By Brenda Hyde

Our Latin Table is a cookbook with a story. It tells us of family celebrations, holidays and family cooks who made each occasion memorable. It also tells us of their journey to make a home in America when they escaped Cuba and settled in New York. The challenge was keeping their unique customs and mixing them with the things they came to love about America. We can learn so many lessons from the Saralegui family about the importance of family celebrations and the part food plays in our families.

The section entitled "A Latin Pantry" is fantastic. You'll learn of new ingredients and how to incorporate them into your own family cooking. The celebrations are unique and festive, as are the menus throughout the book. I've seen many cookbooks divided into menus that simply didn't convey the reasoning behind the choices. Our Latin Table explains the traditions and history behind the dishes, but in a friendly and fun manner. You won't get bogged down with too much information, but it's not just page after page of menus either. It's a mixture of recipes, tidbits and tips along with pictures that bring the celebrations alive.

I really enjoyed Our Latin Table, and look forward to planning our next unique family celebration using it's ideas!

Order Information for Our Latin Table

It's available in hardcover and is in stock at Powell's online bookshop. Click here for sales information