Customer Reviews

Esalen Cookbook

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Although, I do like this cookbook and I'm glad that I purchased it, it has errors in the recipes. For example, in the quinoa vegetable souffle, it calls for 1 1/2 TBS. of sea salt!!! I ruined the dish the first time I made it. This sucks because I spent like 90 minutes making it and money for the ingredients. So the next time I made it, I used 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt and it was perfect. And there is a dressing recipe (spiral salad dressing) that claims to be the most requested dressing recipe at Esalen. It calls for an entire raw red onion minced, along with various vinegars, etc. to yield 2 cups of dressing. I have a hard time believing anyone would enjoy this much raw onion!! I used 1/8 of the onion and it is still too onion-y. It actually makes me nauseous just thinking about it. Also, many of the recipes are incomplete, leaving the cook to fiqure it out on their own (Milan Style Lasangna: it says to drain cooked ingredients in a colander, then to add canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, etc. and mix). All it needed to include was to transfer drained ingredients to a bowl before mixing in other ingredients. I know most of this is common sense, but to an amatuer cook just reading instructions, one can waste precious ingredients and time. I believe that some things got lost in translating the quantities that Esalen cooks it's food to the quantities for the cookbook. I say, just watch out for quantity and use your own judgement. If is sounds like too much, start little and then add more later. So far, these are the only examples of errors I have experienced. Every other recipe I have made has been fine.

I am an avid gourmet vegetarian cook and was so excited to find this cookbook. Unfortunately the first recipe I tried, and spent over an hour making, was just a total loss. I make souffle's successfully often and this one had the quinoa amount off, and obviously the salt (2 1/2 tablespoons!) as well. It's apparent that in translating the recipes from serving 25+ to 4 there were some errors. The souffle turned out to be a quinoa casserole with none of the egg white or yolk even apparent in the dish, this was obvious before it went into the oven. The recipe almost twice the amount to fill the 6" souffle dish that the recipe calls for. This was the first clue that something was wrong with the quantities. It makes me realize that not all of the recipes were tested once the quantities were altered for the book. I'm afraid to make anything else.

I got this cookbook for Christmas, and was looking forward to making the Greek quiche. I have never made a quiche before, followed the directions, and it was a disaster. The directions were hard to follow. They say use half of this and half of that, but it's not clear which mixture they are talking about, and some halves never get mentioned again.... I ended up with ingredients I did not use, and the quiche was so watery I had to toss it. If you don't have enough experience to read between the lines and adjust proportions, I do not recommend this book.

did anybody edit this book before it went to print? there are more errors in it than my algebra test in high school. I have read other reviews and i really don't care about all the fu-fu other have written about how great the cook is at Esalen or how they work their way up. I really don't get why people are writing bios about the cooks and the Indians or the apprentices... what relevance does that have towards whats within the pages of this cook book? NONE!!!

I do not recommend this book, its full of errors and should have never gone to print.

Beautiful photos! Wonderful wholesome and organic, easy to follow recipes of a great variety, with interesting information on Esalen itslef and the people behind the recipes. Also good information on the use of the healthy ingredients included in the recipes.

I expected so much more - literally, every single bread and baked good recipe in this book (except for the whole wheat and rye bread recipes)calls for white flour. I just was shocked! What is healthy about this??

"At anytime of the night or day you may find small groups of people in deep conversation, someone writing a letter or reading a book, or two people who have just met and are starting up a lifelong friendship." ~ pg. 17

Esalen is located on a place that was once sacred to the Esselen Indians. This Institute is known as an organization devoted to personal growth and they offer over five hundred workshops and seminars ranging in interests including: massage, yoga, ecology, spirituality, art, music and psychology.

Charlie Cascio worked as the head chef and kitchen manager for the Esalen Institute and still lives on an organic farm that produces delicious cheese and olive oil. His life experiences have taken him to many countries where he has worked as a chef and has taught seminars to health professionals.

Here people come for the food as much as they beautiful location and healing spirit of the land. The book begins with a guided tour and notes on cooking. Right from the start, you know you will be learning a great deal about healthy cooking and the first issue is of course sugar and how you can substitute "sucanat" for sugar. Since trying the sugar, I know it is true, but I didn't know why it was as healthy as it is. This book explains the difference between various types of sugar and then goes on to a discussion of cooking oils where we learn about "expeller pressed."

Then there is page after page of tempting recipes like Orange-Essence Raisin Bread, Irish Soda Bread and Semolina Sourdough. If you are looking for delicious hearty breads, the Honey Whole Wheat Bread is made with all whole wheat flour, sea salt and honey.

For Breakfast you can choose from Pancakes to Muesli and Granola. Bee Pollen and flax seed oil make the Muesli even healthier. These are recipes you can easily make at home.

Lunches include Chinese Omelets made with shiitake mushrooms and snow peas with a Tamari Gravy and then there are delicious Provencal Veggie Turnovers with flavors of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano and sage.

The Dinners are warm and comforting and at times elegant, like the Chicken in a Basket or Asparagus & Shitake Mushroom Strudel. The Green Tea & Miso-glazed Tempeh looks very tempting and has the flavor of chicken with a hint of jasmine.

The Salads range from familiar to exotic with Curried Tofu Salad and Oriental Buckwheat Noodle Salad. There are nine salad dressings to choose from including a Apple-Dijon and Lite Asian Dressing.

The soups focus on vegetarian selections and include: Hearty Minestrone, Fresh Corn Chowder and Roasted Butternut & Curry Soup. A recipe for Ayurvedic Dal is much appreciated and this recipe includes delicious ingredients like coconut milk.

So what is for dessert? Yes, lots of delicious chocolate temptations. Imagine Coconut Macaroons dipped in chocolate or a Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with lemon glaze. They even have a vegan Chocolate cake and a Chocolate Tantric Pie.

The Esalen Cookbook is one of those cookbooks that is as fun to read as it is to use in the kitchen. You can dream about all the recipes you want to try and for some reason there is a sense of nostalgia throughout, even if you have yet to visit Esalen. You can just tell from the recipes that the people who work in the kitchen are happy, creative and appreciated! The recipes in this book not only satisfy - they warm the soul.

~The Rebecca Review

Like the Esalen Institute itself, Charlie Cascio's cookbook is beautiful and enriching. Not only are so many of Esalen's wonderfully healthy and delicious recipes provided, but Charlie shares some of Esalen's rich folklore along the way. Reading this interesting and colorful book is almost like spending a long weekend at Esalen. Relaxing and exciting at the same time. The recipes are very carefully written, and the pictures are magnificent.

Having been to Esalen 4 times, most recently 2 weeks ago, I give this 5 stars in my heart. Because it brings Esalen home with me. Stories about the indians, and the process of moving up through working in the kitchen, are part of Esalen. Those who criticize this information, have not been to Esalen, FOR SURE!
I gave it a 4 stars rating, because it is not complete in it's directions for the Greek Quiche. What am I supposed to do with the 2nd half of the spinach?? You left that out. I just threw it in with the egg mixture. Maybe I was supposed to put it on top?? It took 105 minutes to assemble. Will I cook it again? Probably, but I'll have someone help me to shorten the work time. I own almost 100 cookbooks. I have NEVER read anything like the following: "....to form a smooth dough. Let the energy flow from your heart, through your fingertips, and into the pastry." I'm with ya' on this. I put on the Didgeridoo Meditation C.D. I bought at Esalen, and let the vibes flow. I believe in putting on Greek music while I'm cooking Greek food, etc.,

O.K. When my mother gave me recipes she never used official measuring spoons, or cups. She used the tea spoon she stirred her tea with. She used the tea cup she drank her coffee from. She said: "About the size of an egg", for the amount of butter. The first time I made Mother's gingerbread, it was a disaster, because I used official measuring devices. The next time I used a cookbook. So thank you all who warned us to check carefully before proceeding. And I look forward to cooking out of this book...its an adventure!

If the name 'Esalen' sounds familiar, it's because it's world famous: an institute located in California renowned for its beauty and place where people can meditate. What's less known outside its walls is that it also harbors a kitchen where fresh food is produced from the Esalen garden - and Esalen Cookbook: Healthy and Organic Recipes from Big Sur gathers the recipes for this food, pairing cooking tips and instructions with dishes ranging from Sourdough Raisin Bread and Greek Spinach Salad to Southern Baked Chicken and Cashew Rice & Veggie Loaf. Add color photos to the mix and you have a fine recommendation for any health-oriented cookbook collection.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch