Taste of Romania: A Hippocrene Original Cookbook

This book is an all-around great cookbook. To be honest, I had never heard of Romanian cuisine before and picked up the book on a whim. I'm glad I did because the book introduced me to a delicious culture that I had never sampled before. The recipes in the book are grouped into the following chapters: appetizers, salads, egg dishes, soups, polenta, fish dishes, meat dishes, poultry dishes, vegetable dishes, dumplings, sauces, desserts, wines, preserves, and Jewish dishes. I found good recipes in each chapter, some fancy, and some that can be whipped up in minutes. Interspersed throughout the book are short history lessons about Romania, fairy tales, and poetry, as well as Klepper's comments explaining the cooking culture. The book also includes a bibliography, a place and personal name index, and English recipe index, a Romanian recipe index, a brief pronunciation guide, an English-Romanian-French food dictionary, and even an American-British food dictionary (surprisingly useful!). If you're looking for a Romanian cookbook, this is a great one. And if you're just looking for some interesting and tasty new recipes, you'll find some here.

This is the cookbook to read from cover to cover for its wonderful content. The stories, poems and bits of culture repolish the tarnished image that Romania has aquired from the media... As a Romanian born American, I've been waiting for a book like this for years to share with my American born children and friends. There is no question regarding the authenticity of the recipies, and delicious results are almost guaranteed due to the "user friendly" format. I cannot praise this book enough, I just wish I can thank the author in person. The expanded edition that I purchased also has a delightful chapter on Romanian Jewish cooking.

I have cooked many of the dishes in this book, and the recipes turn out consistently well, and authentically delicious (according to my Romanian born husband!). I love the short stories, poems and jokes that have been included in the book. The book gives you a peek at the culture beyond the food, but it is foremost a wonderful cookbook. There are tips on what to serve with which dishes, holiday menus, appetizer platters, etc. This book is a must for anyone wishing to try the delights of Romanian cuisine!

A comprehensive cookbook with very accurate and realistic recipies, just like I remember my grandmother's cooking. When I visited Romania, the recipies are exact. Enjoy it!

This book is a must for anyone who is interested in Romanian cookery and culture. It combines recipies and snippets of cultural information in a relaxed and easily absorbed way. It is very practical and suggests alternatives when using Romanian ingredients. There is no excuse for not cooking up a decent Romanian meal even if you live in the last outpost of western Europe!!