Posts Tagged “Middle-Eastern”
Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) 2018 opened on 15 March and continues for 11 deliciously fun-filled days in the heart of Doha at Hotel Park. Even if you have attended this event before, there will still be much that’s new to see and do. The number of food stalls and attractions has grown by more…
It’s a sign of a fine cookbook! I have turned the pages and have actually mused on presenting a dinner party, family dinner and afternoon tea using offerings from within these covers. It’s not often that I am inspired to cook anything from review cookbooks, other than the odd recipe here and there, but The…
I am convinced that Sally Butcher could write a book about paint drying and it would be a worthwhile read. Her books, and this is the third, are Sally in paper form. Her energy, culinary knowledge and laugh-out-loud humour will make this another best-seller. Sally is known as an accomplished author but she is just…
Turkish cuisine is considered by many to be one of the classics. It has had a huge influence on food throughout Europe and encompasses all those elements that we praise these days: there is an emphasis on fresh produce, on seasonal vegetables, olive oil and fish but it also offers us those memorable sweets. The…
Any self-respecting cookbook collector will already be familiar with the work of Sally Butcher. She charmingly penned Persia in Peckham, which was a worthy showcase for her wit and expert wordsmithery. That book had its focus on amazing Middle Eastern food of every dietary hue, set against the backdrop of Persepolis, the Aladdin’s cave of…
I guess we all think that we know lots about Iraq. It visits our sitting room every evening. There are snippets of tragic news on the radio every day and the very name incites strong emotions in many. But few of us have considered that war-torn land as having much of a culinary heritage. It’s…
We have not had great exposure to Arab cuisine in Britain. Our connections to that region have never been as close as, say, those we have with our former colonies; so our high streets are more than adequately garnished with restaurants offering Indian food, air travel has introduced us to Spanish food and Greek food,…
This is another fabulous volume from Lorenz Books. These truly are some of the best-written and most practical cookbooks published. Each edition has a wealth of step-by-step photographs. In fact there are 650 pictures that will show you cooking techniques and the finished dish. Even experienced home cooks appreciate a bit of graphic stimulus when…
I honestly had no idea what to expect. Cardamom and Lime – Recipes from the Arabian Gulf was going to be a revelation and it turned out to be a stunning and fascinating one. I feel sure that the majority of us have no notion of Arabian food. But when one takes the time to…
The author, Maria Khalifé, has been made a household name in the Middle East thanks to her Soufra Daimeh TV cooking show. Soufra Daimeh has a huge following with more than 2000 episodes being aired on major TV networks in Lebanon and Arab countries since it started in 1996. Maria also opened the first private…
There is every reason to assume that this cookbook will be a great success. It has a scarcity value. I am sure there are lots of copies available but how rare is a book that talks about mutual respect, friendship and hope between these two constantly warring peoples. How could such a book come to…
Hussien Dekmak is a name you might not be familiar with. That is to say, if you live outside London or you have not thus far had much interest in Lebanese food. Hussien is a young chef who has brought Lebanese food to North London in the guise of his celebrated restaurant Le Mignon. Time…
Misadventure in the Middle East is a story of a journey around the Middle East or, as our two intrepid heros would prefer, The Heart of the Islamic World. They are painters who venture forth with no great political or religious ideals and so were open to everything that this adventure was to offer. Henry…
I am so surprised that there are not more Turkish cookbooks around. It’s a cuisine that has had a huge influence on the entire Mediterranean region. Even if you have never taken a holiday in Turkey you will be sure to recognise some of the dishes. The names might change from country to country but…
Original copies of this book have changed hands for hundreds of pounds. It’s that combination of scarcity and popularity that encourages that monetary phenomenon. The author, Arto der Haroutunian, died in 1987 so his books are valued as a resource that will never be replaced. Arto was only 47 years old when he died. Middle…
I can’t overestimate the importance of The Legendary Cuisine of Persia. There are so few books on the culinary history of Iran although it has had a profound effect upon the foods of so many eastern countries as well as the Mediterranean diet. Margaret Shaida, the author, was born in England but moved to Iran…
Now, I am not going to say very much about Anissa Helou just now because there will be an interview with her in a few months’ time, but suffice it to say she is quite fascinating. This is one of those rare books that will entice not only enthusiastic cooks (although you don’t have to…
First published in 1983, Vegetarian Dishes from the Middle East is a classic and I am so pleased to see its re-introduction. It’s a book that any serious enthusiast of Middle Eastern food would want to own. The author Arto der Haroutunian was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1940 but came to England as a…
This is a wonderful and well-designed book on Lebanese cuisine. It has plenty of pictures in both colour and sepia. The recipes have lots of tips for saving time, for storage or final presentation, and the pages are arranged clearly with even the longer recipes being easy to follow. The author, Ina’am Atalla, introduces us…