Cuisines of Hidden Mexico: A Culinary Journey to Guerrero and Michoacn

I like cookbooks that put food in relationship to the culture around them. Hidden Mexico achieves this very well. Yes it's a travelogue. But I like that. I found excellent recipes that were directly collected in Mexico by the cooks themselves. I found this book a good source for comparing my own favorite recipes and offered me some unusual, good recipe options. Not that I want to actually eat or plan to make... an authentic Iguana Mole...how it was presented in the book was very interesting culturally and the basic recipe had practical applications to other recipes. Many other hard to find and great to cook recipes are in the book. I am definitely thrilled to have Hidden Mexico in my Mexican cookbook library. Historians of food will find it good reading. If you are into glossy photo cookbooks this is not the book for you. If you are into content.. an excellent choice. I am planning on reviewing some of the recipes [...] if you would like to compare notes please comment. I also recommend Food for the Ancestors . Another Bruce Kraig and Jan Lambert production. Food for the Ancestors

"Cuisines of Hidden Mexico" is at first, a fun travelogue with the authors driving all around Mexico, telling colorful tales of the pople they meet along the way. The travelers have adventurous tastes as they sample various delicacies such as insects, iguana and other funky critters that are too daring for most tastes!As for the recipes themselves, there are several excellent ideas for just about anyone who wishes to try something different whether it's appetizers, main courses, salsas or desserts. My particular favorite is the "burnt chipotle salsa", which is out of this world. Once you try it, you'll be hooked for life. A fun book with some good recipes you'll never get anywhere else.