robm on January 11, 2011

Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz was way ahead of the curve when she published this book on Latin American cooking. Now there are numerous books on the subject, including specialized books on each of the different countries in Latin America, but when she wrote this there was hardly anything available. (She has also written excellent books on Mexican and Caribbean cooking, which I highly recommend.) This book includes recipes from most of the countries in Latin America, including Brazil. The recipes are clearly written, easy to follow, and result in authentic-tasting dishes. This isn't the newest book on my shelf, but Lambert Ortiz's books are the ones that I constantly go back to for reliable recipes for real Latin American food! Her books are particularly good for those who are new to Latin American cooking -- her explanations are interesting and clear and the recipes aren't fussy.