David Attenborough: Drawn from Paradise: The Natural History, Art and Discovery of the Birds of Paradise with Rare Archival Art
Gorgeous. Satisfies my inner geek and closet bird watcher. (*****)
Kathy Hester: The Great Vegan Bean Book: More than 100 Delicious Plant-Based Dishes Packed with the Kindest Protein in Town! - Includes Soy-Free and Gluten-Free Recipes!
Lots of good ideas and a welcome addition to the library of bean cookery. (****)
Matthew Garcia: From the Jaws of Victory: The Triumph and Tragedy of Cesar Chavez and the Farm Worker Movement
Still reading this one. Very well written but Cesar was one of my heroes. Let's see what I think after I finish! (****)
Mark Bittman: VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00 to Lose Weight and Restore Your Health . . . for Good
I'm trying. And I'm blogging some of the recipes. (****)
Deborah Holtz: La tacopedia. Enciclopedia del taco (Spanish Edition)
In Spanish but it's easy to understand and muy fun. (****)
Anthony Boutard: Beautiful Corn: America's Original Grain from Seed to Plate
It's rare to find a book so poetic and so practical. I dare you not to grow corn next spring after reading this book. (*****)
Jose Garces: The Latin Road Home: Savoring the Foods of Ecuador, Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Peru
I love this book. It has a clear point of view that makes great sense and Garves has great taste and very good recipes. You'll have trouble deciding whether to travel or cook. (*****)
Maricel E. Presilla: Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America
Huge, glorious volume covering a lot of ground. I think it would have been better without Mexico because it can only be superficial, even with a book this size, but there's lots to love and admire and almost every night I take it to bed with me, fantasizing about what I'll make next. (****)
Hugo Ortega: Hugo Ortega's Street Food of Mexico
A lot of familiar territory is covered but the recipes are really good, concise and clear and the photos are great. Much better than I ever expected. (****)
Marilyn Tausend: La Cocina Mexicana: Many Cultures, One Cuisine
Fun and quirky volume with lots of recipes from Tausend's travels over the years. I found lots of new things and plenty of inspiration to go into the kitchen and cook. (****)
Alfonso Morales: Paul Strand in Mexico
A beautiful, huge book that includes a DVD of his film made in Mexico. (*****)
Katherine Gustafson: Change Comes to Dinner: How Vertical Farmers, Urban Growers, and Other Innovators Are Revolutionizing How America Eats
It all started with beans! A great book about food that's an enjoyable read with great topics. And Rancho Gordo figures prominently in the story. (*****)
Kris Hoogerhyde: Sweet Cream and Sugar Cones: 90 Recipes for Making Your Own Ice Cream and Frozen Treats from Bi-Rite Creamery
Recipes from my favorite ice cream shop. It's great when nice people do great things and get acknowledged for it. You deserve this book! Get it and David Lebovitz' Perfect Scoop and your ice cream library will be complete. (*****)
John Coe Robbins: Maya Lord
Great read. Historical fiction about Gonzalo Guerrero and Jeronimo, a stranded soldier and priest, who become slaves in pre-conquest Yucatan and how their perceptions change. I love the comparisons of Mayan sacrifice to the Spanish Inquisition. A super story and a super storyteller. This should make a great movie. (*****)
Douglas Woods: The California Casa
HUGE celebration of Spanish Revival architecture. Not all the examples work but when they do, my heart breaks a little.
Andrés Reséndez: A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca
A great book about the journey of Cabeza de Vaca. You couldn't make this stuff up. I love it because it's shared history of the US and Mexico.
Ioan Grillo: El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency
An easier and less depressing read than you'd think. It's a good overview of the scene in Mexico and brings home how much of this is our problem as well as Mexico's.
Anyone who thinks there's an easy solution is nuts. (****)
Gary Paul Nabhan: Desert Terroir: Exploring the Unique Flavors and Sundry Places of the Borderlands (Ellen)
My favorite writer writes what is possibly my favorite book. It's hard to not want to go for a hike after reading this. (*****)
Tangos De Discepolo
LILIANA FELIPE: Tangos De Discepolo (****)
A Buena Vista: Barrio de la Habana
Soneros De Verdad: A Buena Vista: Barrio de la Habana (*****)
Long Live Boogaloo
Various Artists: Long Live Boogaloo (*****)
Original Album Series
Tom Waits: Original Album Series (*****)
Evolucion: 20 Anos De Toto La Momposina
Toto La Momposina: Evolucion: 20 Anos De Toto La Momposina (****)
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(Here's a re-post from 2006 to help beat the hot weather- Steve)
I had a similar plate in Mexico City this last Spring and Paula Wolfert has a close version in her book The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen
If you find a good brand of domestic sardines, let me know. The
European sardines always seem to be packed in better oil.
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I eat a lot of sardines, and this looks like such a delicious way to enjoy them on a hot summer day. Thanks for the idea. Inspiring photo.
Kathleen
Posted by: Cooking in Mexico | July 18, 2010 at 12:12 PM
The last American sardines were canned earlier this year:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/14/national/main6394365.shtml
Which would explain why they were all 'not that good' - they were all from the same cannery.
While not domestic, I do like the North American Sardines from Canada. Brunswick brand - and they're cheap around here - Portland, Oregon.
Here's a Chowhound link that you might find helpful in identifying Sardines to seek out:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/301342
We *LOVE* your beans. My cat is named Mr. Beans. (Signor Fagioli)
Posted by: Toloavna | July 19, 2010 at 09:18 PM
How sad! We don't make much of anything any more, even cheap fish. Thanks for the link.
Posted by: Steve Sando | July 21, 2010 at 05:15 PM