Book Description
In the 1960s Claudia Roden introduced Americans to a new world of tastes in her classic A Book of Middle Eastern Food. Now, in her enchanting new book, Arabesque, she revisits the three countries with the most exciting cuisines today—Morocco, Turkey, and Lebanon. Interweaving history, stories, and her own observations, she gives us 150 of the most delectable recipes: some of them new discoveries, some reworkings of classic dishes—all of them made even more accessible and delicious for today’s home cook.
From Morocco, the most exquisite and refined cuisine of North Africa: couscous dishes; multilayered pies; delicately flavored tagines; ways of marrying meat, poultry, or fish with fruit to create extraordinary combinations of spicy, savory, and sweet.
From Turkey, a highly sophisticated cuisine that dates back to the Ottoman Empire yet reflects many new influences today: a delicious array of kebabs, fillo pies, eggplant dishes in many guises, bulgur and chickpea salads, stuffed grape leaves and peppers, and sweet puddings.
From Lebanon, a cuisine of great diversity: a wide variety of mezze (those tempting appetizers that can make a meal all on their own); dishes featuring sun-drenched Middle Eastern vegetables and dried legumes; and national specialties such as kibbeh, meatballs with pine nuts, and lamb shanks with yogurt.
Claudia Roden knows this part of the world so intimately that we delight in being in such good hands as she translates the subtle play of flavors and simple cooking techniques to our own home kitchens.
Customer Reviews:
Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon.......2007-09-26
What a beautiful, well laid out, and enjoyable read this cooking book is.
It brings the feel and culture of the countries into the recipe sections. The meals that I have tried are excellent, very easy to follow.
Like exploring the world without leaving your kitchen.......2007-08-06
"Arabesque: A Taste of Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon" shares a delightful collection of recipes, each of which makes you feel as if you are experiencing a vibrant part of another culture. From Tala_ Börei, which takes you into the kitchens of Turkey, to Moroccan Briwat Bi Tamr (Dates Rolls in Honey Syrup), spending time with this book is akin to taking a culinary trip around the Middle East. Each chapter includes an introduction to the cuisine & history of the part of the world it seeks to represent. It is in sections like these that we learn, for example, about Lebanon's history as a feudal state and how interactions between Sunni Muslim, Greek Orthodox and Ottoman culture influenced the cooking we recognize as Lebanese today. Such socio-historical tidbits are sprinkled throughout the book, while chapters are organized into sections about "starters & meze," "main courses," and "desserts." Many recipes are accompanied by mouth-watering color photographs, so that this well-bound, artistically presented book would make a lovely coffee table book when you're not using it in the kitchen. Most of the dishes I tried were truly delicious, opening my eyes to new spice combinations and flavors. It was not until this book, for instance, that I would have thought to add cinnamon, pine nuts and currants to a meat dish (vegetarian meat dish in our kitchen, but the principle is the same), nor would I have thought to add pomegranate molasses and cumin to a salad. On one or two occasions I wasn't thrilled by the final result, but one cannot expect to fall in love with every recipe in a cookbook, especially one that is composed of meals so dissimilar from what you eat on an everyday basis. Recipes do assume that you have a firm grasp of basic cooking principles but at no point is this a hindrance. With internet access just a step away it is an easy thing, after all, to verify what "stiff egg whites" look like (Alton Brown did an entire show about this) or what greek-style yogurt is. Overall this book is a worthy addition to any collection - if you buy it and want my advice, make the Briwat Bi Loz (Almond Pastries in Honey Syrup) first. Not only are they easy to make, but the combination of crispy fillo, crunchy almonds and sweet syrup is hard to resist. Variations with confectioners sugar & orange blossom water are included for even more delightful exploration of this Moroccan dessert.
love it!!!!!!.......2007-05-14
I just love this book, the stories and recipes. I bought three and gave them as gifts, and I think I'll keep buying some more!
Brilliant.......2007-05-12
Claudia Roden manages to amaze me every time. Each book is distinct and the theme for Arabesque is summer. She offers a lot of grilled items, eggplant favourites, lots of lemon, olive oil and amazing desserts and not one bad recipe! She is a gracious, generous, loyal to all who taught her recipes and just lovely. This book makes a great present.
Yum.......2007-05-10
Roden presents Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines with delicious results. The recipes are clear, easy and just plain good. Try the zucchini fritters "kabak mucveri," the roast shoulder of lamb with couscous and date stuffing "dala m'aamra bi keskou wa tmar" or prawns in spicy tomato sauce "kimroun bil tamatem." A glossary would have been a good addition and the book's organization by country is a bit awkward, but the index is thorough and broken down by ingredients. For the cook interested in this food genre, I would also refer them to books by Wolfert and Heiou, as well as Roden's previous writings. A terrific addition to any cook's library.
Amazon.com
At the age of 5, Malika Oufkir, eldest daughter of General Oufkir, was adopted by King Muhammad V of Morocco and sent to live in the palace as part of the royal court. There she led a life of unimaginable privilege and luxury alongside the king's own daughter. King Hassan II ascended the throne following Muhammad V's death, and in 1972 General Oufkir was found guilty of treason after staging a coup against the new regime, and was summarily executed. Immediately afterward, Malika, her mother, and her five siblings were arrested and imprisoned, despite having no prior knowledge of the coup attempt.
They were first held in an abandoned fort, where they ate moderately well and were allowed to keep some of their fine clothing and books. Conditions steadily deteriorated, and the family was eventually transferred to a remote desert prison, where they suffered a decade of solitary confinement, torture, starvation, and the complete absence of sunlight. Oufkir's horrifying descriptions of the conditions are mesmerizing, particularly when contrasted with her earlier life in the royal court, and many graphic images will long haunt readers. Finally, teetering on the edge of madness and aware that they had been left to die, Oufkir and her siblings managed to tunnel out using their bare hands and teaspoons, only to be caught days later. Her account of their final flight to freedom makes for breathtaking reading. Stolen Lives is a remarkable book of unfathomable deprivation and the power of the human will to survive.
Book Description
A gripping memoir that reads like a political thriller--the story of Malika Oufkir's turbulent and remarkable life. Born in 1953, Malika Oufkir was the eldest daughter of General Oufkir, the King of Morocco's closest aide. Adopted by the king at the age of five, Malika spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom, surrounded by luxury and extraordinary privilege.
Then, on August 16, 1972, her father was arrested and executed after an attempt to assassinate the king. Malika, her five younger brothers and sisters. and her mother were immediately imprisoned in a desert penal colony. After fifteen years, the last ten of which they spent locked up in solitary cells, the Oufkir children managed to dig a tunnel with their bare hands and make an audacious escape. Recaptured after five days, Malika was finally able to leave Morocco and begin a new life in exile in 1996.
A heartrending account in the face of extreme deprivation and the courage with which one family faced its fate, Stolen Lives is an unforgettable story of one woman's journey to freedom.
Customer Reviews:
Incredible Story - Deserved Better Editor.......2007-09-10
I am very disappointed in some of the reviews that I have read about this book; thank goodness they are the minority. Yes, I agree that it was poorly edited, and the story that was being relayed really could have been told better. It disturbs me that some of the reviewers almost appeared to attack the author. This lady is not an author/writer; she's no Stephen King or Dan Brown. Those authors have the advantage of fiction on their respective sides. Malika Oufkir had no such advantage. She is a survivor who had to actually live the hell that she describes in her book.
Imagine being a political prisoner - your only crime being that you were related to someone who either did something terrible against the country or "allegedly" did so - you are living in conditions of squalor. Your captors want you to die, but don't want to necessarily pull the trigger. You are starved, not allowed outside, not allowed to see or feel the sun, and deprived of the most basic information such as the date and time. You watch your sister pick the rat droppings from pieces of stale bread before "happily" consuming it. You watch your three-year old brother's life as a political prisoner. That's what you lived for most of two decades. Finally, years after being released, you get the courage to tell your story so that the world has a chance to know what you have been through, and that political imprisonment is not the cake walk or country club behind bars that it has been touted through the years. For months, you fight through the tears and the recollections of the circumstances and events that above all, you mostly want to forget. Then, proud that you were able to clear that final hurdle, you read the book reviews on Amazon only to find that one reader finds the book "difficult to believe" and even "boring." The nerve of some people to sit in their air conditioned homes with their refrigerator and freezer full, to sit at their computer with access to the world, to not be able to look past the flaws of the book to see the real story. If this was fiction, I could see the criticism, but given the storyline and the simple fact that it was fact, I simply cannot justify attacking the author about the quality of the book. Her experience has forever changed her and her reaction to life itself.
Bottom line - this was a riveting story that could have been a riveting book. I give the story itself 5+ stars. I hope Ms. Oufkir and her family are proud that they survived such an incredulous nightmare. I was left wanting more information, but I personally feel fortunate to have received what information I got; Ms. Oufkir didn't have to put her ordeal in writing. The editing gets one star. The editor and publisher failed Ms. Oufkir and should be ashamed that her story was not given the very best attention to detail. It almost seems as though the book was rushed to go to print, and Ms. Oufkir's story suffered the consequences. And that is a real travesty.
Survival Story.......2007-08-30
Because of her father's treachery in attempting to assassinate the king of Morocco, Malika, her mother, her siblings and two family friends are imprisoned in the desert. For years they live in tiny cells infested with bugs and mice who battle them for their near-starvation rations. Finally they make a desperate move to tunnel out of their prison and alert the international news media of their imprisonment, which puts sufficient pressure on the king to free them.
Malika's life wasn't always so bad, though. In fact, when she was five, the king adopted her to live in the palace as a companion to his daughter. Although she missed her family and felt trapped in her life as royalty, Malika was well fed and well brought up and had all of the luxuries life could hand out to a child. This makes her subsequent imprisonment all the more shocking, especially as it is at the hands of her adopted family.
I found this book a bit scattered. The author would state in passing something she would then address later, which gave me the feeling of a great deal of jumping around. She also tries a bit too hard to make a connection between life in the palace and life in prison, which I thought was more than a small stretch. Although the author argues that she was never really "free" to do what she wanted while living with the royals, what child ever is free to do what he or she wants? There were few incidents of her being treated cruelly while growing up, and she wanted for nothing, yet she tried to paint herself as a poor sad little child. This tended to make me feel less sorry for her, rather than more.
The part of the book dealing with the family's prison life was horrifying almost beyond belief, yet was dealt with in such a casual tone of voice that I found it hard to get as outraged and sad as I felt I should have been. Something about the tone of the book just didn't strike the right note with me.
Boring Beyond Belief.......2007-07-04
There is nothing "gripping" about this book. The beginning of the book, the tale of life with the King, is interesting. Once the family is arrested and incarcerated, it becomes boring beyond belief - and this is the part of the book that should be riveting! Instead, I found the narration totally self-centered and the "story" absolutely colorless. I quit reading about page 138 (just after the escape) because at that point I could have cared less what happened to this family. The travesty is that these events were real and I should feel outrage and compassion for this family. Instead, I'm annoyed I spent money on this horribly written/edited/translated book!
Stolen Lives.......2007-05-28
I found this story to be an inspirational account of a young girl's struggle from the palace to a jail cell. The orginial controversy of punnishing children for their father's actions developed the story into a thrilling drama. It was a compelling and gripping story, but they way it was written was a little off. Some of the sentances were difficult to read because of the way the words were written. I did not like how the writer kept jumping to the past and present to explain events. This made it confusing to determine what details were current and which already occured.
Disliked.......2007-05-18
I read the book for a book club. I was disappointed. The story was very self-centered. Also,difficult to believe, but a bit boring.
Book Description
Visit the Djemaa el-Fna late at night when most of the crowd is local p297. Join the locals in a public hammam and try not to flinch as layers of skin are sloughed off p443. Learn to cook from women who prepare wedding feasts in the city of romance, Marrakesh p306. Find a cure for baldness, impotence or camel sickness in markets all over the country. Five authors, two rented mules, 210 days of in-country research. Expanded Trekking chapter Â- each trek completed by footsore authors. All-new Culture chapter - meet Fatima, Driss and Amina and understand Moroccan culture through their eyes. You asked for it, we researched it - more language courses, cooking courses and sustainÂable travel experiences.
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet Guide Morocco .......2007-09-24
I love this books, they are the best travel guides. The book was in perfect condition and it arrived on time.
Great!.......2007-07-30
The Lonely Planet travel guides are the best!! We've been to Morocco a few time and the guide has never steered us wrong! There is no comparison to any other guide!
This book does the job well..........2007-05-16
Yet again, the Lonely Planet puts together a pretty thorough guidebook that helps in exploring this remarkable destination. My experience showed that some of the info was a bit dated and a comparison with a fellow traveller's 2004 LP revealed that the two editions don't differ all that much. In their defense, things in Morocco tend not to be all that structured or consistent and would be hard to keep on top of. All in all, the book served me quite well. I will write them with the corrections that I noticed and hopefully the guide will continue to improve.
Book Description
Featuring more than 1,100 full-color illustrations, this atlas is a visual guide to the diagnosis and management of medical and surgical emergencies. Emergency medicine depends on fast, accurate interpretation of visual cues, making this atlas an invaluable tool.
The book is divided into sections on prehospital management and resuscitation, organ system emergencies, and multisystem emergencies. For each specific emergency, the authors present both clinical photographs and illustrations of significant diagnostic test findings such as specimens, radiographs, endoscopic images, and ECGs. The succinct text accompanying the illustrations covers patient presentation, diagnosis, and clinical management.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding.......2007-09-05
This is a must in any urgent care/ER ....photos are excellent and just the right amount of written text to have a working review of almost everything one would see in these settings.It has always been easier to learn info. when it is hooked up to a photo. This is one of those that should and could be read cover to cover by any primary care/ER physician. It expands your differential greatly. I'm ordering my second one tonite.
Amazon.com
North Africa is the home to one of the world's great cuisines. Redolent of saffron, cumin and cilantro, Moroccan cooking can be as elegant or as down-home hearty as you want it to be. In Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco, author Paula Wolfert has collected delectable recipes that embody the essence of the cuisine. From Morocco's national dish, couscous (for which Wolfert includes more than 20 different recipes), to delicacies such as Bisteeya (a pigeon pie made with filo, eggs, and raisins among other ingredients), Wolfert describes both the background of each recipe and the best way to prepare it. As if the mouthwatering recipes weren't enough, each chapter includes some aspect of Moroccan culture or history, be it an account of Moroccan moussems, or festivals, or a description of souks, or markets. Just reading the recipes will be enough to induce ravenous hunger even on a full stomach. Once you've tried the Chicken Tagine with Prunes and Almonds, or the Seared Lamb Kebabs Cooked in Butter, Paula Wolfert's Couscous and Other Good Foods from Morocco will become a well-worn title on your cookbook shelf.
Book Description
Since it was first published in 1973, Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco has established itself as the classic work on one of the world's great cuisines. From the magnificent bisteeyas (enormous, delicate pies composed of tissue-thin, buttery layers of pastry and various fillings) to endless varieties of couscous, Paula Wolfert reveals not only the riches of the Moroccan kitchen but also the variety and flavor of the country itself. With its outstanding recipes, meticulous and loving research, and keen commitment to the traditions of its subject, this is one of the rare cookbooks that are as valuable for their good reading as for their inspired food.
Customer Reviews:
food lover.......2007-09-24
I purchased this cookbook in 1977 when I married my first husband, a Moroccan. While the marriage failed, this cookbook never did. I love it and consider it one of my favorites and still use it to wow family and friends.
Moroccan Wife..........2007-09-08
I have enjoyed this cookbook very much. My Moroccan husband has liked everything I have cooked using the receipes from this book. I only rated it a 4 because some of the instructions are not clear. I would love it if the author would update it.
Good Buy.......2007-07-14
There is so much more than recipes! Learn much about the culture. Great read!
Not a cookbook...............2007-06-10
This is a lot of things, but it is not a cookbook. The recipes are listed by local names and have little or any organization. I felt like I spent more time looking up what the words meant so often that I felt the book was written in Moroccan. There were a very few line drawings and no pictures of finished dishes. This book is not about couscous, it is about just about every other dish served in Morocco.
My daughter loves couscous and I bought this book hoping to find some good dishes that she would enjoy. Nothing could be further from the truth.
If you are looking of a compendium of Moroccan food and have time to sit and read this book from cover to cover, then this is your book. If you want something helpful in the kitchen, save you money.
This book was a total disappointment to me and I am amazed that it is even given cookbook status.
This is an awesome cookbook..........2007-01-19
clear, coherent, easily followed recipes.. Preserved lemons are the best...I have given this as a present sooo many times, I can't say....this is EXCELLENT FOOD!!!
Average customer rating:
- Good reference...
- Good Phrasebook but needed some help.
- Initially seemed great, but turned out NOT to be useful
- Zuina Bezzaf - MUST READ BOOK!
- The best choice (of 2) for travel needs and tourists...
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Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook
Dan Bacon , and
Bichr Andjar
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
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Lonely Planet Morocco
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The Rough Guide to Morocco 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
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Travel Talk Moroccan Arabic (Travel Talk)
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Morocco (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
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A Basic Course in Moroccan Arabic With Mp3 Files (Georgetown Classics in Arabic Language and Linguistics)
ASIN: 0864425864 |
Book Description
ssalamu'lekum is a greeting you'll hear from dawn to dusk and on into the night. 'Peace be upon you' - if only you could return the wish! And how about the farewell: lla yhennik - 'May God give you tranquility'. Must be one of the best ways to bid goodbye to someone about to travel further into the magic lands of Morocco.
- script throughout
- language specific to Morocco
- extensive vocabulary list
- full of useful cultural tips
- extensive food and shopping sections
- includes chapters on Berber and French
- easy to use pronunciation guide
Customer Reviews:
Good reference... .......2007-08-11
if you have had some language training in Moroccan Arabic or classical/standard Arabic. It's otherwise a bit difficult to use, especially if it's your first exposure to the language. One added benefit is the book's two short sections on French and Berber phrases for the traveler.
Good Phrasebook but needed some help........2007-07-23
The phrasebook was very helpful when I went over to Morocco for vacation. But before I left I had to have my friend from Morocco help me to make sure I was pronouncing them correctly. But for the most part it was helpful and very useful.
Initially seemed great, but turned out NOT to be useful.......2007-02-02
I bought it with a great enthusiasm but when I arrived at Morocco I discovered that the book is not useful for some reasons. I traveled around Morocco on bicycle for 2 weeks but learnt only very few phrases from this book. I suspect something is wrong with the structure of this phrasebook.
Zuina Bezzaf - MUST READ BOOK!.......2005-05-24
This book was GREAT! It's the best one out there, and it's a Fantastic price. So much information, helpful phrases, easy word spelling for prnounciation. This book was so helpful and yet so simple, it takes you from basic topics such as "Religion" "People" "Places" "Transportation" "Feelings" and so many other topics. This is a must read book. And it's so small, you can bring it anywhere.
The best choice (of 2) for travel needs and tourists..........2005-02-16
Okay, so there are really only two books out there that I know of which will teach you anything about Moroccan Arabic: this handy little pocket-sized phrase book and the big, green, more academic text called "A Basic Course in Moroccan Arabic." The choice between the two is clear, with the Lonely Planet book being the obvious choice for the thousands of us who just plan on going to Morocco for a short visit as a tourist or on business. The other book would probably be a better choice if you plan on living in Morocco and need to know the grammar and truly gain some in-depth knowledge, though the LP phrasebook would probably be a good place to start anyway.
This "Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook" has most of what you will need for a short junket, with the usual smattering of vocabulary on food, clothes, medical problems, directions, hotels and airports. To add some criticism, since no book is perfect, I would mention that the glossary is only English-->Moroccan, so if someone tells you a word in "darija" you will have no way to look it up and find its equivalent in English. I really don't see the point of putting everything in Arabic script either, since Moroccan Arabic is never written down and the target audience won't be reading anything in Arabic anyway! Maybe just including a description of the alphabet in an appendix would suffice. As usual, there are always some things you need but cannot find (typically "where is the bathroom?", though I think LP included that this time!)...
I had a great time with some Moroccans at a party using the phrasebook: None of them spoke any French or English, so I played charades by acting like I was one of the animals listed in the book and I knew that they were guessing the right animal, since I had the name in the book in front of me. Cheezy-sounding, but believe me, when you have no way to communicate with anyone around you, desperation sets in! Which is where this great phrasebook will come in handy!
Book Description
For the first time, a first person account of life inside the jihad...
Between 1994 and 2000, Omar Nasiri worked as a secret agent for Europe's top foreign intelligence services - including France's DGSE (Direction Générale de la Sécurite Extérieure), and Britain's MI5 and MI6. From the netherworld of Islamist cells in Belgium, to the training camps of Afghanistan, to the radical mosques of London, he risked his life to defeat the emerging global network that the West would come to know as Al Qaeda.
Now, for the first time, Nasiri shares the story of his life--a life balanced precariously between the world of Islamic jihadists and the spies who pursue them. As an Arab and a Muslim, he was able to infiltrate the rigidly controlled Afghan training camps, where he encountered men who would later be known as the most-wanted terrorists on earth: Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi, Abu Zubayda, and Abu Khabab al-Masri. Sent back to Europe with instructions to form a sleeper cell, Nasiri became a conduit for messages going back and forth between Al Qaeda's top recruiter in Pakistan and London's radical cleric Abu Qatada.
A gripping and provocative insider's account of both Islamist terror networks and the intelligence services that spy on them, Inside the Jihad offers a completely original perspective on the ongoing battle against Al Qaeda.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Read!.......2007-08-08
In my opinion, Inside The Jihad was a great book. It read like a good spy novel. I could not put it down. In addition, the book provided great insight into the minds of the Jihadist and the newtorks in which they operate. Moreover, I was shocked at the amount, and quality, of training the author mentions. As a former soldier, I was amazed at the vast topics of training these "soldiers" receive: weapons, documents tampering, infantry tactics, ect. Overall, a great book. I would, and have, recommended it to others.
Interesting, but not credible.......2007-08-01
Overuse of trivialized Muslim forms of address and the juvenile
nature of the writing make this book "incredible".
I'd bet it was written by someone with limited knowledge
(probably gained via internet gossip).
Described handler behavior was incorrect in many particulars.
Tradecraft descriptions were, at best wishful thinking.
Good novel, worth reading, but not at all believable.
Strong Narrative From An Insider. .......2007-07-12
In "Inside The Jihad" author Omar Nasiri (not his real name) spins a very readable narrative about his life as a spy for the British and French intelligence services, including a year-long tour in a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.
I was struck by the readability and clear understanding of the complex issues that surround the recruiting of terrorists and the real boots-on-the-ground, day to day life and training in the terrorist camps. Much different of course, than the prospective of Western outsiders looking in, even the very experienced ones like Bob Bair (23 years Middle East, CIA operative).
The readability of this book deserves special note. Even serious readers of the subject struggle with retaining the alphabet-twisting, dash-filled names common in the Middle East. But Nasiri helps with this by outlining each major character and his association with them, plus, re-outling in a separate section who they are. I found myself only having to refer to this outline on one occasion, a credit to the author's clear foundation of the characters the first time.
Nasiri reinforces two major facts known to serious students of the subject, but unknown to most citizens and, of course, the Main Stream Media who are basically both lazy and clueless: 1. Most terrorists are not downtrodden, slum dwelling thugs, but rather middle class, college educated individuals who are not dumb. 2. The CIA procedures, directed by the Left-leaning Administration during the '90's of not even contacting informants who are bad guys, left our intelligence forces grossly under-informed during that critical decade. Informers inform for many different reasons, many times far too complex to clearly understand, but that doesn't mean the information does not have value.
The reader caught drifts of self-serving narrative in the book, but this is common in books of this type and can be accepted or rejected as you see fit.
In both style and content, I found this book a solid 5-star effort and well worth the reader's time.
A Good Read.......2007-06-28
The book is told in first person, storied format, which made it really enjoyable to read. I could care less about whether or not it's non-fiction (which the author claims), it's a good, suspenseful espionage type story, that teaches you a little something.
I didn't read it looking for political knowledge for debate, I read it to have something to read, and it was good, plain and simple.
Great book .......2007-06-18
Great book! Easy read the author is a really good writer, he should write more. this book is so good that it has made want to learn more about the muslim religion and since I have ordered more books about it.
Get it!!!
Book Description
Moroccan food features the delicious flavors and health benefits of other Mediterranean cuisines, but tantalizes the senses with its own unique combinations of spices and simple ingredients. Grilled meats, vegetable or fruit tagines (stews), delicately spiced salads, couscous, and sweet or savory pastries are its hallmarks. Kitty Morse, who grew up in Casablanca, brings to this new book fascinating details about life and food in Morocco. Her approach to this exotic culinary tradition is surprisingly accessible yet authentic. With Morse's easy, step-by-step recipes and time-saving tips, any cook can create exquisite Moroccan flavors. On-location photos taken by the author's husband together with Laurie Smith's luscious stills create a beautiful insider's look at an intriguing cuisine and culture.
Customer Reviews:
The Top Moroccan recipe cook book.......2007-08-07
Kitty Morse is probably the primary Moroccan cook book author and well deserved. She still has a home in Morocco and leads a cooking tour once a year. The book contains all types of recipes to have a true diffa (feast) and uses ingredients generally available (you should make preserved lemons). The instructions are excellent and the tastes are remarkable. My wife and I have done a number of dinners, including the breads and our guests uniformly agree they are superior dinner parties. A great wine to serve with the bastila is either a spat lase or aus lase. This book is a standard. Monte K. and Anne R. Marshall of Sarasota, FL
Excellent entry to Moroccan cooking .......2007-07-27
I shipped back two cooking tagines from Morocco for grandchildren getting married this year, and wanted to include a cookbook. Morse's colorful photos, interesting text and good, easy-to-follow authentic recipes were just the ticket. I even bought one for myself.
Wonderful Book.......2007-06-10
This is a great book. It's organized perfectly: observation and notes on the region, notes on the cuisine, definitions of the basic ingredients and basic techniques. There are even basic recipes for the staples, such as preserved lemons. There are menues to help you with choosing which dishes pair best.
The recipes that follow are varied -- soups and salads, pastries and breads, meat, poultry, fish and veggies, couscous, and beverages and desserts. All are easy to follow. There are beautiful pictures of many of the recipes.
This is a wonderful book, good for any Moroccan cuisine enthusiast.
Kasbah Found.......2007-06-08
Excellent cook book thoroughly recommended for the experienced chef.
Good layout and introduction to the cuisine
authentic and great recipes!.......2005-11-16
My husband is a Moroccan and I am a Taiwanese. I love Moroccan food and always want to learn how to make those delicious dishes my mother-in-law made. When I bought this book, my husband and his brother thought the recipes must be westernized. After they tasted my Briouats(shrimp and ground beef) and B'stilla (seafood and chicken), they changed their minds. Most recipes are authentic and easy to follow. It's a great book. I love it!
Book Description
With over 900 full-color photographs, tips on public transportation, and detailed lists of hotels and restaurants, Eyewitness Travel Guides: Morrocco provides a wealth of informaton on this North African treasure.
Customer Reviews:
morocco book.......2007-10-01
It is a great book because gives you pictures of what you are expecting to see. Also gives you information.
Very easy to use.
Pretty but not as useful........2007-04-10
It is a colorful book but lack the basic information and tips on basics. Gives you a nice history of Morroco political life. But it was't as helpful on basics like maps, tours.
This is a cheap book its ok for a overview. If your thinking of visiting Morroco with only this book as experience, dont. Always do some research and get maps in the city you visit. Especially Marrakech
Sightseeing in Morocco.......2007-02-26
Just returned from Morocco and this book was indispensible! Great insight, great information about what to see. The photos are terrific to look at even if you don't make it to your destination.
Can't wait to use the one from Turkey soon!
Packed with pictures but not for budget traveller.......2007-02-02
The book is very nice for pictures. Information is not in-depth, though. Furthermore, a budget traveller should use it together with some "survival" style book (e.g. "Rough guide").
Great Guide, But Then Aren't All Eyewitness Guides Great?.......2007-01-17
What can I say? Don't leave home without it. As usual, in addition to all the little details you like to know about before you get to each city, the photographs give you good ideas for where to be, where to stand, what time of day, etc. for you own creativity.
We will not travel without an Eyewitness Guide if there is one for that particular destination.
Book Description
Sip mint tea on the edge of the Sahara, bargain like mad in Marrakesh, wander the narrow streets of Fez, learn how to surf at Oualidia, one of Morocco's hottest beaches, or take in the awe-inspiring Islamic architecture – Fodor's Morocco, 3rd Edition offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the country to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best –"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We frequently update our Morocco guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area at Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best–so you know you're seeing the real Morocco.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
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