The Cuban Table

Starred review from August 4, 2014
From Pelaez, the woman behind the popular blog Hungry Sofia, comes this heartfelt tribute to Cuban cuisine. Ushering readers into the homes and restaurants of some of the country’s best cooks, Pelaez clearly and concisely demonstrates the depth and breadth of Cuban cuisine with flavor-packed recipes such as a creole fried chicken, a show-stopping riff on a classic centered around chicken steeped in a sour orange marinade; potaje de garbanzos, a rich chickpea stew; and classics like escabeche, ropa vieja, and the Cuban sandwich. Silverman’s crisp photos highlight the dishes themselves as well as the people who make them, giving readers an even deeper appreciation of Cuban cuisine and culture. A patient and detailed tutor, Pelaez thoughtfully guides cooks through the sometimes lengthy process of creating their own sausages and the perfect pork rinds (the key is removing the top layer of fat) in addition to discussing how to make the best toothsome desserts like cappuccino cake, coconut and almond candy cones, and rum-laced Cuban ice creams before closing with recipes for cocktails like daiquiris and mojitos. Cooks will want to add this immersive and inspirational book to their collection.

Starred review from August 1, 2014

Food writer Pelaez's (hungrysofia.com) and photographer Silverman's passion for Cuban cooking leaps off the page, and their new cookbook--the fruit of travel and research in Cuba, Miami, and New York--is bursting with exotic and enticing words and tastes. Recipes gathered from home cooks, chefs, and restaurateurs aren't always familiar, but they're easy to imagine and savor. Flaky butter and lard pastries stuffed with guava paste; mango and papaya marmalades; croquettes studded with diced ham and pickles; beef braised with allspice, cloves, and spearmint--these and other dishes will inspire any reader who loves good food to take on new ingredients and techniques (some helpfully explained in a glossary and resource list). VERDICT Let's hope Pelaez and Silverman undertake more collaborations. Their thorough and respectful treatment of their subject results in a compelling cookbook that conveys a strong sense of place.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Cuban food is rich in flavor and history, and this home-cooking-focused Cuban-cuisine primer doesn't skimp on either. The book, with museum-worthy photography from Ellen Silverman, highlights staples such as the Cuban sandwich, flan, and ropa vieja, along with lesser-known dishes like cornmeal stew with crab, and stuffed pot roast. Each one of the more than 100 recipes in the book, from baked goods to soups to main dishes as well as desserts and cocktails, is preceded by an anecdote about its origins. The book's author and photographer traveled through Cuba, Miami, and New York City during their research, and the bookpacked with tricks for home cooksis testament to their thorough reporting. A seat at this table will be a welcome one for those who grew up eating and preparing Cuban food as well as those who are curious and ready to learn about it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)