Customer Reviews:
 Inspiring and delicious - brings back memories of my own travels and the desire for new ones! February 15, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
I absolutley love this book - so much that I keep giving it as a gift and reccomending it to friends over and over again. I've travelled through many of the countries in the book and the writers tales of how they came across each dish really bring back memories of my own adventures and the desire for new ones! It's essentially a culinary travelogue. Also fantastic are their vegetarian adaptions of classically meat dishes which I was unable to try on my travels as I'm vegetarian but can now attempt at home. The photographs of the locations and the food are inspiring and the recipes easy to follow. I've used the book for casual meals and dinner parties alike.
 Lovely vegetarian world-view January 23, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I purchased this book on a whim but it proved to be a good one. This book is a blend of travel, food and social commentary as we hear tales of how they got to places and the people they met there. Just looking at the pages can give some escapism from the dreary British weather!
I liked the way that the authors tackled locations that are not already plundered for recipes, instead looking for new recipes and how different people in exotic locations eat good wholesome food that is largely accessable by us back here.
It was interesting especially to read the Caribbean section which although they admitted was largely a meat-eating cuisine, they could still find vegetarian dishes or ways to easily replace the meat in the local recipes.
I have to say that some (not all) of the recipes are more dinner-party/'feeling special and brave' choices, and that I was disappointed that the recipes have a standard serving of 6, which although good for a wholly vegetarian big family or dinner party, it really means maths or leftovers for me as I live in a veggie-hostile environment!!!
That said, the recipes are delicious, exciting and the authors refuse to rely on one cooking method or ingredient as I have seen in lesser books, wholly worth it even if it is for when I feel brave in the kitchen!!!
World Food Cafe's Triumphant Return October 24, 2006
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a superb book that will transport your palate to many countries of the world from your own kitchen. The standard of writing and photography are excellent and the stories behind the recipes give you a real feel for the cuisine and cultures of the world. Oh, and don't worry about hing- it's another name for asoefetida- a bigger moutful of a name but readily found in the spice section of most large supermarkets. It's used as a digestive aid in some Indian dishes.
This book is well worth purchasing, as its predecessor.
A delight to the eye and tum. May 14, 2003
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
Whilst I am not a vegetarian, I do like my food to taste as good as it can. Nestled snugly above Neal's Yard, near Covent Garden in London, is the small and friendly World Food Cafe. After first attending their mighty benches on a whim, I discovered the tasty treats that lurked within were good. Many more visits were made to the Cafe, and many chums were also converted. The food was always great - the menu is a shapeshifting entity, changing from visit to visit depending on what is cooking, making each meal a voyage of discovery. I've yet to discover something there that didn't go down with contented slurps.So, overjoyed was I when I noticed this book. Simply put, this publication is a must-have. Every recipe is exciting, every page covered with wonderful photography or anecdotes. All the meals are fairly simple to cook, although some require a little preparation. Some may be daunted by the long list of ingredients, but do please note that many of these are, in fact, spices and so-on. Once you've stocked your cupboard up, you will giggle like a happy baboon as your dearest chums swoon at your culinary genius. For us in the UK, most of the items will be fairly easy to track down in your local Supermarket - having said that, one or two may require searching for Asian shops. I do like this book - I know not everyone will like it quite as much due to the emphasis on the more spicey end of the market. For those with tastebuds that work, though, this is a must.
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