Customer Reviews

Spain (Culinary Recipes)

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4 star:		(1)
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I have visited Spain often and have many friends there, one of whom who had gotten both the Spanish and English versions of this volume. He and I both agreed that this was a fantastic book, touring Spain region to region, displaying the wines, cheeses and other foods native to each region, including recipes translated to American format. It has exquisite photographs of regions, markets and dishes. It provides glossaries of such things as seafood and mushrooms, fully illustrated. It details cheese, jamon and wine-making processes. It is wonderfully organized and illustrated. For anyone interested in the culinary arts and its history, particularly as they apply to Spain, this is an essential text. I have now just bought the volume on France and look forward to other volumes in this series.

I discovered this book (the Spanish version called Un paseo gastronomico por Espana) in Madrid last summer, and I found it to be absolutely amazing! As a Spanish teacher, I was delighted to find a book that covers virtually every culinary aspect of Spain (including holidays, Jewish, American, Moorish, Roman, and Celtic influences.) This incredibly researched work covers the history of the peninsula from the point of view of food and drink. There are absolutely beautiful photos of the Iberian landscape and people as well as detailed coverage of all aspects of food, drink, ingredients...including animals, fish, vegetables, spices, restaurants, etc. There is a section showing how to slice jamon serrano and a fold out showing the wide variety of mouth-watering tapas found in Spanish bars. They even review brands of beer and bottled water. I have two copies of this book-one is at school where I use it extensively with my high school Spanish classes; the other sits proudly on my coffee table at home.

Rarely, is there a book that comes along and captures the full nature and quality of the subject that lies between its pages. This book is an undeniable exception. Not only does it present the rich and colorful tapestry of the regional cuisine of Spain, but provides the reader with a historical sense of the place, the people, and the food. I love this book because it brings me back home. To the smells and flavors I grew up with in my mothers kitchen. To festive occasions celebrated with Tapas, Paellas, and Sangria that welcomed friends and family. And to the holidays that were full of tradition and flavors. Discovering how a meal is not only for the body but is also for the heart and soul. The charm of this book is that even without much culinary skill the most flavorful dishes can be prepared. Additionally, there are numerous unpretentious and natural illustrations, which provide the reader a visual palette of Espana. I could go on and on about the technical merits of this book in terms of recipes, but it is the emotional quality of this book that makes this Spaniard want to share it with everyone who is interested in discovering the true essence of Mi Terra. This masterpiece of culinary literature is worth its weight in gold because it offers a window for the senses, to a place in the world rich in history and tradition.

This book is a great special interest book. If you are looking for an extensive encyclopedia of recipes and techniques, this book is not for you. However, if you would like to explore the culinary specialities of the various regions of the Spain, this is a great book. Besides covering the mainline Spanish culture, it also deals with the Basques and Moorish influenced foods as well.

Visually, the book is very impressive. The surrounding pictures and text describe the region and the culture, putting the recipies in context. It is this extra material that makes trying out these recipies so much fun.

The recipies themselves vary in the level of difficulty, preparation and practicality. Again, pick your experiment and get started as you have time. One frustration is that some of the ingredients are hard to find if you are outside of Spain - obviously not the book's fault.

This book was well worth the investment and is an interesting read.

Having recently returned from living in Spain I longed for the food and culture once again. Upon finding the treasure of this book I was instantly transported back to the land that holds my heart. This book is for everyone--if you're looking for mouth-watering recipes, fantastic photos of one of the most beautiful countries in the world, history, or the like, you'll LOVE this book. It has quickly become my favorite cookbook and it also makes a great coffee table decoration as well. Try it now. You'll not be sorry!

English not been my mother tonge I find difficulty expressing how I feel about this book. I own one and looking to buy six or eight more - no more Christmas worries for me..! EVERY SPANIARD AWAY FROM HOME SHOULD HAVE ONE..! I borrow every word from Mr.Roger D. Robinson Jr. from Lexington, Ky's review - a resounding DITTO..! Muchas gracias Roger, y perdon por usar su nombre sin permiso.

This book is a bargain. From recipes to historical anecdotes this book is a blessing. Everything you wanted to know and see about Spain's gastronomical heritage. The pictures are beautiful and large. The perfect coffee and kitchen table book. It makes any other country jealous. There's ham, wine, brandy, cigars, fruit, seafood, etc. This is a great book to give anyone interested in Spain. As a fellow proud Spaniard I certainly enjoyed it and it is one of the best reference visual books in my collection.

I just received this book as a gift from my best friend. I had visited Spain this past February and now am planning to retire and move to Spain sometime later this year. This book is wonderful - the pictures, recipes, industry and the people. It seems to be very authentic and captures the beauty of Spain's many cultures.

A perfect book for one either wanting to learn more about Spain or its cooking. The recipes are often simple, always marvelous and take into account the true spirit of the country. If you want to understand Spain and Spanish cooking in all its glory then here it is- there is no better.

Being a native of Spain living in the US, I am always looking for anything that will bring me a taste of Spain: a restaurant, a museum exhibition, a film... and why not a cook book? Culiaria's España contains and awesome amount of information that brings the reader closer to Spain, and not just in the gastronomical aspect, for Spain, like so many other lands, has its dishes tied to its history. The way the book separates the regions and their typical (if not most popular) dishes is fantastic. Looking at the images is a feast for the eyes; reading the text is understanding Spain; and making the dishes is, well, I think you better get your own copy and start enjoying the simple but complex TRUE Spanish cooking.