A review by leahnoel
Paladares: Recipes from the Private Restaurants, Home Kitchens, and Streets of Cuba by Anya von Bremzen

5.0

Wonderful book. A real armchair traveler! Great photography of the country, including portraits of chefs. The food is showcased, of course, but human interest pieces are spread throughout that talk about Cuba’s tumultuous political history and how it affected/affects the people and food culture. The recipes are flavorful and easy to follow. Some use ingredients that are difficult or impossible to find in most parts of the U.S., but where substitutes can be used it is stated. Plus, different parts of the world grow different produce, and it’s not going to be an authentic cookbook if that fact is ignored for the sake of readers in other countries. But what I especially like about those recipes is that the flavor and texture qualities of produce we don’t use in the U.S. are described so that you can try to find your own substitutes if you really want to. Overall I love this book!