Cynthia D. Bertelsen

Cynthia D. Bertelsen

Writer and food historian
https://gherkinstomatoes.com/
Biography

Cynthia D. Bertelsen’s books include Mushroom: A Global History, A Hastiness of Cooks: A Handbook for Deciphering Historic Recipes and Cookbooks, In the Shadow of Ravens: A Novel, Wisdom Soaked in Palm Oil: Journeying Through the Food and Flavors of Africa, Meatballs & Lefse: Memories and Recipes from a Scandinavian-American Farming Life, and Stoves & Suitcases. “A Hastiness of Cooks” won Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2020 for Best in Culinary History category for the U.S. and the world. Meatballs & Lefse placed as a finalist in the 2020/2021 New Generation Indie Book Awards. "Stoves & Suitcases" won Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2022 for Best in Food Writing category for the U.S. She writes and cooks in Florida, loves Mexican food, and wants to go back to France someday!

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Cynthia's recommendations
French Provincial Cooking

French Provincial Cooking

Elizabeth David

A classic, David’s book inspired a food revolution when Alice Waters read it and created Chez Panisse, her restaurant imbued with the spirit of David’s book.

The Cuisine of the Rose: Classical French Cooking from Burgundy and Lyonnais

The Cuisine of the Rose: Classical French Cooking from Burgundy and Lyonnais

Mireille Johnston

One of the best French cookbooks I own, Johnston’s paean to Burgundy is just what soothes the soul on cold winter nights.

The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day

The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day

Wini Moranville

Moranville gets down to the basics in The Bonne Femme Cookbook, making everyday French dishes accessible every day of the week.

Classic Indian Cooking

Classic Indian Cooking

Julie Sahni

I’ve owned many cookbooks on the cooking of India, but this one is the best. After making the coconut rice recipe, an Indian friend said it tasted just like his mother’s … .

Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes - Through Darkness and Light

Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes - Through Darkness and Light

Caroline Eden

The uniqueness of this book begins with the unusual cover design. That uniqueness continues throughout the book as the author writes of cities circling the Black Sea, sharing emblematic recipes and history-laced stories.

The Food of Morocco

The Food of Morocco

Paula Wolfert

Paula Wolfert’s first Moroccan cookbook educated me when I lived in Morocco for two years. This newer version includes photographs of dishes and ingredients, making the book more helpful, even to someone who will never step foot in the country.

A New Book of Middle Eastern Food

A New Book of Middle Eastern Food

Claudia Roden

I bought this book in Rabat, Morocco, at a small English-language bookshop run by a grumpy ex-pat Englishman. A treasure, the book came in handy because it introduced me to Morocco’s sister cuisines.

The Complete Book of Caribbean Cooking

The Complete Book of Caribbean Cooking

Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz

Ortiz’s book might not really be complete, but it comes close. In Haiti, I used it to enlarge my repertoire beyond that island.

English Food

English Food

Jane Grigson

A collection of English recipes way above and beyond bangers and mash, Toad-in-the-Hole, bread sauce, etc. Instead, much more elaborate recipes abound: Crab Tart, Chestnut and Apple Soup, Isle of Man Salt Duck. These are just a few of many examples of stellar English food that Ms. Grigson shares.

The Nordic Cookbook

The Nordic Cookbook

Magnus Nilsson

In this enormous, luscious book, Chef Nilsson takes readers through the whole of Scandinavia, not just his native Sweden. And he delivers a type of authenticity rarely seen in many cookbooks. Filled with sigh-inducing photographs of the region, The Nordic Cookbook provides a culinary experience for every single of the five senses

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