- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Ian Randle Publishers,Jamaica (17 Feb 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 9766375194
- ISBN-13: 978-9766375195
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 18.8 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 525,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For some weeks now I've been dithering, unable to decide whether to review "Tastes Like Home" by Cynthia Nelson for my book column in Trinidad Newsday or check out the recipes and write it up for my Wednesday food column in the same newspaper. In fact I've been putting off writing a review because I knew (and know) some Newsday readers are going to disagree with my views on this book.
From which you'll realise that whoever would like my review copy is welcome to it because, in my estimation, it is neither fish, flesh, fowl nor good red herring.
The first 90 pages are devoted to a "food memoir" of, among other things, the author's reminiscences of home (Guyana), salt fish -- which gives me the shudders, lyrical descriptions of okra, eggplant (melongene for local readers), plantains, conkies, bakes and, finally (but not least) An Acquired Taste, Karaili -- that, having tasted some more than once, I have no desire to acquire.
Notwithstanding my views on this book the young ladies in local bookstores have told me it was "flying off the shelves". Well, as an elegant coffee table book I can understand why one would buy it. But as a cookbook, I wouldn't give you the proverbial tuppence for it because whoever heard of a cookbook that lists the ingredients on one page and the methods, directions for cooking overleaf? Especially with a book as large and heavy as this one?
Then, while my native home is the land of Steak and Kidney Pie, Roast Beef and Yorkshire puddings, kippers, real Cheddar, Wensleydale and other good cheeses and Brussel sprouts (have you ever tried roasting them?) Victoria sponge cakes and English Trifles, I've lived in the Caribbean for over 50 years -- long enough to appreciate the Jamaican Watchman (rice and peas -- that are really red kidney beans), Callalloo, Pelau, and that oh, so fattening, heart-threatening but delicious Oil Down, the classic Flying Fish of Barbados, Doubles...
However, I searched through "Tastes Like Home" in vain for recipes for my favourite Caribbean dishes; presumably Cynthia Nelson thought those Caribbean specialities were so well known as not to need inclusion in her book.
Did I check out any of the recipes in this book? I did try one and wasn't impressed with the result; as for more of the rest either they were too peppery for my taste or of the ones that interested me I reckoned them to be a threat to my waistline and/or arteries.
But there you are, you may find this book a treasure house of old-time favourites and don't mind turning over pages while you cook. I hope those of you who bought, or have yet to buy "Tastes Like Home" by Cynthia Nelson find it more useful than I did.
From which you'll realise that whoever would like my review copy is welcome to it because, in my estimation, it is neither fish, flesh, fowl nor good red herring.
The first 90 pages are devoted to a "food memoir" of, among other things, the author's reminiscences of home (Guyana), salt fish -- which gives me the shudders, lyrical descriptions of okra, eggplant (melongene for local readers), plantains, conkies, bakes and, finally (but not least) An Acquired Taste, Karaili -- that, having tasted some more than once, I have no desire to acquire.
Notwithstanding my views on this book the young ladies in local bookstores have told me it was "flying off the shelves". Well, as an elegant coffee table book I can understand why one would buy it. But as a cookbook, I wouldn't give you the proverbial tuppence for it because whoever heard of a cookbook that lists the ingredients on one page and the methods, directions for cooking overleaf? Especially with a book as large and heavy as this one?
Then, while my native home is the land of Steak and Kidney Pie, Roast Beef and Yorkshire puddings, kippers, real Cheddar, Wensleydale and other good cheeses and Brussel sprouts (have you ever tried roasting them?) Victoria sponge cakes and English Trifles, I've lived in the Caribbean for over 50 years -- long enough to appreciate the Jamaican Watchman (rice and peas -- that are really red kidney beans), Callalloo, Pelau, and that oh, so fattening, heart-threatening but delicious Oil Down, the classic Flying Fish of Barbados, Doubles...
However, I searched through "Tastes Like Home" in vain for recipes for my favourite Caribbean dishes; presumably Cynthia Nelson thought those Caribbean specialities were so well known as not to need inclusion in her book.
Did I check out any of the recipes in this book? I did try one and wasn't impressed with the result; as for more of the rest either they were too peppery for my taste or of the ones that interested me I reckoned them to be a threat to my waistline and/or arteries.
But there you are, you may find this book a treasure house of old-time favourites and don't mind turning over pages while you cook. I hope those of you who bought, or have yet to buy "Tastes Like Home" by Cynthia Nelson find it more useful than I did.
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book of recipes is well written and and not too stuffy. I enjoyed just looking through it and reading the witty comments. It definitely reminds me of home and my young days. I remember eating most of those foods with great enjoyment. I will be making a few of them for my family especially the younger generation.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Delicious recipes and great food memories
23 Dec 2010
Format:Paperback
Are you from the Caribbean? Have a significant other who is or just interested in good Caribbean food then pick up a copy of this book. The recipes are great, detailed and come with amazing photos, Roti and dhal puri which has eluded me can be easily made there are step by step photos showing you exactly what to do. I've been reading Cynthia Nelson's Blog [...]for a while now searching it for recipes of home that i could try and had yet found one to fail me. I went from being someone who everyone knew didn't cook (rather i hardly knew how) to someone people would ask "did you cook this i thought u didn't cook" I'd just smile to myself and mentally thank her.
I've had other copies of caribbean cookbooks, being guyanese I own [[ASIN:1405013133 What's Cooking in Guyana] one of these books that have everything you could possibly think of, it's dog eared and stained but cooking from it at times were a trial as there were only a few photos in the middle of the book and quite a few of the ingredients were in metric and in fact no longer being cooked with (vetsin). The recipes also were sometimes hit and miss for me. I longed for book with just the food we cooked everyday, and sometimes on special occasions. Nothing too exotic.
I guess you could say that this book for me is the answer to my proverbial prayer. No longer do i have to go skimming cynthia's blog for recipes and printing them out, so much. She has quite a few of them here. So if you want to know how to make good everyday caribbean food, that is simple, no fail and delicious, a great pine tart, cheese roll, or guyanese beef patties look no further.
The book is not just about the recipes. It also has Cynthia's caribbean food memories, great tales about shopping in the market, trying to be deemed ready by her mom on how to cook that elusive dish. Reading it just brought all this nostalgia, i started remember my younger days at home with my family, my own food memories. This book is not on my book shelf but on the coffee table for that same reason. I want my girlfriends and family to ask about it, to read the stories and maybe inspire them to get their own darn copy and stop trying to hijack mine.
I've had other copies of caribbean cookbooks, being guyanese I own [[ASIN:1405013133 What's Cooking in Guyana] one of these books that have everything you could possibly think of, it's dog eared and stained but cooking from it at times were a trial as there were only a few photos in the middle of the book and quite a few of the ingredients were in metric and in fact no longer being cooked with (vetsin). The recipes also were sometimes hit and miss for me. I longed for book with just the food we cooked everyday, and sometimes on special occasions. Nothing too exotic.
I guess you could say that this book for me is the answer to my proverbial prayer. No longer do i have to go skimming cynthia's blog for recipes and printing them out, so much. She has quite a few of them here. So if you want to know how to make good everyday caribbean food, that is simple, no fail and delicious, a great pine tart, cheese roll, or guyanese beef patties look no further.
The book is not just about the recipes. It also has Cynthia's caribbean food memories, great tales about shopping in the market, trying to be deemed ready by her mom on how to cook that elusive dish. Reading it just brought all this nostalgia, i started remember my younger days at home with my family, my own food memories. This book is not on my book shelf but on the coffee table for that same reason. I want my girlfriends and family to ask about it, to read the stories and maybe inspire them to get their own darn copy and stop trying to hijack mine.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
This is the book I've been waiting for. Precision with rich pictures!
9 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is important to note that there are different areas of the Caribbean and the flavors of the Spanish, Dutch, and British Caribbean are often distinct even from one another. There are many recipes here that cross those divides- but I would say these are the flavors of the Afro- Caribbean and the West Indies specifically Guyana, Trinidad and Barbados. The author notes these foods were "flavored" by its migration heritage. Which is probably why the variety is so delightful. Of all the Caribbean food realms out there- I really enjoy these flavors the most. TASTE LIKE HOME is the most comprehensive and well written cookbook of these flavors.
I want to cook what I've tasted and thoroughly enjoyed- often recipes miss that mark. This book will NOT disappoint. Caribbean cooking is an art form. No two recipes for a popular dish seem identical -even in the same households and often -even from the same cooks. Many Caribbean cooks, when detailing recipes tell you some of this, a pinch of that- and give you four alternative ingredients. It's almost as if the recipes are a protected secret! There needs to be a solid foundation on which to build flavors. This book will give it to you.
It is beautifully written with inspiring, nostalgic stories and then there's the recipes. Details with such beautiful pictures. The stories and recipes speak to my imagination, memories-that seem to cross cultures and age, and my palate. Those elusive flavors come to light here. This is a must buy.
I want to cook what I've tasted and thoroughly enjoyed- often recipes miss that mark. This book will NOT disappoint. Caribbean cooking is an art form. No two recipes for a popular dish seem identical -even in the same households and often -even from the same cooks. Many Caribbean cooks, when detailing recipes tell you some of this, a pinch of that- and give you four alternative ingredients. It's almost as if the recipes are a protected secret! There needs to be a solid foundation on which to build flavors. This book will give it to you.
It is beautifully written with inspiring, nostalgic stories and then there's the recipes. Details with such beautiful pictures. The stories and recipes speak to my imagination, memories-that seem to cross cultures and age, and my palate. Those elusive flavors come to light here. This is a must buy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
It takes like homemade (in a good way)!
6 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is excellent in providing instructions, but also explaining the nuanced techniques of these Caribbean favorites and the cultural significance of the dishes. Instructions are clear and concise with helpful tips and photos and recipes use cup measures, so one doesn't need a scale for measurements. I've been searching for a Caribbean cookbook that features "authentic" recipes but doesn't assume I'm an expert in the culture and this is it. I'd be proud to give it to Guyanese family members and American foodies alike and would say it's a huge step towards making Caribbean culture and food accessible to the "mainstream palette" and helping parents pass along their heritage.
Can't say enough about how well the book is done! This is going to be a classic!
Can't say enough about how well the book is done! This is going to be a classic!
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