Mesa Mexicana

Rating:
Summary: Easy-to-follow recipes that make Mexican cuisine daily fare.
Review: I was impressed by the simplicity of these recipes. Unlike others I've tried, this book calls for simple ingredients that can easily be found at your local grocery store (even in rural Idaho). The authors walk you through the basics of making your own tortillas and salsas. You then can incorporate these into more complicated recipes. Above all... the food turns out delicious even in the hands of a novice.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for the hobbyist chef, but not everyday
Review: Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger are two of the top chefs in LA. Their "Border Grill" in Santa Monica (4th and Broadway) is a noisy, splashy, foodie haven with superb drinks, a decent wine/beer list, and amazing food. Mesa Mexicana offers recipes that one might easily see on Border Grill's menu. For those of us who grew up equating Mexican food with Tex-Mex, Miliken and Feniger's inventive take on traditional Mexican cuisine is a revelation.

As a cookbook, Mesa Mexicana is interesting, has an attractive layout, and, by the minimal standards of the genre, is well-written. One would not want to use it on an everyday basis. Many of the recipes involve a fairly intensive amount of prep work and/or require specialized ingredients. For the hobbyist chef with access to a decent Mexican grocer and time on his/her hands, however, it is an inspiring and provocative work. Highly recommended on that qualified basis.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for the hobbyist chef, but not everyday
Review: Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger are two of the top chefs in LA. Their "Border Grill" in Santa Monica (4th and Broadway) is a noisy, splashy, foodie haven with superb drinks, a decent wine/beer list, and amazing food. Mesa Mexicana offers recipes that one might easily see on Border Grill's menu. For those of us who grew up equating Mexican food with Tex-Mex, Miliken and Feniger's inventive take on traditional Mexican cuisine is a revelation.

As a cookbook, Mesa Mexicana is interesting, has an attractive layout, and, by the minimal standards of the genre, is well-written. One would not want to use it on an everyday basis. Many of the recipes involve a fairly intensive amount of prep work and/or require specialized ingredients. For the hobbyist chef with access to a decent Mexican grocer and time on his/her hands, however, it is an inspiring and provocative work. Highly recommended on that qualified basis.

Rating:
Summary: Mesa Mexicana
Review: This book is "A" number 1! I have hundreds of cookbooks and feel that if you get one good recipe out of a cookbook you made a good purchase! Mesa Mexicana is wonderful because the recipes are authentic, easy to find ingredients, and the end result is fabulous! I've tried several and have made each again. If your a carnitas lover, try their recipe. The lard will frighten you, but in the end will delight you! On to the tamales!

Rating:
Summary: Mesa Mexicana
Review: This book is "A" number 1! I have hundreds of cookbooks and feel that if you get one good recipe out of a cookbook you made a good purchase! Mesa Mexicana is wonderful because the recipes are authentic, easy to find ingredients, and the end result is fabulous! I've tried several and have made each again. If your a carnitas lover, try their recipe. The lard will frighten you, but in the end will delight you! On to the tamales!

Rating:
Summary: Mesa Mexicana
Review: This book is "A" number 1! I have hundreds of cookbooks and feel that if you get one good recipe out of a cookbook you made a good purchase! Mesa Mexicana is wonderful because the recipes are authentic, easy to find ingredients, and the end result is fabulous! I've tried several and have made each again. If your a carnitas lover, try their recipe. The lard will frighten you, but in the end will delight you! On to the tamales!

Rating:
Summary: Easy Recipes, Complex Flavors
Review: We love their restaurants and really love this book! The recipes are easy to follow and most are quite quick to make yet are complex in flavor. We particularly like their comments before each recipe that summarize the dish and make recommendations of other dishes that complement the flavors.

Rating:
Summary: Easy Recipes, Complex Flavors
Review: We love their restaurants and really love this book! The recipes are easy to follow and most are quite quick to make yet are complex in flavor. We particularly like their comments before each recipe that summarize the dish and make recommendations of other dishes that complement the flavors.