The Ethnic Food Lover's Companion is a rich, informative book, perfect for someone about to set off on a trip, for a home cook who wants to try a new area, or for someone hovering at the door of an ethnic restaurant afraid to enter. The book is concise and beautifully written. It is packed with information, but never once does author Eve Zibart get bogged in data. This is a lively book. Her wit and knowledge keeps the book moving at a quick and readable pace. This 'companion' encourages the reader to forge into new areas of culinary discovery. For the die-hard foodie with a keen awareness of ethnic foods, there are layers of information, some possibly unknown. This is a book that kicks the door open, shedding light on cuisines heretofore mysterious.
Zibart has a staggering amount of knowledge. She covers each area of the globe extensively, bringing a knowledge of history, social custom, and geography. She has a subtle understanding of the food from each country both as a cook and a restaurant-goer. Her beautifully written entries are witty, fun, concise, and hint at hours of research behind each thoughtful entry.
Zibart does indeed circle the earth and her main sections are divided globally: Europe, Africa (including North Africa), the Middle East with Greece, Turkey and India, Southeast Asia, Asia (including Japan, China, Korea) And finally the Americas which includes Mexico, S.America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Caribbean. This is a major undertaking and Zibart rises to the challenge, making each cuisine comprehensible.
Each chapter begins with a brief section on the countries of the area, followed by another brief section about the history of the area - a section that hints at hours in the library or hours traveling (or both). Zibart follows this with sections on the cuisine, the main ingredients found in that area and the main dishes. This is followed by a section entitled "How to Order and Eat Like a
Native." Her last chapter division is a section on cooking at home. This includes sample recipes for classic dishes, though recipes are not the focus of the book.
There are sidebars throughout, giving tidbits of information, such as "There are several reasons to insist upon seeing the 'Chinese' menu in addition to the American one. Not only will it include dozens of dishes probably not listed on the general menu, it is also more likely to put you in the hands of one of the more experienced chefs."
This is an essential book for understanding the global kitchens of today whether you are an armchair explorer, an adventurer in restaurants, or a home cook. And if you just enjoy the romance of the world as told by spices and herbs, by travelers of yore, it will fascinate you as well. Who would not turn the page when reading this sentence: "Though there are few authentic Indonesian or Malay restaurants in the US, they are in one sense the universal common denominator: They made virtually every other cuisine possible....." Read on, magic lies ahead.
About the author: A fulltime journalist since the age of 17, Eve Zibart has been writing about food and restaurants for over 20 years. She is a restaurant columnist and longtime contributor to the Washington Post and author of several books, including The Eclectic Gourmet Guide to Washington, D.C., The Unofficial Guide to New Orleans, The Unofficial Guide to New York City, and Inside Disney: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney World and the Man Behind the Mouse. Eve currently lives in Maryland.
The author has kindly shared these recipes:
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