New Cooking from Old Mexico - by Jim Peyton (Paperback)

About the Book

Mexican cuisine spanning indigenous, pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary eras

Book Synopsis

It's said that the history of Mexico is, in great measure, the history of its culture, and the history of its culture is, in great measure, the history of its cooking. Restaurant menus and store aisles north of the Mexican border are packed with commonly known dishes that many have come to simplistically think of as Mexican cuisine. But the history of Mexican food is complex--a cornucopia of foodways ranging from indigenous, pre-Hispanic times to centuries of colonial-era influences and contemporary fusion variations.

New Cooking from Old Mexico, Mexican food connoisseur Jim Peyton introduces a contemporary and diverse style of cooking practiced in Mexico--called nueva cocina mexicana--combining the elegant Mexican classics and techniques spanning centuries. Following an extensive introduction to the roots of Mexican cuisine complete with an overview of its foodways and new world ingredients, Peyton presents more than 130 recipes. Many of them are brought to life with colorful illustrations accompanied by a glossary of ingredients and culinary terms unique to these food cultures. In all, this collection is a tribute to the rich complexity of historic and contemporary Mexican cooking.

Review Quotes

"Well researched and thoroughly delicious." -- Los Angeles Times

"Jim Peyton knows his Mexican food!" -- Houston Chronicle

"New Cooking from Old Mexico introduces a new world of Mexican cuisine--one that combines traditional peasant and court cooking techniques to create dishes ideal for home and restaurant kitchens." -- El Restaurante Mexicano

"New Cooking from Old Mexico places the glorious and various cuisines of Mexico in a context that should appeal to both the food historian and home cook." -- Los Angeles Times

About the Author

Jim Peyton is the author of four books about Mexican cooking, including La cocina de la frontera: Mexican-American Cooking from the Southwest, El Norte: The Cuisine of Northern Mexico, New Cooking from Old Mexico, and Classic Tex-Mex Cooking. He is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and lives in San Antonio, Texas.