Floyd's India [Paperback]

With characteristic candour Floyd admits that before accepting the commission he knew nothing about India, and told "them" so. No problem, "they" reply: rather like Hearst providing the war, they will supply the information; all he has to do is "pop on a plane and get cooking". So the two and a half months that the Floyd caravanserai spent traipsing about the subcontinent, from the deserts of Rajasthan in the north to the tropical lushness of Kerala at the southern tip, were full of the excitement of discovery, recorded here in the very lively "Letter from India" (complete with advice on hotels and imprecations against errant airlines) that opens Floyd's India.

The recipes that Floyd picked up on his travels are arranged thematically: spice masalas, the foundation of Indian cooking, rice, thali (the Indian equivalent of tapas, it seems), meat, fish, tandoori and so forth. Some are familiar--Rogan Josh and Lamb Dhansak, for example--others less so. All are good. Everything about this book is vivid, from the food to Floyd's inimitable and ebullient if occasionally world-weary manner. --Robin Davidson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Home of rich, aromatic spices, countless regional dishes and a cuisine both envied and emulated around the world, India is a truly remarkable continent. In his latest culinary adventure, Keith Floyd journeys across this varied landscape, meeting the local people, investigating the busy market places and cooking many of the local specialties.

From the green hill stations in the north of the country, through the bustling markets of Delhi, Calcutta and Madras, to the lush rice fields of the south, Floyd’s adventure never stops. Whether he’s taking tiffin with sari-clad memsahibs or cooling off in the sparkling Indian Ocean, haggling his way through a busy marketplace, or taking a ride on an elephant, Floyd captures the very essence of this great contient.

Cooking in his own inimitable style, and using local produce such as spices, dals, ghees, lotus seeds and paneer, Floyd presents a delicious array of dishes to tempt all food enthusiasts. From passandras to kormas, and chutneys to lassis, this book covers all the regions, together with their specialties and their delicacies.

Much more than this, though, Floyd also captures the true experience of India -- its sights, its smells, and its wonderful cuisine.