In A Cuban Kitchen (Quintet Book)

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Summary: Former Food Network Chef Goes Back to His Roots
Review: Cuban cuisine mixes Caribbean and Latin flavors that turn into some truly memorable dishes. From personal experience, I also find it one of the more difficult cuisines to pull off honestly because one mistake can turn a dish into something generic or worse, unsalvageable. I had enjoyed the personable, fun-loving chef Alex Garcia on the Food Network for several years, as he co-hosted the Nuevo Latino cuisine segments on the dearly departed "Melting Pot" series. I even had the privilege of meeting him and tasting his food firsthand at his rather pricey midtown Manhattan restaurant, Babalu. That's why I had been anticipating his cookbook ever since he mentioned writing it over two years ago. Fortunately the result is a beautifully photographed and tantalizing cookbook with tasty recipes from his native Cuba.

I can vouch for the quality of several of the recipes since many of them were featured on his old series, and I have tried them successfully. The carne mechada (Cuban-style beef stew) is quite hearty and a crowd favorite. Also excellent are the arroz con gandules (pigeon pea rice) and the platános en tentación (roasted sweet plantains). His mojito recipe is fool-proof. Granted some of the native ingredients are hard to find, if not impossible, in some parts of the country, but reasonable substitutes are provided in the recipes. My one disappointment with the book is that even though Garcia writes the introduction, his personality is strangely missing from the book, which is a shame since that's what drew me initially to his cooking. Otherwise this is a fine starter for anybody who wants to give Cuban cooking a try. Along the same lines, I also recommend his former TV co-host Aaron Sanchez's versatile cookbook, "La Comida del Barrio", which focuses on Latin American cuisine as done here in the barrios stateside.

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Summary: Authentic Cuban Cuisine
Review: I bought this book about three weeks ago and it has already become one of my favorites. I have used it 3 to 4 times a week and each recipe has been a success, especially the Rabo Encendido (Oxtail), the Picadillo Santiaguero (Sloppy Joe), the Mojito Cocktail, the Flan, Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding). I highly recommend it. Not only are the recipes delicious but they actually work. I found the intro to be warm and informative (the details about the agriculture and history). Would have liked to have had more personal touches about the author throughout the book. I am still a big fan of Chef Alex Garcia. I was fortunate enough to meet him at Calle Ocho Restaurant and he was every bit as charming and generous as I had heard. By the way Cuban Guy, his show was cancelled because it had been decided that the entire Melting Pot series was not going to be continued to be aired because the Network was revamping programming to reflect more of an "every day kind of person" host than a professional chef. And just so you know, the show had stopped taping way before it stopped airing. They were running strictly on their library. It had nothing to do with any personal misfortunes.

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Summary: Honestly, I didn't Like it
Review: I used to see Garcia on the Melting Pot and he was the dullest of the Food Network chefs. I guess I should NOT have expected any better from his book. The recipes are OK, but the only thing that even mentions him is the introduction. He would have sold a lot more books if he had Emeril write the intro! I guess Garcia was too busy these past two years to do any writing. I've got my copy up on the Marketplace and hope I can get a few dollars for it!




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Summary: delicious recipes!!
Review: The recipes in this book really work!! I have tried few and they are delicious. I have tried other Cuban cooking books and have been disappointed by the dishes. It seems like some cookbook writers are not thinking that readers are actually going to try the recipes. That is not the case of this book. Chef Garcia's recipes are outstanding!

Rating:
Summary: Leave it on the Shelf
Review: Yes, here are a lot of good recipes in a book. The book quality, also OK. However, never mind how that, the author, Alex Garcia, was indicted by US government on drug trafficking charges! (Check the NY Times November 2003.) Is that the kind of author that you want to send your money to? Yes, all are innocent until proven guilty - but he was under surveillance for 2 years - NOT a nice guy! In my country we keep people like him in jail! There are much better Cuban cookbooks - just search for "Cuban Cooking book" here on Amazon!