Oaxaca al Gusto: An Infinite Gastronomy (The William and Bettye Nowlin Series in Art, History, and Culture of the Western Hemisphere)

A wonderful cookbook and in very good condition.

I had been looking for this cookbook for ages. I really wanted to see it before buying but finally gave up so I ordered it from Amazon. I had no idea it was so large. Really a coffee table book. My copy came signed and that was unexpected too.This book describes/documents indigenous food in the State of Oaxaca. Sooo, if one is looking for an easy Mexican cookbook this isn’t for you; however, if you want to learn it is. About 25 to 30 percent of the recipes need local ingredients. Some probably can be substituted but probably will not taste the same. But the rest can be made (no I haven’t made them all yet) with ingredients found or grown in the US. And most foods taste different outside the area of origin anyway.Yes I’m happy and excited by the cookbook and I look forward to expanding my menus. My recommendation is to go for it.

As I began reading Oaxaca al Gusto, I was becoming so excited about the fascinating foods, particularly chiles, that Diana Kennedy shared with us. Sadly, she passed away recently, and I agree with her statement that this should've been her FIRST book, but then again, I love them all. Rest in peace, Diana, and thank you for all you did for us who love to cook authentically.

For serious students of Mexican cuisine, Oaxaca holds a certain fascination. As one of the poorest and most indigenous regions of Mexico, Oaxaca is where one finds the food ways that pre-date the arrival of the Spanish. It is this Pre-Columbian tradition that leads many food writers to believe that Oaxaca has the most "authentic" and profound Mexican food.As earlier reviewers have noted there are plenty of recipes in "Oaxaca al Gusto" that are way beyond the means of even the most dedicated home cook. Afterall, how many people are really going to make wasp nest sauce or salsa for flying ants? While most people will never make these recipes, they are nevertheless fascinating to read about. In addition, Diana Kennedy's extraordinary photos bring an additional level of understanding.While there are plenty of exotic recipes, they are also easily a couple of hundred recipes that can be attacked by any serious home cook with a little imagination. As the Mexican immigrant population has grown and moved throughout the United States, ingredients that ten years ago seemed exotic and impossible to find can now be found at number of neighborhood food stores. It may take a little work to find these ingredients but end result will yield a greater understanding of the diversity of Mexican food.Diana Kennedy has spent the last forty five years wandering around Mexico's backroads in search of interesting recipes. She is the foremost expert on Mexican food in the world and "Oaxaca al Gusto" is truly her opus magnus. This book is not for the casual cook looking for recipes for Thursday Taco night. "Oaxaca al Gusto" is the culmination of Diana Kennedy's life's work. One can only pray that Diana Kennedy has it in her to produce one or two more classic books like this one. The highest recommendation.

I ordered this book because it came highly recommended by other trustworthy and passionate reader-cooks on a book discussion forum. And it lived up to its praise. The book is nothing less than gorgeous, a superb rendition of what a coffee table cookbook can be while staying entirely practical. The photographs are stunning and beautifully reproduced. The recipes are laid out in logical order, and the accompanying text, thankfully talks less about the author's experience ("I tasted this while sitting in a shaded grove with my husband, my children, and my dogs, a perfect vintage in our hands, and views out over the green valley where we were lucky enough to find a run-down but ultimately charming farmhouse that we ...") than about the history and people of the region. She obviously cares deeply about the food, but its context is no less important.Only one caveat: Diana Kennedy talks about and shares recipes for the REAL food of the region. Black iguana? Beef offal? Pork head? I realize that this is a poor country (comparatively speaking), but if you realize, as I did, that certain things, things that are routine for people who make do with every part of an animal, are never going to be part of your diet, then Diana Kennedy's books--Oaxaca al Gusto among them--may not be for you. I like authentic cuisine, but I guess I just need my versions to be slightly Americanized. For those who don't, this book is excellent. As beautiful to show as to cook from, it is a joy to behold and to taste. Just be sure of your own limits or those of your recipient.

A lovely book but sadly the dust jacket was damaged in multiple places, and showed signs of wear, the book was just packed in a cardboard box that was open at both ends and somewhat damp. I was expecting a pristine book. Looks more like a good used book than a new one.

Let’s just say it’s a very nice coffee table book, given that so many of the ingredients aren’t actually available in the UK. A good job, perhaps!?!

Este gran libro que además de ofrecer recetas de la comida oaxaqueña no contextualiza el lugar y personas de donde se tomaron las recetas. Esto habla de la importancia de quienes por muchas generaciones han pasado las formas de elaborar los alimentos en Oaxaca.Diana Kennedy es sin duda una gran autoridad en el tema del arte culinario de México, he logrado reproducir varias de las recetas contenidas en el libro y créanme son deliciosas. Aunque no siempre se encotrarán todos los ingredientes pues son muchos de ellos regionales, nos ofrece alternativas.Disfruten el libro mientras cocinan, no se arrepentirán.

Great cookbook with great inspiration to try new recipes.I would definitely recommend this book

This is a beautiful coffee table book with marvellous pictures and wonderful historical description but not the type of recipe book I would be inclined to use. Many of the ingredients may also be difficult to source if you are living outside South America.

Maravilloso libro, poco común y a excelente precio. La calidad es soberbia y la información es una obra maestra de la autora. El envío fue muy rápido y llegó en excelentes condiciones.