Reviews
Great Chefs Cook Vegan
By Linda Long
Linda Long shoots the beautiful photos that grace the front cover of each issue of this magazine. She has now produced her first cookbook, featuring vegan meals prepared by award-winning chefs. Linda asked each professional cook to offer a vegan menu of three to four courses. Then, she photographed the gorgeous dishes and shares all of the recipes in Great Chefs Cook Vegan.
Dan Barber's cuisine focuses on locally grown, in-season produce. His Tomato and Melon Salad with Tomato Sorbet and his Cauliflower Steak with Quinoa are quite unique. David Burke's dishes clearly demonstrate that vegan meals can be visually stunning. His Vegetable Carousel Torte with Pomme Souffles Filled with Peas and his Sweet Pea Ravioli with Sautéed Pea Leaves are truly works of art.
Floyd Cardoz serves up American/Indian fusion cuisine. His Artichoke Bhel Puri and his Fricassee of Morels and Fava Beans with Coconut Taro Purée would please any diner. Gabriel Kreuther's artisan French-cooking style incorporates organic herbs and plants to produce dishes like his Seasonal Vegetable Medley with Sautéed Tofu and Horseradish Broth. Linda personally raved to me about the incredible flavor of the broth in this dish!
Finally, this book serves up many extraordinary - not to mention mouth-watering - desserts.
These include Anne Quatrano's Cantaloupe Truffle Bar with Soy Caramel and Spearmint Ice and Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Crisp Chocolate with Sautéed Bananas, Fresh Figs, Blackberry Coulis, and Brandied Cherries.
Great Chefs Cook Vegan (ISBN 978-1- 55152-234-0) is published by Gibbs Smith. Purchase it online or in your local bookstore. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
Alt Fiber
By Shannon Okey
If you are vegan, are an environmentalist, are allergic to wool and other animal fibers, or just love to knit, Alt Fiber is a terrific book for you! Shannon Okey, co-owner of Stitch Cleveland, introduces readers to plant-based fibers, including Tencel made from wood pulp and other yarns made from soy (soft like silk), ramie, kenaf, flax, hemp, bamboo, seaweed, nettles, and more. These plant-based fibers are more environmentally friendly than cotton. (When cotton is used in this book, it is organic.) This book features sections on natural dyes and naturally colored fibers. You will also find a thorough resource guide to help you find the materials mentioned in this volume.
Please note that silk and milk fiber are used a few times in this book, and these products should be considered non-vegan. The patterns in this book generally allow you to accommodate substitute yarns. You'll find patterns with full-color photos for a skirt, a sweater, a jacket, a cardigan, a scarf, socks, and so much more.
Alt Fiber (ISBN 978-1-58008-915-9) is published by Ten Speed Press. It retails for $19.95 and would make a terrific present. Find this book online or in your local bookstore. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
Metamorphosis
By Marcia "Vegan Poet" Katz
The author of this beautiful book of poems and photography has been vegan for more than 30 years. Throughout this inspiring work, you will read creative verses about veganism, animal rights, human rights, saving the environment, and more. All the stunning photographs that appear in this book were taken by vegans as well.
One poem, "If Animals Spoke Our Language," starts off with "Animals speak to us in their own way, But if they spoke with words what would they say? One thing I declare, without ANY doubt, All creatures in cages would say, 'Let me out!'" Another piece, called "Because I'm Female," begins with "Because I'm female, my body and breast feel for a cow and her life of unrest. Because I'm female, I'm filled with disdain at using sisters for financial gain."
Metamorphosis would be a wonderful gift for any vegan or poetry lover in your life.
Metamorphosis (ISBN 0-929274-26- 1) is being distributed by the American Vegan Society. The book retails for $20 (including postage). Purchase it online at www.americanvegan.org, or call (856) 694-2887 to order a copy. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
You Won't Believe It's Vegan
By Lacey Sher and Gail Doherty
The authors of this cookbook both graduated from the Natural Gourmet Institute and ran Down to Earth restaurant in Red Bank, New Jersey, for seven years. You Won't Believe It's Vegan! serves up more than 200 restaurant-quality recipes. Standouts include Hijiki Caviar, Mashed Coconut Yams, Southern-Style Seitan, Cinnamon Buns, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Raw Lemon Pie. Several color photos of the dishes are included.
You Won't Believe It's Vegan! (ISBN 978-1-60094-070-5) is a 256-page book published by The Perseus Books Group and retails for $17.95. Look for this book in your local bookstore. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy
Peace in Every Bite
By Two Moons, N.D.
Peace in Every Bite serves up more than 500 vegan dishes. You'll find recipes for Spicy Sausage Patties (made with TVP and bulgur or couscous), Crêpes, Greek Spanakopita (prepared with tofu), Soy Feta (made with tofu and ume plum vinegar), Hawaiian Cheesecake, plus so much more. There's also a section on pickles, jams, and preserves, as well as information about how to make your own personal care and household items.
There are a few color photos in the book, as well as black and white photos and line drawings depicting instructions. Nutritional analyses are not provided; however, most recipes are not high in fat.
Peace in Every Bite (ISBN 978-1- 4251-4819-0) is published by Trafford Publishing Company. The 320-page book retails for $27.85. Purchase this book online or in your local bookstore. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
Totally Vegetarian
By Toni Fiore
Toni Fiore, host of the public television show Delicious TV's Totally Vegetarian, has written a cookbook with 200 recipes. Toni is a selftaught cook who learned by trial and error. The resulting recipes are quite innovative, and the majority are vegan. Several of the non-vegan recipes can be easily prepared vegan using non-dairy cheese substitutes or omitting the optional cheese; in other cases, use plain soy yogurt or soymilk.
Some of the dishes you might want to try are Roasted Chickpeas, Cashew Pâté (made with toasted cashews and French-style string beans), Potato-Chard Stew (which includes sweet and white potatoes, rainbow chard, and coconut milk), Pumpkin-Bulgur Stew, Salad Pizza (thin crust with Roma tomatoes, salad greens, and olives as the toppings), Jamaican Jerk Tempeh, Caribbean Spicy Sweet Potatoes, a Mock Fish Salad Sandwich (made with tempeh, nori, and vegan mayonnaise), Tofu Cannoli, and Maple Baked Pears.
This 272-page hardcover book includes color photos of some dishes. Nutritional analyses are not provided; however, most of the recipes appear to be lowfat.
Totally Vegetarian (ISBN 978-0-7382- 1183-1) is published by Da Capo Press. The book retails for $27.50. Purchase this book online or in your local bookstore. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
Get It Ripe
By Jan Steele
Get It Ripe is a terrific whole foods cookbook for vegans as well as individuals looking for wheat-free dishes.
Among the 150 recipes are Buttahmilk Biscuits (made with spelt flour, non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, and other ingredients), Blueberry Breakfast Polenta, Quinoa Tabouleh, Cashew Creem Tomato Soup, Cauliflower Chana (a sweet potato and chickpeabased dish), Sesame Kale Soba, Millet-Stuffed Bell Peppers, Mocha Fudge Pudding Cake, Sweet Almond Cupcakes, and Cocoa Avocado Mousse.
Throughout this cookbook, you'll find several useful symbols indicating which recipes are glutenfree, soy-free, nightshade-free, and/or raw/living dishes. Several chapters offer helpful information, including one section that introduces sprouting methods. The book also features line drawings and some color photos.
Get It Ripe (ISBN 978-1-55152-234-0) is published by Arsenal Pulp Press. The book retails for $23.95. Purchase this book online or in your local bookstore. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman. Click here to purchase a copy.
