From Our Bookshelves: January 2008

January and February are ideal months for catching up on all that reading you neglected during the chaos of the holi-daze, so find below a few of our recent favorite books . . . and of course, you can always check the ever-rotating selection from Cafe Drake on the LibraryThing.com sidebar located on the right.

Quick and Easy Indian Cooking - Madhur Jaffrey; 2007

Ms. Jaffrey is widely acknowledged as the grande dame of Indian home cooking, although her rare beauty and personal grace have led her as well to a film career in England. A glamorous lifestyle has not jaded or spoiled Jaffrey however, and this latest ode to quick meals whipped up with little effort and a minimally stocked pantry reveal a working woman who comes home and wants dinner fast! Lovely photographs accompany most recipes and one of our particular faves is reprinted below. As with most of the dishes in this book, the spinach side below need not be relegated to an Indian theme dinner only; Cafe Drake has served it alongside broiled steaks and baked fish with tomatoes and olives.

SAAG BHAJI (SPINACH WITH GINGER AND GREEN CHILES)

1 inch piece of ginger, peeled / 3 T. oil / 1 1/4 lbs washed spinach / 4 fresh green chiles, minced / 1/2 t. salt / 1/2 t. garam masala / 1/2 t. sugar / 1/4 t. cayenne pepper

1. Mince ginger and oil to very hot oil in large pan.


2. Cook for 30 seconds then add spinach and chiles. Stir until spinach is wilted.


3. Add salt, garam masala, sugar and cayenne and cook for 5 more minutes.


4. Serve warm.

Epicurean Delight: The Life and Times of James Beard - Evan Jones; 1990

A complex look at a complex man - kind but prone to pettiness and an obsession with vindicating ancient slights or personal attacks; embracing of world cuisines prior to any current vogue yet oddly, mildly racist in his usurpation and oversimplification of various cultures; extravagantly surrounded by a wealth of friends while remaining lonely at heart. And even more fascinating are the many tales of Beard's culinary growth, stemming from a genuine love of experimentation and exotic travel. Handfuls of classic Beard recipes are scattered throughout this handsome volume.

So Chic - Margaret Russell; 2007

We all know we eat with our eyes prior to our mouths, and an attention to visual detail should go beyond plating to actual table settings and an environment conducive to pleasurable, easy dining. no shortage of rooms we'd love to sup in here, as Elle Decor editor-in-chief Russell has scoured the best of her magazine's offerings to craft a sumptuous display of wildly varied abodes. Each, like the menus we construct and serve as hosts, reflect the personal tastes of their owners and allow glimpses into the rich tapestry of inspiration all around us.

The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook - Matt Lee and Ted Lee; 2006

An odd looking duo of brothers spin a completely new take on Southern cuisine in a mammoth volume destined for the top shelf in your kitchen. Sure there's the ubiquitous fetish for local ingredients and small farms and artisinal producers, but the recipes and unique take raise this collection of must-have recipes far above even the Mason-Dixon Line.