Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Two Titles Win Gourmand Awards!

Two of our titles have won in their respective categories for the United States in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards! Congratulations to The New Ukrainian Cookbook for winning Best East European Cuisine Book and to The Iraqi Family Cookbook for winning Best Arab Cuisine Book!
 


The Gourmand Awards are held every year and judges choose winners from various countries for each category. The winners from different countries then compete for "Best in the World," which is where our two titles now stand! 


Published in September 2012, The New Ukrainian Cookbook includes classic Ukrainian meals, such as Holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls) and Chicken Kyiv. Author Annette Ogrodnik Corona explores the cuisine of her ancestors while scattering quotes, poems, historical facts, illustrations, and folklore among her recipes. Ukrainian cuisine is one of the most varied and rustic cuisines in the world, due to its country's range of historical influences.
 




 
The Iraqi Family Cookbook was published in July 2012 and includes a collection of recipes from generations of author Kay Karim's family, as well as all the regions of Iraq. This book serves as a tribute to her homeland's cuisine and includes interesting side bars, notes, family anecdotes, and a guide to spices and ingredients. Iraqi cooking dates back 5,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia and this healthy diet rich in vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains is considered the world's oldest cuisine.




We wish both authors the best of luck in the next step of this contest!

Friday, November 30, 2012

“The Bengali Five-Spice Chronicles” Two-by-Two Cook-Off: Week 2



Our food blogger Two-by-Two cook-off is officially underway! Until December 6, thirteen bloggers will be reviewing and cooking their favorite dishes from Rinku Bhattacharya’s The Bengali Five-Spice Chronicles, and posting two reaction pieces about their experiences. The best part (aside from working up an appetite for these tasty Bengali dishes) is that each blogger is giving away one free copy of the book at the end of the cook-off!

Amanda at MarocMama tried her hand at Lentil and Rice Risotto, Meatballs in Saffron Rice, and Crispy Potato Sticks, and is looking forward to trying out a dessert or chutney for her second post, while Elizabeth over at Frugal Mom Eh enjoyed the “restaurant quality” of the Quick and Zesty Pineapple Shrimp, and its delicious mingling of flavors and spices.
Meatballs in Saffron Rice

Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla tried out some of cookbook’s vegetarian entrees – Sweet and Spicy Curried Cabbage, and Golden Cauliflower in Orange Mustard Sauce, both served with steamed quinoa. Camilla found these two vegetarian dishes “easy to make and teeming with flavor,” plus they were a big hit with her husband and kids!

Spiced Potatoes with Cauliflower and Shrimp

Laura from The Spiced Life cooked up some “quick, healthy and delicious” Spiced Potatoes and Cauliflower with Shrimp and Saffron Rice with Meatballs for her out of town guest. In her next post, she’ll be sharing with us the dish she cooked for her kids, when she reduced the green chiles to make the spiciness kid-friendly.

Many of the bloggers agreed that Rinku’s vivid, conversational prose style made browsing The Bengali Five-Spice Chronicles extra enjoyable, as she shares her own personal stories and memories of these beloved Bengali recipes. Cynthia from What a Girl Eats described it as “half-cookbook, half autobiography,” and she was excited to try out Rinku’s Chicken in a Creamy Yogurt Sauce, a simple recipe made with easily available ingredients.

There are plenty of posts still to come from these ladies as well as the rest of the cook-off bloggers, so be sure to check back here for updates – and don’t forget, on each of the blogs you can enter to win your own copy of The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles!

"Two-by-Two" Cook-Off Bloggers

Akheela Hisham - Torviewtoronto
Alex Witte - Chow Vida
Amanda Moutakki - MarocMama
Cynthia McCloud Woodman - What a Girl Eats
Elizabeth Lapmann - Frugal Mom Eh!
Hindy Garfinkle - Confident Cook, Hesitant Baker
Laura Tabacca - The Spiced Life
Melanie Deland - MBA Mama
Perry Perkins - Hautz Meals
Priya Mitrawal - Mharo Rajasthan
Rashmi Primlani - Primlani Kitchen
Sarah De Diego - Journeys of the Zoo

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

"The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles" Two-by-Two Cook-Off: Week 1


What better way to start off the holidays than to have another food blogger cook-off ? This time we're featuring our cookbook by Rinku Bhattacharya, The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles, that is sure to get your taste buds dancing.

Thirteen bloggers will have two weeks to post two reaction pieces about their experiences. Thus the name "Two-by-Two." At the end of the cook-off, each blogger will be giving away one free copy! This delightful cookbook would be a great gift for a friend, family member or even yourself, so be sure to enter.

Rinku, the author, will be hosting the event on her blog, Cooking in Westchester. This is an event you don't want to miss so keep checking back for updates!




"Two-by-Two" Cook-Off Bloggers

Akheela Hisham - Torviewtoronto
Alex Witte - Chow Vida
Amanda Moutakki - Maroccmama
Camilla Mann- Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Cynthia McCloud Woodman - What a Girl Eats
Elizabeth Lapmann - Frugal Mom Eh!
Hindy Garfinkle - Confident Cook, Hesitant Baker
Laura Tabacca - Spiced Life
Melanie Deland - MBA Mama
Perry Perkins - Hautz Meals
Priya Mitrawal - Mharo Rajasthan
Rashmi Primlani - Primlani Kitchen
Sarah De Diego - Journeys of the Zoo

Monday, October 8, 2012

Muy Bueno Cookbook & Spotlight Cookoff: Week 3




The Cookbook Spotlight and Cook-Off has come to a close as 16 bloggers have given their final reviews of Muy Bueno. Hippocrene Books would like to thank all of the bloggers for their hard work and dedication! Each and every one of you gave thoughtful reviews and posted beautiful pictures of your creations over the past three weeks. We would especially like to thank Heather at GirliChef.com for hosting the event and putting together a wonderful group of foodies. We couldn't have done it better ourselves.

Let’s not forget that the end of this cook-off means 16 lucky individuals win a copy of the cookbook for themselves. Be sure to check their blogs to see if you've been selected. Congratulations to those winners!

Photo by Jeanine Thurston

If you didn't win a copy, don't fret. My Bueno can be purchased from your local bookstore, or online at Barnesandnoble.com or Amazon.com. What more could you want from a cookbook that's jam-packed with easy recipes, gorgeous photos, and stories of family tradition that make cooking a soulful experience? We hope you've enjoyed reading what the bloggers have said about Muy Bueno, and will pick up a copy for yourself or your loved ones.

Here's the list of all the bloggers who participated in the Muy Bueno Cookbook and Spotlight Cook-off. Make sure you check out some of their other recipes. These bloggers have a knack for making their readers hungry!

Heather - girlichef  
Gerry - Foodness Gracious  
Jenn - Rook no.17 
Michelle - Delectable Musings 
Karen - Savoury Table  
Michelle - Ms. enPlace 
VianneySweet Life  

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cookoff: Week 2



Muy Bueno’s food blogger cook-through hosted by Girlichef.com is still underway! It’s blogger's choice this week, and the recipes keep looking better and better. Take a look at what the 16 bloggers did, and be sure to check back next week for their final reviews of Muy Bueno.

Many of the bloggers had a difficult time choosing just which recipe they wanted to try. Everything looked too good! One of the most popular dishes was the Beef Brisket Tacos, and it was a favorite for many of the same reasons. The simplicity of the meal left the chefs ample room to try any or all of the toppings suggested by Veronica. Sue from The View from Great Island tested it out with the Queso Fresco and Crema Mexicana to give the dish a “creamy moistness.” Why else did they love it? Let’s face it: the slow-cooker is the most attractive kitchen item for the person with a busy schedule. It's great to whip up the night before a long day, and throw into the cooker before you leave for work. Some bloggers were ambitious enough to pair two recipes together. Karen from Savoury Table made the Brisket Tacos with the homemade flour tortillas, and has decided never to buy tortillas again! 

Photo by Sue from The View from Great Island
Photo by Karen of Savoury Table

For those of you that want to try a new dessert or a tasty drink, check out the Coconut Flan featured in Cathy’s blog, Wives with Knives, or the Pear Margarita featured in Danielle’s blog, Cooking for my Peace of Mind. There is truly something for everyone in Muy Bueno!

Photo by Cathy from Wives with Knives


Week 2 Blogroll


Juanita's Cocina - Tacos de Carne Deshebrada (Beef Brisket Tacos)
Foodness Gracious - Chilaquiles Rojas
Savoury Table - Brisket Tacos w/ Homemade Flour Tortillas
The View from Great Island - Beef Brisket Tacos
Ms. enPlace - Beef Tongue w/ Tomato (Lengua Entomada) + Jalapeños w/ Soy Sauce (Jalapeños Toredos)
Javelin Warrior's Cookin w/ Luv - Roasted Green Chiles w/ Buttermilk & Cheese
Miz Helen's Country Cottage - Green Chili w/ Beef & Potatoes + Jesusita's House Salsa (Salsa Casera)
Cooking for my Peace of Mind - Prickly Pear Margaritas
Cooking... On the Ranch - Macaroni and Cheese ala Mexicana
Kahakai Kitchen - Bruschetta topped w/ Apricot, Melted Brie, & Pomegranate Seeds
Wives with Knives - Coconut Flan
Delectable Musings - Beef Tongue w/ Tomatoes
girlichef - Tacos de Chicharrón y Salsa Casera
Stirring the Pot - Stuffed Bell Peppers w/ Ground Beef & Potatoes
Sweet Life - Chicken Tinga


Monday, September 24, 2012

Muy Bueno Cookbook Spotlight & Cookoff: Week 1

The food blogger cook-through of Muy Bueno hosted by Girlichef.com has officially kicked off! Over the next few weeks, 16 bloggers will be trying out different recipes from Muy Bueno and posting about their experiences, so be sure to check back here for updates.

For week one, Heather of Girlichef chose two recipes from Muy Bueno for the bloggers to try out in their own kitchens: Mushroom, Jalapeño and Cilantro Salsa, and Capirotada, a Mexican bread pudding. The fresh mushroom salsa is an interesting Latin-fusion spin on the traditional tomato-based variety, while the sweet capirotada is a traditional Mexican holiday dish that goes back generations. Click here to see how these bloggers fared with their first foray into Muy Bueno's delicious recipes!

Heather's Mushroom Salsa looks delicioso! This would be great on steak tacos.


Heather - girlichef  
Gerry - Foodness Gracious  
Jenn - Rook no.17 
Michelle - Delectable Musings 
Karen - Savoury Table  
Michelle - Ms. enPlace 
VianneySweet Life  




Thursday, September 6, 2012

Muy Bueno: Cookbook Spotlight and Cookoff




We’re excited to announce that Hippocrene Books is sponsoring a food blogger cook-through of Muy Bueno, hosted by Girlichef.com! Starting September 16th, 16 different bloggers, including Heather of Girlichef, will cook from the book and share their experiences. 

In week one, all of the bloggers will try their hand at a recipe chosen by Heather. The second week is blogger’s choice, when they’ll each be cooking up their favorite delicious dish from Muy Bueno, and in week three each blogger will share their own review of the book, coinciding with its October 1st release date. Plus to sweeten the deal, each of the 16 bloggers has a copy of Muy Bueno to give away! Here are the participating bloggers:

1. Heather, Girlichef
3. Gerry, Foodness Gracious
7. Jennifer, Juanita’s Cocina
8. Jenn, Rook No.17
9. Michelle, Delectable Musings
10. Karen, Savoury Table
12. Michelle, Ms.enPlace
13. Vianney, Sweet Life
14. Deb, Kahakai Kitchen

It’s going to be a fun and exciting month, so starting September 16th don’t forget to check back weekly to find links to individual posts from each blogger, and for a chance to win your own copy of Muy Bueno! You can find more information about the authors on their blog.


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Delicious New Titles: India: A Culinary Journey and The Iraqi Family Cookbook

Whether you've had Indian food before or not, chances are you've missed out on a great deal of this expansive country's myriad culinary offerings—there's simply so much to be had. In India: A Culinary Journey, author Prem Kishore takes on the task of concisely yet thoroughly leading you through India's cuisine, history, and culture. Specific dishes represent the various regions and styles of cooking: Punjabi makki ki roti, Mughlai biryani  and gravies, dhals of Rajasthan, Kerali appams, dosas of Tamil Nadu, chutneys from Andhra, wild pork of Coorg, and fish from Bengal.

Have no fear that these won't be feasible in an American kitchen. Kishore has adapted each delicious recipe to be workable for those who may not know very much about Indian spices and ingredients, and a handy glossary quickly sums up the most important ones. Born in India and having lived in England, the Middle East, and the United States, Kishore entertains and educates with personal stories and a guide to Indian festivals, celebrations, and customs. You'll quickly learn that the richness of India is not restricted to its food.

This new cookbook is available now in bookstores, and online on our website, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.


From somewhat further west comes the equally diverse cuisine of Iraq, detailed in Kay Karim's The Iraqi Family Cookbook, a new edition of the book that won a World Gourmand Cookbook Award in 2007. It features color photographs alongside the over 150 recipes from Karim's family and the various regions and eras of Iraq, home to the world's oldest cuisine (dating back 5,000 years to Ancient Mesopotamia).

You'll be using beans, rice, fish, and lean meats alongside allspice, dried lime, sumac, saffron, and turmeric (among other spices listed in a detailed guide) to create the healthy and flavorful dishes of this Middle Eastern country. There are also delicate sweets like Baklawa (Baklava) and Shakar Lama (Cardamom Cookies), which we sampled first hand thanks to a generously-stuffed box that arrived at the office last holiday season. Kay's perfectly spiced walnut (not pistachio) baklava disappeared at an alarming rate!

Anthropologist and historian Dianne King says, "To read this book is to be transported to the gardens and kitchens of Iraq, breathing in the scents of mint, dates, apricots, citrus and pomegranates." It's a sensory and cultural experience not to be missed.


Purchase The Iraqi Family Cookbook at your local bookstore, on our website, or through Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Recap: Yvette with Mrs. Obama and Mamiverse Contributors



The conversation between the First Lady with these Mamiverse contributors and Latina moms, moderated by CNN analyst Maria Cardona, delved into diverse issues including nutrition and the Let's Move initiative, education, healthcare, and passing on traditions and values. The round table held in Miami went by very quickly, but each woman was able to share her own story and ask questions. 


Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, one of the authors of MUY BUENO (available October 1st) and mother of two, brought up the growing problem of childhood obesity and diabetes. Mrs. Obama suggested using  family dinner time to connect and foster healthy eating habits, saying "at 6:30, whenever [the President's] not traveling and we're all together, we have family dinner. You do much more than just eat together."


Watch the video and share your comments. What are your favorite recipes to get the family to the table?

Monday, July 9, 2012

MUY BUENO author joining First Lady Michelle Obama


It was such a hard secret to keep, but we can now share that Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack, one of the authors of MUY BUENO and the Muy Bueno blog, will be joining the First Lady for a round table on Latino issues tomorrow. We've been ready to burst with the news! Yvette and five other Latina moms will discuss the issues that Hispanic families face as well as taking questions submitted online. This Mamiverse exclusive event is being filmed in Miami and will be streaming live tomorrow at 12:45 pm EST.

Want to submit your question? Click here

Want to know more about MUY BUENO: Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor, coming out October 1st? Watch their lovely book trailer, but be warned: you'll be hungry afterwards!






Preorder the book on Amazon and stay on top of the latest news by following @MuyBuenoCooking and becoming a fan on Facebook!


Friday, March 23, 2012

IACP NYC Book & Blog Festival

Every year, the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) holds a fantastic conference with cooking demonstrations, thought-provoking panels, a wide variety of exhibits and opportunities to meet chefs and authors. New York City is hosting this year, and it's going to be one of the biggest culinary events of the year! This year's theme is "The Fashion of Food: Where Food, Fashion, and Media Connect."

On Sunday, April 1st there will be a Culinary Expo from 12:30 - 4:30 PM, and the Book & Blog Festival from 1:30 to 4:30 PM. We're very excited to have not one, but two authors at the festival! S.H. "Skiz" Fernando (RICE & CURRY) and Ramin Ganeshram (SWEET HANDS) will be there signing and selling their cookbooks. This event is open to the public, and you can get tickets for just $10. There will be close to 100 authors in attendance, plus refreshments and a media lounge where bloggers and others can share the latest news.

WHAT:  Book & Blog Festival
WHEN:  Sunday, April 1st
               1:30 - 4:30 PM
WHERE: 82 Mercer Street
                 New York, NY 10012

We hope to see you there!

Monday, January 23, 2012

New Cookbooks Reviewed by Midwest Book Review

The tastes and traditions of Danish and Sri Lankan cuisine could not be more different. But today they have one thing in common: a great review from Midwest Book Review! The reviews are shared below:


Hearty fare perfect for winter menu planning.

by Arthur L. Meyer

"Hippocrene Books is a premier publisher of ethnic cookbooks drawn from the culinary traditions of communities and cultures around the world. Their latest effort is Arthur L. Meyer's Danish Cooking and Baking Traditions, a 220-page compendium showcasing more than 170 recipes, each providing clear and easy...instructions. More than just a simple collection of authentic recipes, Danish Cooking is enhanced with an informed and informative introduction to the history and development of Danish cuisine. Of special note are the 45 recipes for outstanding Danish desserts and sweets. From Buttermilk Soup; Salted Herring with Cream; Danish Ham with Madeira Sauce; and Gingered Beets to Cinnamon Sauce; Old-Fashioned Danish Black Bread; Danish Donuts; and Danish Short Bread, there are palate-pleasing, appetite-satisfying recipes for all formal and informal dining occasions, making highly recommended for personal, family, and community library ethnic cookbook collections." --Midwest Book Review



Named a New York Times Notable Cookbook for 2011!

Rice & Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking
by S.H. Fernando

"Full color photography enriches  Rice & Curry: Sri Lankan Home Cooking, a sumptuous cookbook detailing how to create traditional Sri Lankan dishes, and flavorful variants thereof. Curry, rice, and chutney dishes figure prominently! An extensive introduction even offers a brief primer concerning travel in Sri Lanka, as well as a detailed portrayal of Sri Lankan spices/ingredients and how to use them in cooking. The dishes include Mulligatawny (a hearty South Indian soup), Lamb/Mutton Curry, Mango Chutney, Caramel Pudding, and more. Rice & Curry is a wonderful, user-friendly addition to international cookbook collections." -- Midwest Book Review