Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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66 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good - but NOT the last word on Spanish cooking, November 19, 2007
For American devotees of the Spanish kitchen, this is definitely one to own, a publishing event. A physically impressive book, not only for its heft but also its attractive design, durability, and conveniences (American units, satin page markers), it's actually a huge improvement over the Spanish paperback original. The recipes are clearly and well-written, and do represent a nearly exhaustive compilation. But this collection is not without faults.
First, a few words about the presentation. It would have been nice, in light of Spain's tremendous regional diversity, if the geographical provenance of each recipe had been identified. Too often outsiders have a monolithic view of Spain, its culture and cuisine. Spain is not just the land of paella and sangria - and the best Spanish cookbooks illuminate this culinary mosaic. Certainly, Ortega offers a sweeping itinerary, but she's not much of a tour guide. For that matter, it's always nice when cookbook authors introduce their recipes with brief blurbs that pique both the appetite and the imagination. Casas' The Foods and Wines of Spain, Mendel's Cooking from the Heart of Spain, and Von Bremzen's The New Spanish Table all do a great job with this - but it's entirely lacking here. If you're like me and like stories to go with your food, you'll be disappointed. In fact, there's nothing artful or romantic about Ortega's style. This probably reflects 1080's original purpose as a ready-reference for busy housewives. Very much a no-nonsense, "Joy of Cooking" approach. Ortega's recipes are just that - simply recipes. She doesn't even bother to offer side dish or wine pairing suggestions.
My second and major complaint is that Castilian cuisine is so woefully underrepresented. Inexplicably, such cherished and delectable staples as gallina en pepitoria, pollo al ajillo, cochifrito, judiones, caldereta, patatas revolconas, patatas a la riojana, huevos rotos, migas, and sopa castellana are all missing. Most puzzling of all is the omission of cocido, one of Spain's greatest and most truly "national" dishes. What could Sra. Ortega have been thinking?! (If you'd like to cook these dishes, you can find recipes in Casas' volume cited above. For more on Castilian food, see Mendel's book, which provides excellent coverage of southern Castile ("La Mancha"); northern Castilian cooking is still awaiting treatment in English, but if you can read Spanish, Cocina y gastronomia de Castilla y León is a good source.)
All in all, though, this book is recommended for the serious Spanish cook and fills - literally and figuratively - a wide gap on the shelf. Despite the glaring absence of some recipes, many others are here that are available nowhere else in English. Even if it's not the last word, this is a valuable reference worth owning. That said, for the reasons given above I think there are much better books for newcomers to Spanish cooking. If I had to pick one in English, it would be Casas' - the first in English, and still the best.
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44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Spanish Cookbook, November 1, 2007
I went to Spain for a summer because I was in love with the language, and I returned with what can only be described as an obsession with the cuisine. While there, I cooked with Maribel (my madrileña hostess), spent hours wandering through markets in cities all over the country, and passed countless nights hopping from tiny bar to tiny bar sampling tapas with friends. Before I left Madrid, I asked Maribel for guidance in my future cooking endeavors. She beckoned me into her kitchen, reached up to a short shelf above the pots and pans, and pulled down her beloved dog-eared food bible, 1080 Recetas De Cocina. "You must get a copy of this book," she told me in Spanish. "Follow the recipes exactly. This has everything."
A couple weeks later, I purchased a copy of the book in Salamanca. In the three years since my return home, I have carefully steered myself through many rewarding home cooking experiences equipped with 1080 Recetas in one hand and a Spanish-English dictionary in the other. The results are always delightful.
I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this translated version of the book for several months now. I finally received my copy yesterday, and I am happy to report that it does not disappoint! At first sight the gorgeous cover took my breath away. When I opened it I discovered all my favorite recipes inside, lovingly translated to English and converted to U.S. customary units of measurement, beautifully complemented by the vibrant illustrations of Javier Mariscal.
The book does cover everything -- tapas, condiments, sauces, fresh vegetables, quick dishes, and savory meats. The recipes are well written and easy to follow.
To echo Maribel: You must get a copy of this book!
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
There may be some unit conversion problems, January 15, 2008
I just got this book as a present. I was very excited to try something from it because it is so graphically and volumetrically impressive. Looked in my cupboard and figured I at least had the ingredients for Quiche (Recipe 56). So I dove right in, and not being much of a pastry chef failed to realize that to "Gradually stir 1 1/4 cups water", into a pastry dough comprising only 1 3/4 flour would be a disaster. About 1/2 cup water into the gradual stirring I realized I'd made more a batter than a pastry dough. Clearly the unit conversions have not been carefully edited, and the recipes have not been tested by an English speaking tester. I worry that unless you already know what you are doing, you will be led astray by this sort of carelessness.
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