The Basque Kitchen: Tempting Food from the Pyrnees

New York: HarperCollins, 1999. First Ediiton Stated . Hard Back. Near Fine/Very Good. 8 1/4" x 9 1/2. Shorten, Chris - Photographs. 262 Pages Indexed. The wrap-around pictorial boards are decorated with red chile peppers with silver lettering to the spine. The title page and two pages following have small corner creases at the bottom. No other defects noted to this otherwise As New book. Interior text and photographic pages are flawless. Nestled among the Pyrenees, on both sides of the French-Spanish border, the Basque country is renowned as much for its fine culinary traditions as for its rugged terrain and the independent spirit of its people. Basque cooks are widely considered among the best in Europe, combining their love of fresh, simple ingredients with time-honored techniques. The joy of cooking and eating are central to Basque culture. In San Sebastian and throughout the region, men belong to cooking clubs, dedicated to the preservation of their outstanding cultural and culinary heritage. Outside the cooking societies, simple family meals turn into feasts of mammoth proportions, and everywhere conversation invariably turns to good food and the pursuit of it. The Basque Kitchen, lusciously illustrated with photographs of the Basque region as well as its famous dishes, is the first major cookbook to explore Basque cooking on both sides of the border. Basque native Gerald Hirigoyen, named one of America's best chefs by Food & Wine magazine, celebrates the food and memories of his beloved homeland. He shares recipes for his favorite Basque specialties, from traditional renditions of Salt Cod al Pil-Pil and Piperade to sumptuous soups, salads, meat, poultry, game, and of course, more seafood, all built on a bounty of fresh ingredients and carefully presented for the home cook. Hirigoyen's splendid interpretations have made his two San Francisco restaurants, Fringale and Pastis, critical favorites. Contents: Introduction, Soups, Appetizers and Salads, Fish and Shellfish, Poultry and Game, Meats, Vegetables and Accompaniments, Sweets, Basics, Culinary Guide to the Basque Country, Mail-Order Sources, and Basque Foods and Related Items. Large heavy book that may incur additional charges for Priority Shipping to some locations.