A Taste of Cuba (Paperback)

by Beatriz Llamas (Author), Ximena Maier (Illustrator), Michael Bonaparte (Photographer) "Cuban cuisine is an accumulation of methods and ingredients drawn from both the island's history and its natural resources..." (more)
Key Phrases: sour orange juice, dish measuring, guava paste, Taste of Cuba, Method Mix, Puerto Principe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Taste of Cuba is an ideal addition to any personal or community library multicultural cookbook collection." -- Wisconsin Bookwatch --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Cuban cuisine is a fascinating mixture of cultures and ingredients drawn from the island's complex history and its wide-ranging natural resources. It includes the early influences of native Cuban Indians (with their manioc, taro root, corn, and black beans) to the arrival of the Spanish colonizers with the cash crops of coffee and sugar as well as their stuffed roasted meats and peppers and, of course, the African slaves who brought okra, taro root, and plantain.

Today, all these are such important elements of Cuban cuisine that it seems as though they have always been present on the island. Add a little rum and some salsa music to the pot and the story of Cuban cuisine really begins to take shape!

In A Taste of Cuba Beatriz Llamas takes us on a gastronomic tour of the Caribbean's biggest island: from appetizers, soups, main dishes, side dishes, and desserts-and all the mouthwatering spices and ingredients (past and present) that are so popular and unique to Cuba.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Interlink Books (October 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566565758
• ISBN-13: 978-1566565752
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #760,145 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive culinary mix of cultures and ingredients, April 10, 2005

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

This review is from: A Taste Of Cuba (Hardcover)

Beatriz Llamas was born in Spain, ran cooking classes and a catering business while still a student, then worked at the Alambique Cookery School in Madrid before moving to Cuba, where she developed a keen interest in the local cuisine and culture. In A Taste Of Cuba, Llamas showcases an impressive culinary mix of cultures and ingredients associated with Cuba's complex history and natural resources originating with the Cuban Indians (cassava, taro root, corn, sweet potatoes, black beans), the Spanish colonizers (coffer, sugar, roasted meats and peppers), and African slaves (okra, plantain). All of these diverse heritages of foods fused into a vibrant new culinary culture. Illustrated with drawings and color photography, the recipes range from Taro Root Fritters; Avocado and Shrimp Salad; and Susana's Rice with Green Plantain; to Celie's Chicken and Corn Pie; Squash Pudding; and Soursop Champola Ice Cream. A Taste Of Cuba is an ideal addition to any personal or community library multicultural cookbook collection.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Itchin' to Go, April 5, 2005

By	M. L Martindale "Owner/Operator http://www.Fo... (LARGO, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Taste Of Cuba (Hardcover)

4/5/2005

A Taste of Cuba
By: Beatriz Llamas

A review by Marty Martindale

Just as our feet are itching to journey freely to the tastes and rhythms of colorful Cuba, our eyes can, at least, feast on the bright, lively illustrations by Ximena Maier in Llamas' A Taste of Cuba cookbook. This is also a chance to bone up on our menu familiarity once we again get to visit. In the beginning of the book, Llamas explains some of the details of the Cuban Table. Next she identifies frequently used ingredients.

Here's just a few of the dishes she tempts us with:

* A couple of interesting and very simple soups: Avocado Soup made with chicken broth, mustard and lime juice. Her Green Plantain Soup similarly calls for beef broth, lime juice and cloves.

* Jose's Ceviche uses king mackerel, onion, lime juice, olive oil and parsley.

* Fish in Escabeche is olive oil, onion, garlic white wine, wine vinegar, spices and fresh tuna.

* Glazed Sweet Potatoes is a combination of lime juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and dry Cuban cooking wine.

* Her Apple-Flavored Banana Ice Cream is a simple recipe calling for apple bananas, lime juice, 7-year-old rum, milk, sugar, light whipping cream and egg whites.

* Black Boy in His Shirt is a rich cake made from cooking chocolate, butter, eggs, sugar, roasted peanuts and confectioners' sugar.

A Taste of Cuba is a pretty little Cuban book, only 139 pages, but filled with the little country's unique appetizers, soups, main dishes, side dishes and sesserts. Generally, it is a good idea to own a lime tree, if you live in Cuba ...

© Marty Martindale, 2005, Largo FL
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best authentic Cuban Cookbooks! User Friendly and Entertaining, July 27, 2005

By	A. C. Martinez "usambcuba" (Washington DC, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Taste Of Cuba (Hardcover)

Great recipes. Easy to follow. Genuine Cuban cuisine specific dishes -autentico- Will bring much "sabor" and "salsa" to your plate and cooking! You will never get bored in the kitchen with this book while bringing the goodness of the enchanted isle to your dinner plate. Enjoy!