Mesa Mexicana [Hardcover]

Mary S. Milliken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 1994

An unerring feel for the tastes we love has made Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's cookbooks and, restaurants havens for all who crave exciting,flavorful food. InMesa Mexicana,they offer their unique, interpretations of the tastes of coastal Mexico with a bold, colorful cuisine that excites the palate and satisfies our yen for earthy, rustic flavors, minus the heaviness of most standard fare. Best of all, the very healthy and inexpensive recipes in Mesa Mexicana can be made at home with minimal,fuss. There are salads, salsas, grilled meats and fish,the greatest collection of taco recipes in print, as well as the delicious vegetable dishes the authors are famed for-Braised Cauliflower with Parsley and Lime, Roasted Parsnips and Carrots with Cumin, and Red, White, or Green Rice. Desserts include a sensational Lime Coconut Pie and fabulous frozen treats, including KahlÚa chip ice Cream and Tamarind ice. There are also cooling beverages such as Limeade with Chia Seeds, the Border Sunset, and of course, a stellar margarita.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Milliken and Fenniger are the chef/owners of the popular Border Grill in Los Angeles and authors of City Cuisine (LJ 2/15/89), which featured recipes from their first restaurant. Their new book offers the lusty, zesty dishes they serve at the Border Grill, featuring their unique interpretation of Mexican cooking: e.g., Mushroom and Epazote Soup, Tortilla-Wrapped Fish, and Chocolate Espresso Flan. The text is as lively as the recipes. Fun and engaging, this is recommended for most collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger have worked together since 1982 as co-chefs and co-proprietors of City restaurant and the Border Grill in Los Angeles, and are the authors of the acclaimed City Cuisine cookbook (Morrow, 1989). The Border Grill was chosen by Gourmet magazine in 1993 as one of the best restaurants in America. Milliken and Feniger live in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks; 1 edition (September 23, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688106498
• ISBN-13: 978-0688106492
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Mexican

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the hobbyist chef, but not everyday, December 22, 2000

By 

Stephen M. Bainbridge "www.professorbainbridg... (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mesa Mexicana (Hardcover)

Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger are two of the top chefs in LA. Their "Border Grill" in Santa Monica (4th and Broadway) is a noisy, splashy, foodie haven with superb drinks, a decent wine/beer list, and amazing food. Mesa Mexicana offers recipes that one might easily see on Border Grill's menu. For those of us who grew up equating Mexican food with Tex-Mex, Miliken and Feniger's inventive take on traditional Mexican cuisine is a revelation.

As a cookbook, Mesa Mexicana is interesting, has an attractive layout, and, by the minimal standards of the genre, is well-written. One would not want to use it on an everyday basis. Many of the recipes involve a fairly intensive amount of prep work and/or require specialized ingredients. For the hobbyist chef with access to a decent Mexican grocer and time on his/her hands, however, it is an inspiring and provocative work. Highly recommended on that qualified basis.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy-to-follow recipes that make Mexican cuisine daily fare., August 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mesa Mexicana (Hardcover)

I was impressed by the simplicity of these recipes. Unlike others I've tried, this book calls for simple ingredients that can easily be found at your local grocery store (even in rural Idaho). The authors walk you through the basics of making your own tortillas and salsas. You then can incorporate these into more complicated recipes. Above all... the food turns out delicious even in the hands of a novice.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Cookbook, June 3, 2005

By 

dr. lowbrow (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mesa Mexicana (Hardcover)

I have made several recipes from this cookbook and have had loved them all. The salsas are now staples on my table as are the skirt steak, the flans (yum!) and the tortilla soup.

Many of the recipes appear on the menu at their restaurant, Border Grill. When prepared to specs, they taste just like the real thing. This makes me happy because Border Grill is one of my favorite restaurants.

Great Mexican cooking takes time, but as this cookbook shows us, it is not complicated. The book is beautiful, the recipes clear, and the results fabulous.