South African Gourmet Food and Wine

South African Gourmet Food & Wine published by Dorrance Publishing is a beautiful cookbook. I was impressed with the central part of the beautiful and mouthwatering photos, well laid out recipes for each ingredient listed first, (without the surprises halfway through the recipe), and all measures are in and the usual metric measure, mark this book as a truly international cookbook is a

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My one and only disappointment was in discovering that the traditional dishes of South Africa, occupying only the first 77 or so, in a book of 300 pages. Although, as the authors explain in a rather interesting front, South Africa, such as the United States, is a melting pot of different ethnic groups. Further reading of the book certainly proves this statement:. Highlights are: Middle Eastern dishes, Italian sauces, Chinese chicken salad, and some nice cheese recipes

of the traditional part of my family especially enjoyed Bobotie, seasoned ground beef dishes, the first pan browned, then baked, under the cream sauce and served with rice and a delicious selection of spices. Monkey Gland Steak , also from traditional recipes section certainly caught our eye! He made a monkey glands, but it is a recipe for a delicious BBQ sauce.

We have found a few other favorites from the international part of the cook as well. Some examples are: chicken in balsamic barbecue sauce, Javanese Chicken , and delicious Grilled Veggie & Pasta Salad . Two or three of wine suggestions are listed below each starter. The list of suppliers for products from South Africa and the United States and Canada, a very useful addition, as stated in the content page

What was my favorite recipe from the book? After considering this question quite a bit I must admit that the dessert: Banana Ginger Cake. Dense, moist and spicy, it was absolutely delicious. Usually banana bread taste ... Well, like bananas! However, this invention is a nice, not quite a banana, a spicy taste all its own. It disappeared very quickly and has earned an honored place in the "favorite sweet bread section" of my Rolodex!

South African Gourmet Food and Wine is the cookbook I'm fortunate to have in my cookbook collection, a volume that I'm sure will become stained and well worn, as I refer to it again and again over the years!

I got a free copy of the South African Gourmet Food and Wine as a member of Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team.