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Review of 'Everything Indian Cookbook' by Monica
Bhide
To
order a copy of Everything Indian Cookbook from UK <click
here>
To order a copy of Everything Indian Cookbook from
US <click
here>
Review written by
Hub-UK
 Most
book reviews I have read have always had something nice
to say about the book itself or the author. I don't
have a problem with that in so far as I only have nice
things to say . . . the problem is you are expecting
me to say nice things so how do I convince you that
what I have to say is of value.
Monica
emailed me and asked would I be interested in having
a look at her latest cookbook - I would hasten to add
that she did not make it a condition that I wrote a
review for her. I am always interested in looking at
new books, in particular ones which might help me in
areas where I tend to get lost, like Indian cooking!
So
what was my reaction from the time that I opened the
package containing the book? The cover instantly caught
my eye and it certainly sums up what you are going to
find between the covers:
The
Everything Indian Cookbook
300 tantalizing recipes - from Sizzling Tandoori
Chicken to Fiery Lamb Vindaloo
 As
soon as you open the book you know that this is a cookbook
that is going to enable you to cook your own Indian
meals at last - everything is explained from the basics
upwards, all written in easy to understand sections
and pages.
The
recipe pages are well laid out with both the English
and Indian title for each recipe. The pages contain
all the information you need to cook the particular
recipes with easy to read lists of ingredients. Where
something needs explaining Monica has added separate
notes which clearly explain or instruct. It couldn't
be simpler!
What
I also like is that the book is about the food and its
preparation, nothing else. Many books I have seen over
the years which feature Indian cooking have contained
far too much information, a great deal of which does
not relate to what you are trying to do - cook a great
Indian meal for yourself. Well now you can, so you won't
be needing the telephone number for the nearest takeaway
anymore!
I
would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants
to impress their family or friends
. . . and for a change the price means this book is
also real value for money.
To
summarise:
Great
book, well produced and very well written. A must
for the kitchen bookshelf.
To
order a copy of Everything
Indian Cookbook
from UK <click
here>
To order a copy of Everything
Indian Cookbook
from US <click
here>
From
Amazon.com web site:
About
Monica Bhide
 Frustrated
by the lack of straightforward Indian cookbooks, Monica
became inspired several years ago to develop simplified
and healthful versions of her favorite Indian dishes.
The result is her highly praised first cookbook, The
Spice Is Right: Easy Indian Cooking for Today (Callawind
Publications, 2001), a collection of mouthwatering menus
tempered with the author's up-to-date touches on classic
Indian recipes. Monica guides Indian food lovers on
an easy-to-use foray into the flavors, ingredients,
techniques, and tips to home-style cooking using over
150 recipes.
Growing
up outside of India, Monica learned authentic Indian
dishes from the talented and knowledgeable hands of
Indian women in her family and neighborhood. As she
moved from kitchen to kitchen, she gathered the delightful
anecdotes that now accompany these recipes-all told
in the down-to-earth and lively voice that infuses each
page with the energy and passion she has for food, family,
and India.
Monica
has been instrumental in the creation, organization,
and expansion of the eGullet Culinary Institute focusing
on providing online cooking classes. The institute has
been described as the "Next Food Network"
by the Washington Post. In addition, through collaboration
with top cookbook publishing houses in the US, she garnered
a veritable who's who of award-winning authors-including
James Peterson, Paula Wolfert, James Villas, and Mark
Bittman - to teach cyber-classes, participate in Q&A's,
provide recipes and in-depth biographies, and provide
books for giveaways.
The
author also contributes to FabulousFoods.com, maintains
a regular column for DeliciousIndia.com, and her work
has appeared India New England News, India Abroad and
India's number one woman's magazine Femina. She has
appeared on Food Network Canada on "Christine Cushing
Live" and the nationally syndicated food show on
Talk America Radio with host Jennifer English.
In
addition to her writing and editing culinary experience,
Monica also actively conducts PR events for local restaurants,
chefs and wine distributors, and has coordinated ticketed
book and culinary author events in tandem with the book's
publicist and author.
Born
in India, thirty-three-year-old Monica moved to the
United States in 1991. She has an engineering degree
from Bangalore University and two masters in information
systems technology from George Washington University.
She is the founder of Spice is Right Culinary Consulting.
Monica is also the recipient of the Susan B Langhorne
Scholarship for Food Writers at the Symposium for Professional
Food Writers held at the Greenbrier. She currently resides
in Washington, DC, with her husband, Sameer, and four
year old son, Jai.
To
order a copy of Everything
Indian Cookbook
from UK <click
here>
To order a copy of Everything
Indian Cookbook
from US <click
here>
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