Rice & Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking (The Hippocrene International Cookbook Library) [Paperback]

S. H. Fernando Jr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2011 | Series: The Hippocrene International Cookbook Library

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE COOKBOOK OF 2011!


In Sri Lanka a meal is typically referred to as 'rice & curry'--and curries can vary from main dish offerings (meat, chicken, fish, or mutton) to an assortment of vegetable and even fruit curries. Indian, Malay, Arab, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences all left their mark on the cuisine, but indigenous Sinhalese dishes have remained popular in villages for centuries.
Fernando takes readers on an unforgettable culinary journey through Sri Lanka: demystifying ingredients, spices, and flavors and proving that Sri Lankan food is an easy-to-prepare, healthy option for modern lifestyles.
Includes over 100 recipes, an introduction to Sri Lankan history, culture and cuisine, and stunning color photographs throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A terrific introduction to a great culinary tradition about which egregiously little is known. Well-researched, authentic, and easy-to-follow recipes." --Anthony Bourdain, Author of KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL and TV host of NO RESERVATIONS WITH ANTHONY BOURDAIN


"...a cultural and culinary tribute to a sublimely delicious style of cooking that is simple and full flavored. You want this book. If you are suffering from flavor fatigue, consider yourself cured. Honest, authentic and dependable, the recipes are superb and the curry geeks in your house will be sated for years eating their way through this tome." --Andrew Zimmern, TV host of BIZARRE FOODS WITH ANDREW ZIMMERN

"A wonderful tour of a lesser-known cuisine. If you dined out and ordered Leela's Chilaw crab curry you'd make a spectacle of yourself, coating your wrists in gravy rich with coconut, curry leaves, chile, garlic and cumin, flecking your face with bits of crab shell. At home, only your family will stare, and they'll be a mess, too." --NICK FOX, New York Times

--Publicity Dept., Hippocrene Books

"Thirsting for coconut water and a South Asian adventure? Satisfy that wanderlust in your own kitchen with Rice and Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking, the new book from globe-trotting gastronome S.H. Fernando Jr. Little known to all but the most intrepid eaters, Sri Lankan cuisine will introduce new, exotic pleasures to your table." --Zester Daily, zesterdaily.com

About the Author

S.H. (Skiz) Fernando Jr. is a second generation Sri Lankan-American and graduate of Harvard University and the Columbia University School of Journalism. He has written for the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vibe, and Spin. He has produced several albums on his WordSound label, and is also writer/director of several films. In 2006, he moved to Sri Lanka for a year to learn about its cuisine and research this cookbook. In March 2009, he was featured on Travel Channel's No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, where he led the crew to Sri Lanka's hot spots. He resides in Baltimore, MD.

Product Details

• Paperback: 209 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (November 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781812739
• ISBN-13: 978-0781812733
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #467,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Skiz Fernando is a man of 1000 faces.

As a writer his byline has appeared in such publications as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Vibe. After graduating from Harvard and the Columbia University School of Journalism, he began his career as a music journalist for The Source magazine. He parlayed his expertise in the field of hip-hop into the critically-acclaimed book,
The New Beats: Exploring the Music, Culture & Attitudes of Hip-Hop (Anchor/Doubleday, 1994), which has become an important document of the culture behind rap music.

After becoming familiar with the music industry through his work on the book, he borrowed $1000 from a friend, producer Bill Laswell, and started his own label, WordSound Recordings, in December 1994. A long time club and radio deejay, Fernando had, by this time, become deeply involved in music production. In an area that saw the dominance of major labels, he founded WordSound as an independent outlet for the music he and his friends were making. Over the last 18 years, WordSound has released 65 full-length albums and numerous EPs, singles, and remixes, running the gamut from dub and hip-hop to electronic and Middle Eastern music.

WordSound has created a very close-knit, creative community worldwide collaborating with such artists as Bill Laswell, Prince Paul, DJ Vadim, Kevin Martin (The Bug), Mick Harris (Scorn), Style Scott (Dub Syndicate), Scott Harding (New Kingdom), Anti-Pop Consortium, Umar Bin Hassan (Last Poets), DJ Rob Swift (X-ecutioners), and The Jungle Brothers, to name a few.

As a producer himself, Fernando has created 9 albums under his alter-ego, Spectre, The ILL Saint, 2 albums under the moniker Slotek, 2 albums as Scarab (co-produced with Professor Shehab), 2 albums as WordSound I-Powa, and 2 albums as Dubadelic.

As a director, Fernando has 3 feature films to his credit. Crooked, his first narrative feature, released in 2001, was also written and produced by him. The Greatest Thing You Never Heard (2003) is a dubumentary about the WordSound label. His latest film, Industria Brasileira (Made In Brasil) completed in 2010, is a documentary about the new music scene in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Fernando's most recent output has tilted heavily towards food. In 2007, Fernando returned to his homeland of Sri Lanka to write a cookbook about the local cuisine. Rice & Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking (Hippocrene Books, 2011), was a New York Times notable cookbook, and also got Fernando a spot on the popular Travel Channel show, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, where Fernando was the host's on camera guide in Sri Lanka. Fernando also started a blog called "Rice & Curry," dedicated to Sri Lankan food and all things spicy. He also started his own cooking show on YouTube called "Pan Asian," followed by two other food/travel shows called "Off The Eaten Path" and "Adventures in Dining."

He is currently about to release his ninth Spectre album, The True & Living (WSLP057) and is finishing up a documentary about new music in Ethiopia.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that makes the taste buds explode! December 7, 2011

By G. Freedman

Format:Paperback

I gained interest in this book after reading the stellar review on it in the New York Times. With such little known about Sri Lankan food I really enjoyed the new pallet of seasonings that I discovered. I have always been a fan of food from it's surrounding countries and you taste all these in these recipes, but yet they have there own Sri Lankan twist. I def recommend this for all fans of South Asian cooking!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars diverse and outstanding book! December 27, 2011

By FTTM

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this book after following the Pan-Asian videos of Skiz on youtube for a while. Its amazing that the passion about this topic you can see in the videos can be found throughout the entire book as well. Beside the great amount of recipes, you can find basic and useful infos about Sri Lanka you might need if you plan to visit. I also really liked the special features about the market in Sri Lanka, Leela, Tea, etc. that makes this book a great read. So far i tried 3 recipes and they were all great. Looking forward for the Lentil Soup and Fish Ambul Thial tomorrow.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sri Lankan Cookbook! January 2, 2012

By Robert

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A fantastic Sri Lankan cooking book, complete with interesting facts and history in the beginning. This book is truly authentic and has all of the Sri lankan staples. The book itself is high quality with a nice finish and a clean, organized appearance.