This is what it says on the fly leaf of the latter:
"The connoisseur of regional cooking will give this book full marks. The recipes are all typically German (sic) and they come from all parts of Germany. This gives it a double value: first as a contribution to what might be called culinary scholarship and second, as an eyeopener to English cooks."
The Robin Howe book includes a recipe for beaver's tail (Biberschwanz), which is apparently eaten as an accompaniment to steamed beaver meat............. first catch your beaver.
This is not a recipe that features in the latest addition to my international cookery book collection, although both books would be incomplete without a recipe for Himmel and Erde; Sky, represented by apples and Earth, embodied in the humble potato are brought together in a sublime dish which is greater by far than the sum of its parts.
Anja Dunk has just published her first cookery book, Strudel, Noodles and Dumplings and having read it from cover to cover, I can assure that there no beavers were harmed in the publication of this book.
The introduction to this lovely book concludes with these words:"This book is about Germany's varied cultural heritage seen through the recipes from our family table. it is simple home cooking, inspired by the seasons and by my children, who have brought new life and ideas to many classic recipes"
Drawing on memories and the culinary traditions and knowledge of her German mother and foremothers, Anja introduces us to some wonderful recipes that we can all achieve and share around our own family tables.
German food has a reputation for being "hearty". In this lovely book, Anja lifts the biscuit tin lid on where this reputation came from and introduces us to her version of German food.
This is hearty in an entirely different way; it is full of the heart of the kitchen and the heart of the family which is where her inspiration derives.
This book was a true labour of love and this extends beyond the research, the writing, the recipe testing, the lyrical description and autobiographical notes - Anja took all of the photographs herself, using her own table, pans, crockery, cutlery and family. Everything about this book is Anja's, through and through.
It is a joy to own and we are privileged to have photos our loaf tin and prospector pan featured in this treasure of a book.
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