Alternative Vegan: International Vegan Fare Straight from the Produce Aisle

This little cookbook packs a lot of punch. There is something in here for everyone, even the world's pickiest five year old. My son previously would only eat 11 kinds of food, all of it expensive and mostly pre-made. The first recipe I made was Jimmy Crack Corn Crack and against all odds my kid ate an entire ... fritter!!! I had to put a bit of ketchup on it but he actually ate it. ^_^ I have since tried out more excellent recipes from Dino's book and every one of them so far has been a crowd pleaser. I love the way its written almost like the author is just chatting with the reader. He explains different methods and encourages us budding chefs to experiment and grow, to push beyond the boundaries of just following a recipe. Many recipes are off the wall in a good way; new ingredients and combinations that would not have occurred to me. An excellent, excellent cook book.

Dino's segments on the Vegan Freak podcast never fail to leave me a) hungry and b) inspired to try new things in the kitchen. As a new vegan (and so-so cook) I was on the lookout for cookbooks that didn't rely heavily on meat replacements (e.g., tofu, tempeh, seitan, TVP...) and was intrigued to learn of a vegan cookbook with no omni-substitutions. For those of you who are not familiar with the author's stance on the aforementioned products, or if you're like me and involved with a person who cringes when they hear the word `tofu,' Alternative Vegan is sure to be a well-used, thumbed-over, dog-eared reference. Previous reviewers have mentioned Dino's personable, reassuring writing style, but I also like how he doesn't try to push readers to pick up the latest, pricey kitchen utensil. He gives you some basic suggestions and ideas on where to locate good deals and gets to the cooking. Many people have this impression that vegan cooking and vegan food is bland, tasteless, pricey and time-consuming, but Alternative Vegan effectively proves that is not the case.

I love this cookbook's casual attitude about following directions; If you don't have something called for, leave it out, or add something else. It isn't about replicating someone else's idea of the perfect dish. It is about cooking. We make something from this cookbook every week. And it is a great book to cook from when having non-vegans over for dinner since there is no tofu or fake meat to scare them off. I love this book.

I just finished my first recipe from the book, the dry cooked garbanzos, and I'm ready to go back for more. I love this book! This is not a book that requires close attention to minute details of the recipe. Dino gives you the tools to learn to make your own tasty vegan food. This is real food, too. No fake meats or fake cheeses... just real, honest, fresh ingredients. The chatty tone of the book makes me feel like Dino is right there in the kitchen with me, showing me the tricks he learned from his mother and grandmother, as well as the tricks he taught them. Now, what to make tomorrow night?

The beauty of this book is that the author doesn't *want* you to follow the recipes precisely. It's all about customizing the recipes to suit your own tastes and learning what you can substitute when you don't have everything on hand. Lots of fabulous Indian and Middle Eastern recipes, and things you can make in bulk and freeze. Highly recommended!