Author: Naba Nasrallah
Publisher: vernal equinox publishing co., ltd
Publication: 20 1 1
Page count: 574
Cooking in Eden: cookbooks and the history of Iraqi cooking. The author, Dr. Nawal Nasrallah, is a former professor of English at Baghdad University and Mosul University. He gave a good introduction to the history and diversity of Iraqi cuisine. Narallah's publications are rich in illustrations, content and personality, far more than an ordinary cookbook or cooking history; Instead, it explores Iraq's colorful past through food history. The uniqueness of this title lies not only in its breadth-Nasrallah covers everything from exotic ancient desserts to refreshing medieval drinks-but also in the way recipes are presented in combination with social, cultural and historical backgrounds.
Divided into 20 thematic chapters, the cuisine in the Garden of Eden emphasizes the range of Iraqi cuisine, from soup and spicy salad to bread and bean dishes. Nasrallah used a wide range of historical, cultural and personal narratives in his publications to construct each formula. Nasrallah often directly quotes ancient and medieval documents and puts forward his own comments and opinions on the origin of specific dishes. It should also be noted that throughout the Joy of Eden, the author will regularly mention other recipes, which is the most useful for experts. Intimate anecdotes and interesting historical facts will not affect the reading experience; On the contrary, they enhanced it and made the title pleasant to read. Even for beginners, the recipe instructions are easy to understand; In addition, in almost all recipes, weights and sizes are provided in English and metric forms. List the ingredients first, then the cooking instructions. Fortunately, many recipes are accompanied by photos, so readers can have a good understanding of what the final effect should look like.
When we read The Joy of Eden, we were surprised to find that Iraqi food was accepted by ordinary people because of its ingredients and relatively easy preparation. Many readers may be surprised at the extent to which modern Iraqi cooking retains its ancient Mesopotamian roots; From delicious bread to delicious stew, sweet thousand-layer cakes and kebabs, Nasrallah proved with the authority of chefs and scholars that the cooking history of Iraq embodies the flavor of ancient civilization. Joy in the Garden of Eden is interspersed with original illustrations by modern artists, pictures of ancient handicrafts, miniature models of the Middle Ages and photos of 65,438+000 dishes. In fact, we haven't encountered a more visually attractive recipe.
Other features of this publication include: preface; Ancient, medieval and modern Iraqi cuisine; A very informative part about the menu and etiquette in Iraqi history; Valuable vocabulary; Illustration credits; Cite ancient, medieval and modern works in * * * and English; And a detailed index of food and ingredients in ancient times, the Middle Ages and the Ottoman Empire. For easy reference, there is also an index of names and topics.
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History recommends the food in the Garden of Eden to all those who are interested in Iraq, food history, ancient history, medieval history, history and culture. This book has been published in English by Equinox Publishing House in the United States, and the hardcover edition is currently priced at $49.95. The total length is 574 pages.