In Tastes Like Home Guyanese food enthusiast and blogger Cynthia Nelson, who lives in Barbados, brings readers over 100 recipes from all over the Caribbean; all of which she has tried and tested herself and served to family and friends. But more than just recipes, Tastes Like Home is a conversation about food and how it connects and forms part of Caribbean identity. The book is divided into two sections, a memoir section and a recipe section. In the memoir section Cynthia shares personal memories which help us to understand Caribbean food and lifestyle. Some of the memories focus on food, some on events or special festivals, others are just recollections about life in the Caribbean. In the recipe section readers are treated to step by step guides on how to make roti, the perfect baked ham, Dhal puri, Christmas Cake and Coconut drops - to name a few. Whether you are at home or abroad, near or far, Tastes Like Home is your invitation to revel in the tastes of the Caribbean.
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About the Author
Cynthia Nelson grew up in Guyana cooking alongside her mom and aunt. Working in the Caribbean media for many years, Cynthia has travelled the region savouring and learning the cuisine of the Caribbean. Cynthia s musings on food and life regularly appear in publications in the Caribbean and North America, including Stabroek News newspaper (Guyana); Caribbean Belle magazine (Trinidad) and City Style and Living magazine (Canada). She is Contributing Writer at About.com, owned by The New York Time Company and is the author of the award winning blog.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By E. Wood
Format:Paperback
Are you from the Caribbean? Have a significant other who is or just interested in good Caribbean food then pick up a copy of this book. The recipes are great, detailed and come with amazing photos, Roti and dhal puri which has eluded me can be easily made there are step by step photos showing you exactly what to do. I've been reading Cynthia Nelson's Blog [...]for a while now searching it for recipes of home that i could try and had yet found one to fail me. I went from being someone who everyone knew didn't cook (rather i hardly knew how) to someone people would ask "did you cook this i thought u didn't cook" I'd just smile to myself and mentally thank her.
I've had other copies of caribbean cookbooks, being guyanese I own [[ASIN:1405013133 What's Cooking in Guyana] one of these books that have everything you could possibly think of, it's dog eared and stained but cooking from it at times were a trial as there were only a few photos in the middle of the book and quite a few of the ingredients were in metric and in fact no longer being cooked with (vetsin). The recipes also were sometimes hit and miss for me. I longed for book with just the food we cooked everyday, and sometimes on special occasions. Nothing too exotic.
I guess you could say that this book for me is the answer to my proverbial prayer. No longer do i have to go skimming cynthia's blog for recipes and printing them out, so much. She has quite a few of them here. So if you want to know how to make good everyday caribbean food, that is simple, no fail and delicious, a great pine tart, cheese roll, or guyanese beef patties look no further.
The book is not just about the recipes. It also has Cynthia's caribbean food memories, great tales about shopping in the market, trying to be deemed ready by her mom on how to cook that elusive dish. Reading it just brought all this nostalgia, i started remember my younger days at home with my family, my own food memories. This book is not on my book shelf but on the coffee table for that same reason. I want my girlfriends and family to ask about it, to read the stories and maybe inspire them to get their own darn copy and stop trying to hijack mine.
I've had other copies of caribbean cookbooks, being guyanese I own [[ASIN:1405013133 What's Cooking in Guyana] one of these books that have everything you could possibly think of, it's dog eared and stained but cooking from it at times were a trial as there were only a few photos in the middle of the book and quite a few of the ingredients were in metric and in fact no longer being cooked with (vetsin). The recipes also were sometimes hit and miss for me. I longed for book with just the food we cooked everyday, and sometimes on special occasions. Nothing too exotic.
I guess you could say that this book for me is the answer to my proverbial prayer. No longer do i have to go skimming cynthia's blog for recipes and printing them out, so much. She has quite a few of them here. So if you want to know how to make good everyday caribbean food, that is simple, no fail and delicious, a great pine tart, cheese roll, or guyanese beef patties look no further.
The book is not just about the recipes. It also has Cynthia's caribbean food memories, great tales about shopping in the market, trying to be deemed ready by her mom on how to cook that elusive dish. Reading it just brought all this nostalgia, i started remember my younger days at home with my family, my own food memories. This book is not on my book shelf but on the coffee table for that same reason. I want my girlfriends and family to ask about it, to read the stories and maybe inspire them to get their own darn copy and stop trying to hijack mine.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the book I've been waiting for. Precision with rich pictures!
January 9, 2011
By ShopGirl
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is important to note that there are different areas of the Caribbean and the flavors of the Spanish, Dutch, and British Caribbean are often distinct even from one another. There are many recipes here that cross those divides- but I would say these are the flavors of the Afro- Caribbean and the West Indies specifically Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados. The author notes these foods were "flavored" by its migration heritage. Which is probably why the variety is so delightful. Of all the Caribbean food realms out there- I really enjoy these flavors the most. TASTE LIKE HOME is the most comprehensive and well written cookbook of these flavors.
I want to cook what I've tasted and thoroughly enjoyed- often recipes miss that mark. This book will NOT disappoint. Caribbean cooking is an art form. No two recipes for a popular dish seem identical -even in the same households and often -even from the same cooks. Many Caribbean cooks, when detailing recipes tell you some of this, a pinch of that- and give you four alternative ingredients. It's almost as if the recipes are a protected secret! There needs to be a solid foundation on which to build flavors. This book will give it to you.
It is beautifully written with inspiring, nostalgic stories and then there's the recipes. Details with such beautiful pictures. The stories and recipes speak to my imagination, memories-that seem to cross cultures and age, and my palate. Those elusive flavors come to light here. This is a must buy.
I want to cook what I've tasted and thoroughly enjoyed- often recipes miss that mark. This book will NOT disappoint. Caribbean cooking is an art form. No two recipes for a popular dish seem identical -even in the same households and often -even from the same cooks. Many Caribbean cooks, when detailing recipes tell you some of this, a pinch of that- and give you four alternative ingredients. It's almost as if the recipes are a protected secret! There needs to be a solid foundation on which to build flavors. This book will give it to you.
It is beautifully written with inspiring, nostalgic stories and then there's the recipes. Details with such beautiful pictures. The stories and recipes speak to my imagination, memories-that seem to cross cultures and age, and my palate. Those elusive flavors come to light here. This is a must buy.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Eleanor C
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is excellent in providing instructions, but also explaining the nuanced techniques of these Caribbean favorites and the cultural significance of the dishes. Instructions are clear and concise with helpful tips and photos and recipes use cup measures, so one doesn't need a scale for measurements. I've been searching for a Caribbean cookbook that features "authentic" recipes but doesn't assume I'm an expert in the culture and this is it. I'd be proud to give it to Guyanese family members and American foodies alike and would say it's a huge step towards making Caribbean culture and food accessible to the "mainstream palette" and helping parents pass along their heritage.
Can't say enough about how well the book is done! This is going to be a classic!
Can't say enough about how well the book is done! This is going to be a classic!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent base!
I'm a Guyanese woman living across the country from my mother and other relatives. In my family, as in many West Indian families (most, I imagine) learning to cook these... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Jessica D. Gunraj
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marjorie M
This is by far one of the best cookbooks I have ever bought! The photos are amazing! Everything I've tried taste great! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Marjorie McLennon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Caribbean cookbook of the century
As a fellow food enthusiast and Guyanese living in Barbados, I fell in love with this book long before I had it in my possession. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Cojomania
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Guyanese Cookbook
All the foods I remember my parents making when I was young. The color photos are fabulous. The book is worth every single penny.
Published 12 months ago by mother of three
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best Guyanese cookbook!
TY C.N!
This is the best tasing guyanese cookbook! I have been searching hi and low..
Recipes are easy... great pics.. and delish!
ty again... Read more
This is the best tasing guyanese cookbook! I have been searching hi and low..
Recipes are easy... great pics.. and delish!
ty again... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Nadia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely the best Caribbean cookbook available
"Tastes like Home" is simply the best Caribbean cookbook available. Not only does Cynthia provide excellent recipes but she gives readers a firm grasp of the cultural context of... Read more
Published 18 months ago by DB Caribbean American
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent!!!
This book is absolutely excellent!!! The recipes are easy to follow, along with providing some history of her life and cooking in Guyana, the aromas of the masalas, curries, and... Read more
Published 19 months ago by pamela gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy to follow recipes with beautiful pictures
I bought this book two weeks ago and I love it!! The recipes in this book are very clear and easy to follow - the food comes out exactly like how it is written in the book. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Katherine T. Muller
5.0 out of 5 stars
I've been waiting for this book!
Although not Caribbean myself, I've spent considerable amounts of time in the islands over the past ten years, and have always wanted a cookbook that would capture the flavor of my... Read more
Published on March 15, 2011 by Food Lover in Atlanta
5.0 out of 5 stars
Takes Me Back
This has quickly become my favorite cookbook. The recipes are authentic and I've had great results. Read more
Published on March 1, 2011 by ASgt
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