Easy Exotic: A Model's Low Fat Recipes From Aroundthe World (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "There was a small cafe called the Bahia near the Tandem Institute where I went to school that had an impressive menu of beautiful and..." (more)
Key Phrases: casserole set over moderate heat, large nonstick skillet set, tablespoon minced gingerroot, Cook Time, Garam Masala, Herbes de Provence (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Here are two celebrity cookbooks by celebrities, not celebrity chefs. Singer Labelle loves food and cooking; she even takes her pots and pans with her when she's on tour so that she can whip up a meal in her hotel room after a show. Here are recipes for what she likes best, many of them family favorites handed down from her grandmother, mother, and others: Pass-It-On Pot Roast, Aunt Verdelle's Savory Red Rice, Fierce Fried Corn, Baby Henry's Bread Pudding. Childhood memories, anecdotes about life on the road, and touching recollections about her family are interspersed throughout the book. LaBelle's memoir, Don't Block the Blessings (Riverhead, 1996), was a huge best seller, and her cookbook is sure to be popular. Lakshmi is a supermodel who was born in India, grew up in the United States, and travels frequently to exoticAand less-exoticAlocales for her job. Here she sets down about five dozen recipes for the food she likes to cook and eat, organized by country (or continent) of origin: Spain, France, Italy, India, Asia, and Morocco. Most are standards, and the text, while well written, would seem to be of little interest to anyone other than supermodel groupies. Not a necessary purchase.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"...reestablishes the allure of the world's diverse cuisines...exciting flavor combinations speak directly to the sensibilities of the modern American palate." -- Rocco DiSpirito, Chef/Proprietor, Union Pacific

"...truly sensual food... from the world's most sensual cookbook author! Delicious." -- David Rosengarten, The Food Network --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Miramax Books; 1st edition (May 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786864591
• ISBN-13: 978-0786864591
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #790,052 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great recipes..., August 14, 2002

By	"kristennsf" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Another reviewer panned this book b/c she bought it simply to "know Padma better." This is a cookbook, not a biography. The recipes are delicious, low in cholesterol and low-fat. They are easy to make and the instructions are clear, so the book is accessible to new cooks but still interesting for those with more experience in the kitchen. I think this is a terrific book, the recipes I've used have all been delicious (especially the Spinach and Garbanzo Tapas). I highly recommend it.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, easy to use and delicious recipes!, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

Thank Padma for this book - if you are dieting and looking for delicious recipes that aren't bland "diet foods" then this book is exactly what you are looking for!

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as bad as some people think it is, May 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Easy Exotic: Low-Fat Recipes from Around the World (Paperback)

This isn't a bad cookbook but it isn't the greatest one either, if you don't buy it you're not missing out on anything except the pictures of Padma. The recipes aren't that difficult and the Indian ones which are her specialty are the best in the book. For people who aren't the best cooks but want to make some decent Indian dishes, Padma's book is pretty good for that. If I had a dollar for every time she mentions Daniel and her mom, I would be a millionaire...and I could have done without the narratives that are so shallow that you know that they came from the mind of a model. For example, "there I was in a beautiful Chanel gown eating a tuna fish sandwich." Someone please tell Padma her village called, apparently their model is missing. One more thing, all her recipes are available on the food network website FOR FREE.