Tao of Cooking

My old copy of this cookbook was getting dogeared and worn out, so I was happy to see that was back in print! Indiana University Press wisely picked up this title earlier this year, so I recently ordered a new copy. The Tao Restaurant was one of my favorite places to eat back in the 70's when I was attending IU. The Tao served excellent vegetarian fare and also sold baked goods from their 10th Steet location in Bloomington, Indiana. The cookbook includes recipes for old favorites such as the Big Veg sandwich, Tao (salad) Dressing, Coffee Toffee Pie, and the scrumptious Poppyseed Cake Hot Fudge Sundae. Although some of the recipes are a bit on the high-fat side, they can easily be adapted by substituting currently available lower-fat ingredients. The book includes recipes for breakfast fare, breads, sandwiches, soups, ethnic specialties, and desserts. Even non-vegetarians will enjoy these delicious dishes! The Tao of Cooking is truly a cookbook with something for everyone.

I have had to buy this book three times - it gets worn out quickly because out of all the cookbooks I own (and I do have a lot), this one gets the MOST use. There is a marvelous variety of recipes - everything from pastas, soups and salads to ethnic fare such as Mexican and Japanese. I especially like the soup recipes - often you'll find a pot boiling in my house. And usually, the recipe will come from Tao of Cooking. The Cuban Black Bean Soup is divine! You'll also enjoy the Split Pea, Lentil, Czechoslovakian Mushroom and the Barley Mushroom Soups as well. I feel that the Tao of Cooking exposes even an experienced cook to a variety of interesting food. This book taught me how to make gnocchi, chocolate babka and ratatouille as well as other yummy things. I often feel that this book never got the attention that it deserved - it seems as if other vegetarian books got a lot more praise. Which is a tragedy, since this is the only vegetarian book that I feel is not only without gimmicks but is truly full of life. Not redundant at all like some of the others out there.

Other than Crescent Dragonwagon's work, this is undoubtedly among the best vegetarian cookbooks ever produced, and a must-have.As a kid, I was fortunate enough to be able to eat at the Tao and occasionally get my hands on a piece of cake from Rudi's... Fortunately, they live on in any kitchen with this cookbook and an even moderately competent cook. :-)

This fabulous vegetarian cookbook has, unfortunately, been overshadowed by better known ones coming out of Moosewood, Greens, etc., but anyone who loves food, vegetarian or not, will probably adore this book. It's absolutely terrific. Unlike a lot a vegetarian recipes, these are very finely tuned, even subtle. They aren't the easiest meals to put together, but the work is well worth it. The recipes are constructed with a wonderful eye to fresh ingredients complexly combined, and it covers everything from breakfast to desserts. The cornmeal pancakes remain the best I've ever had; salads are excellent; and the soups just as good. I really love this book and would never be without it.

This is a wonderful vegetarian cookbook. The recipes are pretty simple and easy to follow, but absolutely delicious and mostly call for fairly ordinary ingredients. The recipes are also reasonable -- you don't need to devote a whole day to cooking a tasty meal without meat. I have had and loved this book for about 10 years now, and it's so splattered and worn that I've decided I need a new copy. This is one of my favorite cookbooks ever.