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Whispers from a Lebanese Kitchen: A Family's Treasured Recipes
"Nouha Taouk is a Lebanese-Australian from a vibrant family cooking tradition. In her first book, she shares the stories of her grandmother, Citi Leila, and the unique bond between the women in her family, created through cooking together. Culinary secrets and childhood memories are told over kneading bread, pickling vegetables and hand-moulding falafel. The traditions passed down from generation to generation are shared alongside authentic recipes for baba ghanoush, kofta and a rich array of Lebanese sweets. Discover the heart and soul of Lebanese cooking with Citi Leila and her family."
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 4, 2011
Whispers from a Lebanese Kitchen is more than just a cookbook, it documents a lifetime's experience of growing and cooking food in the stories and anecdotes of a Lebanese-Australian family.
The recipes are varied, the food delicious; I'd particularly recommend this book to vegetarian cooks looking for something new, as most - though by no means all - of the recipes are vegetarian (and often vegan). The use of chickpeas, broad beans, sesame, herbs and oils brings a fresh new variety of tastes to sample - such a refreshing change from the tomato and cheddar-based flavours that tend to dominate mainstream vegetarian cookery.
But it is the stories that pepper the cookery sections that make this book such a joy to read. As a keen gardener, I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the family's vegetable gardens, and the section on the family's Christian heritage, the preparation of feast and fast day meals, the cyclical nature of the religious calendar was fascinating. Most of all, it is the warmth, togetherness and love of an extended, displaced family, that comes across most strongly and most memorably; these anecdotal interludes are the best reason to read this book.
There one thing I didn't enjoy was the rather brash look of the thing, the graphic style and rather crude use of otherwise delightful photographs makes this a far less attractive book than it should and could have been. This book needs a much lighter visual touch, and why I only gave it 4 stars; the content deserves 5, its appearance lets it down.
The recipes are varied, the food delicious; I'd particularly recommend this book to vegetarian cooks looking for something new, as most - though by no means all - of the recipes are vegetarian (and often vegan). The use of chickpeas, broad beans, sesame, herbs and oils brings a fresh new variety of tastes to sample - such a refreshing change from the tomato and cheddar-based flavours that tend to dominate mainstream vegetarian cookery.
But it is the stories that pepper the cookery sections that make this book such a joy to read. As a keen gardener, I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the family's vegetable gardens, and the section on the family's Christian heritage, the preparation of feast and fast day meals, the cyclical nature of the religious calendar was fascinating. Most of all, it is the warmth, togetherness and love of an extended, displaced family, that comes across most strongly and most memorably; these anecdotal interludes are the best reason to read this book.
There one thing I didn't enjoy was the rather brash look of the thing, the graphic style and rather crude use of otherwise delightful photographs makes this a far less attractive book than it should and could have been. This book needs a much lighter visual touch, and why I only gave it 4 stars; the content deserves 5, its appearance lets it down.
July 13, 2023
Taouk's family are Lebanese exiles living in Australia and they connect with their lost heritage through stories and cookery which weave together as the women cook the dishes in this well laid out colourful book.
In a way it resembles a normal cookery book, with sections in meal order: starters and mezze, salads, meat dishes, vegetable dishes, fish dishes , dessert and coffee but they are interspersed with and in presentation influenced by the stories, the memories the family have of their brief time in Lebanon and lives in Australia, of family gatherings and the food used to celebrate religious occasions.
Some ingredients are quite specialized but these days you can shop online and don't necessarily need the good network of Lebanese grocers, bakers and butchers that surround Taouk's family.
In a way it resembles a normal cookery book, with sections in meal order: starters and mezze, salads, meat dishes, vegetable dishes, fish dishes , dessert and coffee but they are interspersed with and in presentation influenced by the stories, the memories the family have of their brief time in Lebanon and lives in Australia, of family gatherings and the food used to celebrate religious occasions.
Some ingredients are quite specialized but these days you can shop online and don't necessarily need the good network of Lebanese grocers, bakers and butchers that surround Taouk's family.
June 7, 2011
The author could have easily written a whole non-fiction book about her family, revealed in parts intersecting recipes. but since their stories are so intertwined with their culture and relation to food, a cookbook makes perfect sense!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews