general

This book is a classic of Mexican Cuisine. It's not as anal-retentive as Diana Kennedy and more appealing than Rick Bayless. The recipes are truly authentic and I have lived in Mexico for many years, researching the cuisines of Mexico. This book contains the majority of the most common dishes cooked in homes in Mexico and a great deal of the "alta cocina" works as well. I have made 75% of the dishes in this book and have served them to Mexican friends to rave reviews. This is the real thing. Marilyn Tausend collaborated in this book and it shows. She is an unsung hero of Mexican Cooking. There are others better known, but few that can take a recipe and make it easy to follow, yet as authentic as is possible with ingredients available in the US. If you want to cook like a real Mexican chef, get this book!

I'm from Mexico and I received various cooking books when I got married. Well, I couldn't use them because the instructions were too vague ("use half a can of tomatoes", "cook for about 30 minutes in a hot oven"). This book has been my salvation! The steps are clear, all the ingredients are measured, and there's photos for a lot of the recipes. All the dishes I've made have been perfect, just like my Mom used to make. It's a little expensive, but it would be the only Mexican cooking book you'll ever need. Look for it in softcover, it's a little cheaper that way.

This is one of the best books around. My best friend was born and Mexico, and loves the authentic recipes in this book. I have enjoyed many wonderful meals with her family, and couldn't wait to show her this book. She soon bought copies of the book for her family after reading mine. I love all of the "Beautiful Cookbooks". The photography and history of the region(s) are superb, and the recipes are delicious!