Food Culture in India (Food Culture around the World) (Hardcover)

~ Colleen T. Sen Ph.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[A] timely work given the increasing interest in the culinary culture of South Asia, and of Indian cuisine in particular. Wide in scope and in ambition, this descriptively rich book constructs a panoramic view of the culinary world of the subcontinent....Sen's work is significant given that the culinary and gastronomic culture of the subcontinent is remarkably complex, comprising countless regionally differntiated cuisines and gastronomic genres, which she presents in a digestible manner...The book is full of fascinating details about dishes that Indians take for granted as part of their heritage but never think to inquire about....[i]nvaluable.”–Contemporary South Asia

“[T]he heart of Food Culture in India lies in its cultural approach and college-level collections will consider it a value addition to any in-depth section on India.”–MBR Internet Bookwatch

“Not a cookbook but an invaluable source of the "why" of Indian cooking is Colleen Taylor Sen's Food Culture in India....Sen does an admirable job sketching out the history of India and its myriad food cultures. She manages to remain clear and accessible while trying not to overlook any one region, ethnicity or economic class. Dishes or foods that may seem strange or unfamiliar to the average American reader suddenly make sense when placed in the broader societal and historical context. Ingredients are explained, cooking techniques explored, everyday and holiday eating defined. The book even offers a few representative recipes. This is a work that belongs in the kitchen library of any serious lover or preparer of Indian foods.”–Chicago Tribune

“[A] well researched and truly fascinating look at the culture, foods and their origins all over the sub continent, broken down by region ... definitely one for the shelves to come back to time and again.”–Menu Magazine

Book Description

Offers the first comprehensive overview of Indian cuisine.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood (July 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313324875
• ISBN-13: 978-0313324871
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,196,861 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable addition to any in-depth section on India, November 11, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Plenty of college-level texts cover Indian history and culture with mention of food - but few focus exclusively on the connections between food and culture as does Colleen Taylor Sen's Food And Culture In India. Using a historical approach, Indian culinary expert Sen provides an analysis of how cultures and cuisines have mixed within India from prehistoric to modern times. There are recipes peppered throughout, but the heart of Food And Culture In India lies in its cultural approach and college-level collections will consider it a valuable addition to any in-depth section on India.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Superlative Insight into a Culinary Heritage, April 13, 2005

By	Pundit "Food is an Art" (India) - See all my reviews

As the author says, this is not a recipe book. What this book does is that it meshes together extremely well the relationship between a complex culture and its culinary heritage. Replete with historical tid-bits, cultural trivia, origins of different dishes that we have become used to, this is a simply marvelous piece of work that will satisfy even cynics. Whether you are into food or history, this is a must-read!