My Portugal: Recipes and Stories

by George Mendes, Genevieve Ko, Romulo Yanes (Illustrator)

Overview

In My Portugal, George Mendes, chef and owner of Michelin-starred Aldea, introduces us to the world of Portuguese cuisine, offering 125 mouthwater­ing recipes that showcase the wide range of dishes that come from this coastal country. The collection balances Mendes’s popular restaurant recipes, such as his signature Duck Rice and Garlic Seared Shrimp, with his takes on classic Portuguese dishes, such as Salt, Cod, Potato, and Egg Casserole; Mozambique Shrimp and Okra with Piri Piri; Eggs Baked with Peas, Linguiça, and Bacon; Butter Cookies; and more. His stories illustrate the wealth of culinary resources in Portugal—fresh seafood, savory meats, and crisp vegetables. With delicious recipes and stunning photographs of the country, My Portugal takes the reader on an unforgettable journey.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617691263
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	10/07/2014
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	369,882
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

George Mendes is a Michelin-starred chef and owner of Aldea in New York City. Named one of Food & Wine magazine’s ten “Best New Chefs” in 2011, Mendes is regularly featured in national newspapers, magazines, and websites, along with television appearances, including a run on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. Genevieve Ko is a food writer who has coauthored cookbooks with several internationally renowned chefs. Ko is currently the contributing food editor at Health.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/06/2014
In addition to collecting recipes for greatest hits from Mendes's highly regarded restaurant, Aldea, this cookbook gives readers greater insight into Mendes's personal journey as a chef, as well as a deeper appreciation for Portuguese culture and cooking. Mendes begins humbly with a handful of recipes for salt cod, a staple of the cuisine, and gradually increases the complexity of the dishes before moving on to the next chapter. This approach, coupled with essays on the people, places, and experiences that have influenced him, pulls the reader in and encourages experimentation. Even though readers may not have the talent, budget, or palate for Aldea's famous saffron rice with seared shrimp and foie gras, they can certainly prepare the simple garlic seared shrimp if they want to get a taste of Portugal. There are recipes for formidable dishes such as terrine of baby goat and sea urchin toasts with shiso and lime, but there are just as many for hearty, rustic fare: an omelet with linguica and chorizo, a white button mushroom stew redolent with smoky paprika and red chile flakes. Packed with crisp, toothsome images of the dishes and postcard-worthy shots of Portugal, Mendes's collection is an inspired, loving tribute to the country. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

I have long admired George’s thoughtful, evocative cooking at Aldea. The stories and recipes in My Portugal show the passion, warmth, and generosity of spirit that make his food so delicious.

chef of Coi Restaurant in San Francisco Daniel Patterson

George is a creative genius whose culinary talent shines through each and every one of his dishes. His passion and love for Portuguese cuisine is inspiring and evident in all that he does! His recipes are simply delicious and will leave readers with a strong appreciation for Portugal and its cuisine!

chef of Le Bernardin in New York City Eric Ripert

In this book, George Mendes takes us with him to Portugal: He travels the small Iberian country to visit family, to investigate the origins of favorite dishes, and to understand the village where his parents lived before he was born.

Food & Wine

George is an amazing chef, and we share the common approach of bringing our own personal food heritage to New York City. His cuisine is filled with the intensely satisfying flavors of a casual Portuguese feast—updated with a beautifully modern presentation and technique du jour. I can see you trying these recipes at home while sipping a nice chilled glass of vinho verde!

Daniel Boulud

One of my favorite chefs has at last written a delicious tome that evokes the delicate balance between fantasy travel to the western Mediterranean and local farming in the USA. The poetic recipes and the mellifluous prose inspire me to shop, to sing fados, and to celebrate and cook these alternately exotic and recognizable simple and evocative dishes for my family. This book makes me hungry for a visit to both Aldea in NYC and the Algarve [in Portugal] and will immediately join my kitchen library on the ‘use now and forever’ shelf.

chef/entrepreneur Mario Batali

This book is a perfect example of an amazing chef cooking the cuisine that flows through his veins. George is cooking the food that is embedded in his DNA and it just so happens to be gorgeous and delicious!

chef of Husk Restaurants in Charleston and Nashvil Sean Brock

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