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Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors
by: Lizzie Collingham

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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780099437864
ISBN: 0099437864
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Pages: 336
Publication Date: July 06, 2006
Publisher: Vintage
Studio: Vintage
Sales Rank: 57416

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Editorial Review:

Barry Forshaw:
There has certainly been a seismic change in recent writing on food, as Lizzie Collingham's Curry: The Biography divertingly proves. The subject here is nothing less than the history of India and its rulers, as told through the history of their signature food. Of course, the national food of India is now (by default) one of the national foods of the United Kingdom, and its all-conquering progress from the gilded palaces of Delhi to the curry houses of Brick Lane and Birmingham makes for highly entertaining reading.

We have had many cookery books before on how to prepare the mouth-watering Indian delights described here, but few have taken such a broad view as Collingham, who (while telling us how to prepare Dhansak or Lamb Korma), also apprises the reader of the individuals who discovered, cooked and presented these dishes originally (along with the lucky recipients, often in the upper echelons of Indian society).

In many ways, the rich host of anecdotes here is the single factor that distinguishes the book from so many similar titles. Collingham is a historian of some reputation, but her love of this food fairly leaps from the page. Be warned, however: you may begin this book in a spirit of historical curiosity, but by the end of it, you'll either be making your way to the local curry house, or to the nearest supermarket to stock up on turmeric, coriander and mango chutney. --Barry Forshaw

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Hot stuff
"Curry - A tale of cooks and conquerors" traces the origins of Indian cuisine from the Mughal courts through British and Portuguese colonial rule to the present day. While Chicken Tikka Massala is now the national dish of the UK, India itself is finally embracing its regional styles of cookery and a true national cuisine is emerging, fueled by the popularity of TV chefs such as Madhur Jaffrey.

This well-researched book is a joy to read, packed with recipes and interesting facts. Did you know that not only do most of the UK's Indian restaurant owners originate from Bangladesh, but that they come from a single small town where ships' captains traditionally recruited low-paid boiler room crew for their steamships? Or that many Indian ... Read More:

Rating:

- great book
This is a really great book. Its easy to read, original and absalutly facinating. I think the last reveiwer was a bit nit picky (im sure she says wheres a phal comes from).

I learnt something new on almost every page however its not a dry book of facts rather it reads more like a novel but telling a real story. Its even got some recipies in it which ive tried with some success, however its not a recipie book!!!

I think any one can read and enjoy this and a particular knowledge or interest in india or history of the time is not needed.

Rating:

- A very tasty read
I enjoyed this book a lot - it's easy to read and packed with fascinating stories.

However, I do feel it suffers a little from an occasional lack of thoroughness. For example, 'phal' is mentioned twice in the text but on neither occasion is there any explantion of what what a phal curry is, other than that it is hotter than vindaloo, or where it comes from (it is a UK invention).

A passing mention that the Prince Regent enjoyed being 'shampooed' misses an interesting aside - the word 'shampoo' derives from Hindi.

And I wonder slightly when the last time was that the author visited India, as she claims that chai is served in earthenware cups - sadly, this practice is fast-disappearing and you are much more likely ... Read More:

Rating:

- A must read for a serious foodies!
As a person who cooks South East Asian food for a living this book has been a complete education. It has given me a depth of knowledge and huge background information on a cuisine I thought I knew intimately. A wonderfully researched and wittily written book that makes delightful and fascinating reading.

Rating:

- Delicious
A mouth watering, fascinating read that will keep you entertained until the last page. After-pub curries will not be the same again as friends compete to supply the details and history of the dishes they are sampling!

A very attractive book which you want to pick off the shelf and handle, the pictures and photos are colourful, appealing and the layout and design attractive. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a lot too. My Christmas present problems are solved for this year as all my friends will be receiving this and I hope someone will buy it for me as I've already lent out my copy and it hasn't yet been returned.

Books : Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors