The United States (Culinaria) [Hardcover]

Gary Chassman (Editor), George Wieser (Photographer), Helmut Claus (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Part cookbook and part encyclopedia, this enormous book is a vibrant celebration of American regional cooking and cultures. Candid shots of the foods, markets, delis, and restaurants of every region are a splendid reminder of the diverse heritage of the United States. From New Orleans's vibrant French markets famous for Creole tomatoes, okra, and sweet potatoes to the state fairs of the Midwest, where giant corn dogs and pumpkins the size of houses are all the rage, Culinara is a fascinating waltz across America's palate.

Typically, each chapter is introduced with a look at the region's quintessential crops and foods--apples, berries, and cheese in the Northwest; oranges, olives, asparagus, and avocados in California. Dispersed among color photographs and a feast of food and drink wisdom are recipes inspired by each region's specialty. A simple recipe for Pasta with Asparagus and Mushrooms makes good use of California's succulent vegetables; Oregon Trail Soup, a dish brimming with buttery beans, evokes a feel for the Great Plains, campfires, and cowboys! Neatly balanced within each chapter are recipes and commentaries on both classic cooking and ethnic cooking. In the Pacific Northwest, Japanese sashimi (raw fish) is all the rage in Seattle's thriving international district. Just down the road, traditional freshwater salmon is a favorite at the city's oldest food market, the Pike Place Market. Snippets of history, recipe ideas, and inspiration accompany each locale, whether in Seattle, New York, or a far-flung Midwestern homestead. This is an excellent and all-encompassing guide to the foods and culinary history of the United States. --Naomi Gesinger

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Konemann (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3829002599
• ISBN-13: 978-3829002592
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 11.1 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The United States (Culinaria) (Hardcover)

For once there is a culinary book that does justice to each of the individual, and exceptional, regions of the United States: the cuisine from Louisiana isn't restricted to the usual red beans and rice or jambalaya; the coast isn't simply seafood; Texas is more than beef and brisket. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This book is outstanding in not only the recipes, but the overall atmosphere given to the diverse sections of the country. As a senior high school student, I respect and value the differences between the states and surrounding areas, and Culinaria is one such informational text that depicts this diversity, and then some.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good "niche" cook book, November 8, 2000

By 

SH in Tampa "SPH" (Tampa FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The United States (Culinaria) (Hardcover)

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 many varied regions of the United States, this is a great book.

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.

Overall, it is one of the better written books in the series. This book was well worth the investment and is an interesting read.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Culinaria: The United Sytates, March 2, 2001

By 

Kenneth J. Grogg (St. Paul, MN. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The United States (Culinaria) (Hardcover)

As a professional chef and culinary instructor, I found this volume to be an excellent resource of American cuisine. The recipes are fairly basic, but the history behind regional culinary traditions is vast and informative. I recommend all the volumes in this series to chefs and home cooks very highly.