Customer Reviews

Cuisine a Latina: Fresh Tastes and a World of Flavors from Michy's Miami Kitchen

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A classically trained French chef who grew up in Cuban-flavored Miami with an Argentinean mother and Midwestern father, then lived in New York and spent time in Italy, Bernstein, owner of Michy's in Miami, offers cosmopolitan fare, some of it simple, some much less so.

Like Seared Foie Gras with Mexican Chocolate and Cherries. Or Beet Salad with Blue Cheese Chantilly (Blue cheese mixed with heavy cream). Or Prosciutto-Wrapped Trout Stuffed with Fennel and Leek.

But Shrimp on Toast with Peas, Tomato, and Parsley is a simple comfort food as is Collard Greens with Balsamic and Brown Sugar, or a fragrant braise of Pork with Prunes and Apricots. Angel hair Pasta with Artichoke Hearts, Olives, and Tomatoes could be tossed together after work. Duck Breasts with Oaxacan Mole is complex but, once made, the mole can be refrigerated for three months.

Each recipe is introduced with a bit of culinary evolution, and Bernstein sometimes offers serving suggestions and plating ideas - gorgeous color photos also help with presentation ideas. Lively and ambitious, this is a book for the fairly assured cook.

I visited Michy's in Miami with my daughter and we both had a great meal. The waiter suggested my daughter get the bread pudding for dessert, and mentioned that it was the only dessert Michelle put in her cookbook. I bought this cookbook specifically for that recipe, but have so enjoyed reading the book and trying new Latin flavors.

This cookbook does a great job of not only providing delicious recipes, but also helpful tips on shopping and prep work, and beautiful full color photos of many of the recipes. The recipes tend to be time and ingredient intensive, but the work surely pays off in the finished product.

Book came in on time and as described. Love the chef, love the book, great recipes and easy to use. Thanks Michelle