ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9603290117
SECTION: BOOKS PAGE: F-5 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BOOK REVIEW
ISMAIL MERCHANT'S PASSIONATE MEALS: The New Indian Cuisine for Fearless Cooks and Adventurous Eaters.
By Ismail Merchant. Hyperion. $14.95.
Along with director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant has created such elegant films as "A Room with a View" and "The Remains of the Day." The recipes and presentations contained here reflect much the same elegance and passion as the films. The title's specification about "Fearless Cooks" seems to me unfounded as the recipes I have tried have been quick to prepare and relatively simple as well. They have proved both unusual and delicious.
More than 200 recipes reflect Merchant's classic Indian culinary background as well as his acceptance and interpretations of Western traditions and ingredients. Delightful aspects of the book include Merchant's anecdotal insights and his observations about cooking and entertaining.
I plan to use Merchant's outstanding book often for both my family and friends who appreciate the "adventurous." A central insert of color photographs lets us see Ismail Merchant cooking, shopping and dining with friends as well as a nice selection of some of the finished dishes.
Highly recommended!
- Harriet Little
THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF VIRTUES.
Edited by William J. Bennett. Illustrated by Michael Hague. Simon & Schuster. Ages K-third grade. $20.
Bill Bennett is well known to adults from his service to the government during the Reagan and Bush presidencies and now as author of "The Book of Virtues" which was previously on the New York Times best sellers list. "The Children's Book of Virtues" is an echo of the adult book but with wonderful pictures by Hague that give it the right touch for children.
The book is a large lap-book that invites bedtime reading by a parent or grandparent. To be impressed by this book is no surprise, but what is a pleasant surprise is the price of $20. Anyone who has picked up several childrens' books of under 20 pages for almost that price will be pleased to get more than 100 pages of good stories and delightful pictures at such a fair cost.
- Peggy Davis
Peggy Davis lives in Fincastle and reviews a variety of books for this page.
Harriet Little teaches at James River High School.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB