The Ethnomusicologists' Cookbook: Complete Meals from Around the World

Named one of New York Times Top-20 Cookbooks of 2006.

Have you ever wanted to host a full evening of Indian food, culture, and music? How about preparing a traditional Balinese banquet? Or take a trip to Cairo and enjoy an Egyptian feast? The Ethnomusicologists' Cookbook takes you around the world on a culinary journey that is also a cultural and social odyssey.

Many cookbooks offer a snapshot of individual recipes from different parts of the world, but do nothing to tell the reader how different foods are presented together, or how to relate these foods to other cultural practices. For years, ethnomusicologists have visited the four corners of the earth to collect the music and culture of native peoples, from Africa to the Azores, from Zanzibar to New Zealand. Along the way, they've observed how music is an integral part of social interaction, particularly when it's time for a lavish banquet or celebration. Foodways and cultural expression are not separate; this book emphasizes this connection through offering over thirty-five complete meals, from appetizers to entrees to side dishes to desserts and drinks. A list of recommended CDs fills out the culinary experience, along with hints on how to present each dish and to organize the overall meal.

The Ethnomusicologists' Cookbook combines scholarship with a unique and fun approach to the study of the world's foods, musics, and cultures. More than just a cookbook, it is an excellent companion for anyone embarking on a cultural-culinary journey.

Author: Sean Williams
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 06/01/2006
Pages: 314
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.26lbs
Size: 9.96h x 7.04w x 0.69d
ISBN: 9780415978194

Review Citation(s):
Black Issues Book Review 11/01/2006 pg. 30
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2006 pg. 317
Library Journal 07/17/2006

About the Author

Sean Williams is a Professor of Ethnomusicology at Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. She is the author of several books, including The Sound of theAncestral Ship: Highland Music of West Java, and coeditor with Terry Williams of volume IV of the GarlandEncyclopedia of World Music: Southeast Asia.