The Iberian Table - by Robin Keuneke (Paperback)

About the Book

"Distinguished health writer and natural foods chef Robin Keuneke, makes the case for The Spanish Mediterranean Diet as nutrition's best-kept secret. Part cookbook, health book, and culinary-travel memoir, The Iberian Table pulls back the curtain to decode one of the world's healthiest cuisines is recognized as having more restaurants in the world's top fifty than any other country, and her people have a unique longevity, second only to Japan. Following the success of her first two books on health, author Robin Keuneke is effortlessly entertaining, offering readers fresh perspectives on improving their lives through food. Through over 100 easy to follow recipes, readers will gain advice on meal planning and weekly menus with ingredients easily obtainable from most grocery and/or health food stores."--

Book Synopsis

Distinguished health writer and award-winning author Robin Keuneke introduces Americans to Spain's overlooked Mediterranean cuisine, recognized by researchers as potentially the world's most life-extending diet. More than just a cookbook, this immersive cultural exploration combines:

• LITERARY TRAVEL MEMOIR that transports you to Spain's diverse culinary regions
• HEALTHY DIETARY INSIGHTS perpetuating the Spanish longevity phenomenon, projected to be the longest living population by 2040.
• EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS with Michelin-starred chefs Carme Ruscalleda and Elena Arzak
• 100+ AUTHENTIC RECIPES adapted for American home cooks with easy-to-find ingredients

From the spectacular northern Basque region to sun-drenched Andalusia, discover the culinary secrets that make Spain's Mediterranean diet unique. Sample mouthwatering dishes like:

• Minced Leek and Tomato Salad with Manzanilla Olives
• Classic Chicken and Vegetable Paella
• Cod on a Bed of Multi-colored Vegetables
• Pa Amb Tomáquet (Tomato Garlic and Olive Oil Bread)
• Mediterranean-Style Orange Rice Pudding with Meringue

Part sophisticated travelogue, part health guide, part cookbook--The Iberian Table delivers the perfect blend of cultural immersion, nutritional wisdom, and delicious recipes from Spain, home to more top-50 restaurants than any other country in the world.

--Robin Keuneke

Review Quotes

"For the chefs know the embracing of simple sustenance and the dignity that lies therein, is the soul of Spain's greatest cooking."

Keuneke's work transcends the traditional cookbook structure, entering a realm of culture and cuisine that provides a comprehensive experience that will likely be relished by all audiences. A delectable fusion of health and wellness, memoir, and recipes, the work offers an unrivaled sensory experience, complete with timely health advice, origin stories galore, and recipes delivered with such authenticity and simplicity that they create a homely feel throughout. The same awe the author experiences while standing with her mother atop the highest ridge on Salt Island is imbued within the presentation of every recipe and every travel destination.

The story is what makes Keuneke's work stand out, though. Whether it's the image of neanderthals roasting mushrooms over bonfires or her scintillating interviews with renowned chefs Carme Ruscalleda and Elena Arzak, the organic portrayal of life from the perspective of one's diet is easily relatable. In this work, Keuneke focuses on Northern Spain and the Spanish Mediterranean diet to demonstrate how eating the right foods can promote self-cleansing, eliminating toxins from the body while significantly improving coronary and gastric health.

As the author traverses the regions of Spain, she taps into history dating back a millennium. From thirteenth-century Barcelona to modern-day Aragon and its never-ending acres of organic farms, the evolution of "real food," as the author attests, is the only direct way to combat the influx of highly processed foods and the subsequent, inevitable health risks that follow. With over seventeen thousand Spanish residents hitting the century mark, culinary fixtures like sofrito, "that irresistible and shielding preparation of tomatoes, onions, and garlic, sautéed in extra-virgin olive oil," seamlessly toe the line between flavor and superfood.

As the work delves deeper into the recipes, it retains much of the same energy, storytelling, and personality that characterizes the first half of the work. Nevertheless, the recipes are crystal clear and easy to understand even for the layman. For instance, the instructions to make garlic prawns are concise and actionable, coupled with stories of Galicia and the ocean that add unparalleled perspective and meaning to the dish. At the same time, the author concocts unique recipes that one would typically not combine. The chicken in chocolate sauce is one such recipe that colors beyond the lines, yielding unexpected yet bursting flavors.

The vivid imagery that wafts throughout the work is its own special ingredient, especially when the author transports readers into places like El Sidron, a cave in Asturias that led to the discovery of yarrow and chamomile, herbs that are still prominent in the food humans consume today. Interestingly, the origins of commonly known items like artichokes and chili peppers (pimientos) are juxtaposed with lesser-known yet equally potent and exquisite peppers, such as piquillos, noras, and choriceros. To facilitate a streamlined transition from eating processed foods to a health-conscious, Spanish-Mediterranean diet, Keuneke breaks down five weeks of meal plans to establish a strong foundation and path to a holistic lifestyle change. At its core, the book utilizes the author's storytelling ability to demystify complex topics, ultimately delivering a poignant reminder that food, when consumed in its purest form, is integral to the human spirit--a pathway to living a quality, wholesome life.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

--Mihir Shah "US Review"

" The Iberian Table provides the answer with a wide variety of nutritious and delicious recipes. I recommend this book without reservation to everyone with an interest in improving their quality of life and reducing the risk of serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease."

----Dr. Ed Goodall, PhD - Fellow of the Institute of Statisticians and Chartered Statistician, and Patient Advocate, Digestive Cancers, Europe.

"Keuneke's unique blend of health book, cookbook, and all-five-senses culinary travel memoir brings us this delicious cuisine by way of storytelling; this is such an interesting way to learn about culture, place, and the Spanish Mediterranean diet. Highly recommended."

----Wandering Educators

"She may not like my saying this, but with The Iberian Table, Robin Keuneke has written a book that should appeal even to those food-lovers who don't care a fig about antioxidants, microbiomes, or fatty acids. I say that because I believe that one can probably eat better in Spain today than anywhere else in the Western world -- from the most basic of foods (Catalonia's elemental pa amb tomàquet, the ubiquitous espinacas con garbanzos) to the most other-worldly innovations of modernist cuisine -- and Keuneke has done a remarkably comprehensive job of telling us why and how. Her recipes are clearly written and seductive, and she eloquently evokes the soul and spirit of Spain -- even those parts of it that are far from the Mediterranean -- and, yeah, okay, all the health and nutrition stuff is pretty useful and informative as well, and only enhances the rest."

----Colman Andrews, author, Catalan Cuisine: Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret and Ferran: The Inside Story of El Bulli and the Man Who Reinvented Food

"Keuneke celebrates good food and good health in this cookbook and love letter to the flavors of the Iberian Peninsula.... A thoroughly sumptuous guide to some of the world's most nutritious cuisines.... Verdict: Get it."

--Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)