Synopses & Reviews
From the sun-drenched Spanish countryside to the seaside villages to the bustling city tapa bars, one thing unites all of Spain: its varied and satisfying food. In this Mediterranean land of beauty and bounty, good food is a pleasure everyone shares. Spanish cuisine has flourished for centuries, inspired by luscious fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood and game, artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and renowned local wines. The influence of North African spices adds variety and unique flavors to the diverse cooking of this fascinating country.
My Kitchen in Spain celebrates the rich flavors and regional traditions of Spanish cooking. Janet Mendel has made her home in Spain for more than thirty years, collecting recipes from friends and neighbors, housewives and Sherry barons, olive farmers and restaurant chefs. From the far western province of Extremadura to the Moorish towns of Seville and Granada to the world-famous Basque region in the north, Janet Mendel discovers and chronicles the tastes and techniques of this remarkable country. Now experience the authentic flavors of Spain with favorites both classic and contemporary: Almond Gazpacho with Grapes, Sea Bass in Saffron Sauce, Fiesta Paella with Chicken and Shellfish. With a comprehensive chapter on tapas, Spain's enticing "little dishes," and 225 tempting recipes -- for every course from soup to dessert -- My Kitchen in Spain will bring the food delights of Spain home to your table.
Review
"An American living in Spain since 1966, Mendel is a teacher and advocate of her adopted cuisine, which, she says, never quite caught on like other ethnic food in the U.S....Mendel's convincing crusade on behalf of Spanish fare will undoubtedly win more converts to her cause." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Janet Mendel has spent more than three decades in Spain, collecting recipes from every part of the nation. My Kitchen in Spain presents the best of her gleanings....These regional Spanish recipes are bound to excite cooks looking for something new to add to their repertoires." Mark Knoblauch, Booklist
Review
"My Kitchen in Spain...covers the country with authority and provides an excellent introduction to the varied cooking of its regions. The author, who has lived in Spain since 1966, takes us to markets and introduces us to neighbors. She provides accessible recipes for a cuisine that deserves attention beyond paella and gazpacho." Florence Fabricant, The New York Times
Synopsis
For more than three decades, Janet Mendel has collected from the far reaches of Spain its very best recipes, created by the people who make them best the housewives, restaurant chefs, bar owners, farmers, sherry barons, friends, and neighbors.
My Kitchen in Spain is a unique collection of these utterly delicious recipes, all carefully adapted to the American home kitchen.
Mendel includes not only such enticing Spanish specialties as gazpacho (both red and white), tortilla, Galician fish stew, and several versions of paella, but also lesser-known dishes bursting with the intriguing spices brought to Spain from North Africa by the Moors and still important in Spanish cooking. With in-depth essays on traditional Spanish products, including sherry, olives and olive oil, exquisite cheese, and Serrano ham, My Kitchen in Spain provides an inside look into a vibrant culture that will delight cooks and travelers alike.
About the Author
Janet Mendel is the author of Cooking in Spain and Traditional Spanish Cooking, which won the prestigious Andre Simon Award in Great Britain. She lives in Andalusia, in southern Spain.