Argentina Cooks: Treasured Recipes from the Nine Regions of Argentina [Hardcover]

Shirley Lomax Brooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2001

Argentine cuisine is one of the world's best-kept culinary secrets! It is decidedly distinct from other Latin American cooking. This cookbook highlights the dishes of nine different regions, including signature recipes from Five Star Argentine chefs, along with the best of collections from the author and other talented home chefs. Inside are sophisticated culinary offerings like: Pavita Relleno a la Criolla (Roast Turkey with Persimmon; Sausage and Jalapeno Stuffing); and Gaspado de Cazador (Game Stew with Wild Rabbit, Partridges, Quail and Gin) as well as home-style favorites like Gazpacho de Mesopotamia (Raw Vegetables in Chicken Broth and Fresh Lime Juice) and Empanadas Santafesina (Baked Turnovers with Beef Tenderloin, Chicken, Sausage and Prunes). The 190 easy-to-follow recipes are all adapted for the North American kitchen, and a helpful section on ingredients and techniques ensures that even novice cooks can produce spectacular results. The author's Introduction and commentaries throughout the book offer insight into Argentina's landscape, history, traditions and culture.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent guide to a little-covered country." --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (April 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781808294
• ISBN-13: 978-0781808293
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,746,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Argentina Cooks, HURRA!!!, November 15, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Argentina Cooks: Treasured Recipes from the Nine Regions of Argentina (Hardcover)

I am an Argentinian leaving in the United States, after reading this book I shall for ever be in debt to Ms Brooks.
The recipes are authentic, well researched and elegantly presented.
The traveling information is even better.
Please , Ms. Brooks do us honor, again.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Long-Awaited Treasure, June 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Argentina Cooks: Treasured Recipes from the Nine Regions of Argentina (Hardcover)

As an exchange student, then as a college student, I spent a total of a little more than a year of my life living in the Cordoba region. Like Ms. Brooks, I found "La Cocinera Criolla," the classic Argentine cookbook, to be tremendously vague and unhelpful in replicating the dishes I had come to enjoy so much.

I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of "Argentina Cooks" for months, hoping to finally receive guidance in making those treasured meals.

I am pleased that the book does contain a good number of the dishes that I was anticipating, like milanesa, gnocchi, and alfajores. And, I almost broke into tears when I saw that it included a recipe for my beloved "pastelitos", a treat that I have not tasted in at least eight years.

However, I was a bit surprised to see that the section on Cordoba contained a large number of recipes for dishes that I had never tasted or heard of. While many of the dishes sound enjoyable, I can't help but point to the notable lack of recipes with an Italian influence. (About 40% of the Argentine population is Italian). Where are the recipes for ravioli, cappeletti, and cannelones? Not to mention the very tasty roasts (chicken and beef) that the Argentines prepare, arroz con leche (a childhood favorite), and pasta frola (cake with quince paste). These are all dishes that I found repeated over and over again in the homes that I visited, and would have expected to be included.

Though I am a bit disappointed by the lack of certain recipes, this is a wonderful and varied cookbook that reflects the tremendous diversity of the country, and is sure to appeal to just as diverse an audience!

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a cookbook devoted to Argentina!, June 14, 2001

By 

Julieta (Riverside, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Argentina Cooks: Treasured Recipes from the Nine Regions of Argentina (Hardcover)

I have searched for years for a book on Argentine cuisine. As a native of Argentina, all I have to help me cook this delicious cuisine is (1) an old Dona Petrona cookbook and (2)my grandmother's recipes-which my mother carefully wrote out on index cards the weeks before her wedding to my father 32 years ago. Don't get me wrong...I love those recipes, but its hard to cook from a recipe that asks for "some Argentine cut beef" and a "good amount of flour". With this book, I was able to get precise recipes with readily available ingredients. I had a birthday party at my house for my father in June and, as a surprise, I made several of the recipes in the book. Needless to say, he and my mom were thrilled and we all agreed the results were delicious! I would love to find another book just like this one!