishes they encounter -- from cracked conch in the Bahamas to curried lobster in Grenada, from Dominican papaya salsa to classic West Indian rum punch -- and incorporates these enticing recipes into the text so that readers can participate in the adventure.

Almost as good as making the journey itself, An Embarrassment of Mangoes is an intimate account that conjures all the irresistible beauty and bounty from the Bahamas to Trinidad -- and just may compel you to make a rash decision that will land you in paradise.


From the Hardcover edition.

Puerto Rican Cookery

Carmen Aboy Valldejuli

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Now You Can Cook Exceptional Typical Puerto Rican Food! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

One of the best authentic Puerto Rican cookbooks out there! It has all the "delicioso" typical island food and explains everything in easy detail. There are translations all throughout the book making it very user friendly. With this book, anyone can definitely cook to impress!

Great wedding gift!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I knew that I was finally in my future mother-in-law's good graces when she gave me a copy of this book as a present shortly before my wedding to her son. I had been struggling along with her spanish version of the book, and she knew I was trying to cook in a way that she approved of, so when I got this book I knew that I had finally won the heart of a puerto rican matriarch, and we know how hard that can sometimes be! I have since gone on to master many of the recipes, and my husband says that my cooking rivals that of his mother and grandmother!

A little piece of my abuela... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

When my abuela passed in December 2006 we were immediately overwhelmed with distributing her things. I came across an old copy of Cocina Criolla, but gave it to her sister-in-law because, unfortunately my mother nor I were taught Spanish. Coming across the English version has been wonderful. Abuela and I were planning to cook together this year, which I plan to do solo. It brings back fond memories of her and her food. I am happy to carry on that tradition.

Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban

Glenn M. Lindgren, Raul Musibay, Jorge Castillo

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

If you are one of the more that two million people who have visited the web site at iCuban.com: The Internet Cuban, you already know who these Three Guys are. If you are one of the more than six billion people alive today who have not, a little explanation is in order. They are Three Guys From MiamiTM who share a passion for good food, good conversation, and a great party. < BR> Are you are new to Cuban cuisine? If so, then you are about to enter an exciting world of flavor. Cuban cooking combines the tastes of Spain with the tropical flavors of the Caribbean. Throw in some New World spices and ingredients and a strong African influence and you have the essence of Cuban cookery. < BR> These recipes also reflect ingredients and methods that were refined by Cuban exiles after they came to the United States. Here they found an abundance of foods that were either very scarce or completely unavailable in Castro's Cuba. Fish and seafood are two examples of foods that were only rarely enjoyed in Cuba after 1959. It was also impossible to get real olive oil-an ingredient that gives so many Cuban dishes a distinctive Latin flavor. Exile in the U.S. also exposed Cubans to ingredients they never saw in Havana. Salmon is very popular with Miami Cubans, for example, but unheard of in Cuba.< BR> Wherever possible the Three Guys have made these dishes simple to prepare. You don't need to be a professional chef to create any of the recipes in this book. Best of all, you don't need to be Cuban to cook and enjoy them. If a Swedish guy from Minnesota can cook Cuban food (and he does it very well), you can too!< BR> They have madge several appearances on the Food Network. < BR> Glenn Lindgren first came to Miami in 1984 and fell in love with the city, the people, and the Cuban culture. A freelance writer by profession, Glenn documents the antics of the Three Guys From Miami in books and on the Internet. When not in Miami, Glenn and his wife live in Minnesota with their son and two daughters. < BR> Raul Musibay, born in Cayo la Rosa, near Bauta, in the province of Havana, spent one winter in New Jersey but has been a full-time Miami resident ever since. He is the manager of the Red Bird Amoco station there. He and his wife have two married children. < BR> Jorge Castillo was born and raised in Cayo la Rosa, Havana. He came to the United States via the Mariel Boatlift in 1980, then left Miami after three months to live in Iowa, where he became a respiratory therapist. Now the regional sales manager for a major medical products company, he makes his home in Miami's West Dade with his wife and two daughters.< BR>

At Blanchard's Table: A Trip to the Beach Cookbook

Melinda Blanchard, Robert Blanchard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The next best thing to actually living on an island paradise is being able to bring a bit of paradise home. Bob and Melinda Blanchard shared their own “paradise found” in their book A Trip to the Beach, the true story of the couple’s adventures as they escaped civilization to open a restaurant on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. Now in At Blanchard’s Table, the couple extends the celebrated warmth and hospitality of their acclaimed restaurant, and its delicious menu, to our homes. The happy result is a cookbook that’s as much a pleasure to read as it is enjoyable to follow.

Writing with the same humor and charm that made their first book such a success, Bob and Melinda share recipes drawn from their New England roots, their early years in the gourmet food business, and their life in the Caribbean. At Blanchard’s Table is a delectable collection of more than 160 recipes perfect for get-togethers of family and friends, illustrated with glorious photographs that reveal how lucky they are
to have homes in both Vermont and Anguilla.

Although the Blanchards’ restaurant gets rave reviews for the food, Melinda was never trained formally as a chef, so her recipes are for true homemade meals that are appealing and easy. Caribbean-influenced dishes like Calypso Chicken with Lime, Grilled Lobster Anguilla Style, and Jamaican Jerk Shrimp are complemented by New England–inspired fare such as Vermont Cheddar Soup, Balsamic-Glazed Veal Chops, and Vermont Picnic Ham Baked in Dark Beer.

Sections include Casual Starters, Soups, Salads and Dressings, Seafood, Meat, Pasta, Vegetables and Sides, Desserts, and Drinks. Throughout the book, there are dozens of mini-recipes that allow people in a hurry to toss together just a couple of ingredients for a quick and tasty dish. The Blanchards also offer expert cooking tips, as well as more delightful stories about some of their favorite Anguillians.

With simple, eclectic, and flavorful recipes—along with sound cooking advice, charming anecdotes, and the same warmth that made people fall in love with A Trip to the Beach—At Blanchard’s Table is truly a pleasure to cook from and nearly as enchanting as an actual trip to the beach.

Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes

Oswald Rivera

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Autentico y sabroso 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

We decided we needed some Puerto Rican cookbooks in the house, and Puerto Rican Cuisine is one of them. It really looks like all our abuelitas worked on this great cookbook with Rivera. Quite a few recipes brought tears to my eyes since I haven't eaten them in over six years since my great-grandmother died. We look forward to recreating many of her dishes with the assistance of this book. If you want a simple, authentic Puerto Rican cookbook, this is for your culinary library.

Basic recipes! 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I was expecting to find more recipes of Puerto rican dishes. However, it does the job in providing you with basic recipes that you can do on a daily basis. I was expecting one for some fancy dish.

Editorial Review:

Puerto Rican cuisine, with its strong Spanish and African influences, holds a unique position in the world of Caribbean cooking. The food is spicy, hearty, healthy, sensuous, and adventurous. The 240-plus recipes included here range from traditional island dishes and drinks to the latest Nuyorican creations. Fully illustrated, this edition features a new preface by the author.

Sweet Hands: Island Cooking From Trinidad And Tobago (Hippocrene Cookbook Library)

Ramin Ganeshram

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Callalloo and Buss Up Shut, Mother-in-Law and Kuchela, Chip Chip and Doubles. The verbiage of Trinidad's cuisine is both lyrical and mysterious. The variety of foods from this Caribbean nation and their fanciful names tell the story of a rich and eclectic cultural heritage. A British colony from 1779 until 1962, during those years Trinidad & Tobago's population grew to include East Indian and Chinese indentured servants who worked in the sugar plantations alongside former slaves. Trinidadian food is marked by the blending of these cultures. As such, curry, Indian breads, callalloo (a soup of West African origin), and fried rice are all among the national dishes. Recipes for these dishes can be found within these pages, along with many others, such as Shrimp Creole, Beef Stew with Dumplings, and Ginger Beer. Join author Ramin Ganeshram on a culinary journey through her ancestral home as she introduces you to street foods such as Shrimp Patties and Shark and Bake, teatime favorites like Lemon Crunch Teacakes or Coconut Shortbread, and elegant dinner fare ranging from Avocado Soup to Spicy Stuffed Red Snapper and Curried Crab and Dumplings. These little-known delicacies, along with fascinating histories and anecdotes on such topics as Trinidadian rum, Buccaneer Cooking, and Black Cake bring the islands of Trinidad & Tobago into your kitchen.

Jerk from Jamaica: Barbecue Caribbean Style

Helen Willinsky

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Delicious Jamaican Jerk Cooking 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I received "Jerk from Jamaica" in the mail on Saturday, and my husband and I couldn't resist planning a feast for the next day. Already I'm singing the praises of this book, and I just can't get enough of the leftovers.

Helen Willinsky grew up in Jamaica, studied cooking in Europe, and ran a resort in Jamaica; she includes family recipes, traditional recipes, and recipes that blend older Jamaican elements with newer ingredients and traditions. She strikes a beautiful balance, one so many authors fail to achieve, between introducing us to traditional methods and ingredients and yet making it possible for us to enjoy Jamaican flavors in our own kitchens even if we don't have access to a barbecue grill or all of the traditional Jamaican flavorings.

You'll need access to some sort of barbecue grill or the equivalent in order to get the most out of this cookbook, it's true, but it's certainly worth buying even if you don't have that. Oven directions are included for many recipes, and there are even adaptations to the slow cooker and other such modern conveniences. A few sources for ingredients are provided, as well as substitutions using more commonly-found items.

The quality of the recipes is right up there with the Sugar Mill cookbook, but this book focuses primarily on a simpler, narrower type of cooking. It's easy to whip up these recipes with little advance notice, but they'll satisfy your tastebuds for days on end. If you're looking for something new to do with your grill, this will certainly qualify!

Editorial Review:

When Helen Willinsky first published her classic Jamaican barbecue cookbook, "jerk" was a fightin' word to most people outside the Caribbean Islands. Not anymore. In love with fire and spice, barbecue fans and food lovers of all stripes have discovered the addictive flavors of Jamaican jerk seasoning and Caribbean cooking in general. Newly revised and bursting with island color, Helen's book provides a friendly introduction to this increasingly popular way to season and prepare meat, chicken, and fish. Rounded off with simple and authentic recipes for sides, drinks, and desserts, JERK FROM JAMAICA is a complete backyard guide to grilling and eating island-style.

Mayan Cuisine: Receipes from the Yucatan Region

Daniel Hoyer

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In his signature style, Daniel Hoyer brings us the authentic recipes of the Maya with Mayan Cooking, along with his personal experiences that make the historical and cultural background of this people accessible and enjoyable. Having been influenced for centuries by the Spanish, other European countries, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and even the Caribbean, Mayan food is remarkably unique and distinct. Mayan Cooking offers recipes for Sweet Corn and Cilantro Cream Soups, Yucatan BBQ Shrimp, Smoked Pork Loin, Jicama-Orange Salad, and Chicken in Red Chile and Pumpkinseed Sauce, as well as an abundance of recipes for salsas, sauces, spice mixes, and marinades.
Recipes Include:
Bean-Filled Masa Fritters
Baked Chayote Squash Pudding
Mexican Lime Soup
Pit-Roasted Pork with Yucatan Spices
Yucatan BBQ Shrimp
Pumpkinseed Brittle
Author Bio: Daniel Hoyer is an experienced chef, restaurateur, and teacher. Daniel is the author of Culinary Mexico: Authentic Recipes and Traditions and Fiesta on the Grill. He resides in the Rio Grande Valley near Pilar, New Mexico, with his family.
(20080616)

Cocina criolla

Carmen Valldejuli

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This is my third copy of this book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My mother who is now 94 years old used this book in her kitchen for as long as I can remember. I grew up eating food prepared from the recipes in this book. I am a 64 year old man who now has to cook for him-self if he wants to eat Puerto Rican food. I recently bought this book as a replacement for the worn out copy I bought years ago to replace the copy my mother gave me when she got to old to cook anymore. I cook other kinds of foods too, but I would be lost without this book so I can prepare my favorite Puerto Rican dishes every once in a while.

Espectacular!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Es una joya que traspasa el tiempo. Tiene paso a paso todo lo que alguien quisiera confeccionar de la cocina puertorriquena. Recetas que no han sido preservadas en ningun otro lugar. Un libro para atesorar!!!

Puerto Rican Cooking 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My wife, who was raised in Puerto Rico, loves this book. Her mom and aunts used it while she was growing up and it reminds her of the traditional mildly spiced Puerto Rican cooking.

Puerto Rican Cookery 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is excellent!
The recipes are simple and easy to follow. And Your kitchen will improve to restaurant levels!!!!!!