Customer Reviews

Dona Tomas: Discovering Authentic Mexican Cooking

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have never written a review of a cookbook, but I just received a copy of this excellent book. I get many cookbooks as gifts- primarily from my kids. This is the best cookbook I have ever received. I have been fortunate to have eaten at Dona Tomas in Oakland which is one of the many reasons I was interested in this book. Another aspect is the excellent review the book received in the LA TImes.

This is not the typical burrito and taco cookbook. The book covers the finer types of good tasting Mexican food for all meals of the day. There are no greasy or bland recipes in this book. This book brings tasty flavorful Mexican cooking to a really high level. This is the book to get if you like flavors!

The first thing that stood out for me is that, while lots of other cookbooks cover extremely complicated recipes that require a great deal of time to prepare, the vast majority of the recipes are quite simple to prepare, because they capitalize on the texture, and the balance of flavors in the ingrediants.

I finally found out the key to a simple item - "Toasted Pumpkin Seeds" and the different types of sauces, such as "Poblano Cream", to add to main dishes. Each recipe really is a piece unto itself.

Next one up for me this weekend is "Callos Con Calabaza"(sea scallops with butternut squash,chilies, and onions).

This is an excellent book!

I don't just like Mexican food, I adore it. I dream about it. And I taste it everywhere I go. I live in the Central Valley and in Berkeley, so I have eaten at the restaurant that generated the book, as well as the taquerias around the Central Valley. This book is terrific. The chicken soups are the best I've ever had. I only wish there were more recipes from the taqueria in Berkeley. For example, there is no red enchilada recipe and they make a terrific red enchilada. Other than that, I think this is one of the better Mexican cookbooks in my collection. Very very happy with the Dona Tomas cookbook.

This is one of my all time favorite Mexican cookbooks. The restaurants owned by the authors are fabulous, and it was a pleasure to play with some of their recipes. While they make no claim to authentic Mexican food, I have found that many of their recipes hit very close to home for me. They also have some very interesting takes on old favorites, making for unique versions of delicious food.

It is an excellent book. Great stories related to the excellent dishes. A rare treat.

I have "Discover" it is one of the worst Mexican Cooking books I have ever seen. It is in the waste basket!