The Elephant Walk Cookbook : The Exciting World of Cambodian Cuisine from the Nationally Acclaimed Restaurant

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Summary: At last a cookbook for my ethnic background
Review: I am Cambodian. As a collector of Cook Books I have many cook books from South East Asia. In this book you will find the influences of many countries but there is a theme that is purely Khmer. Thoes of my family that survived the war all cook our food basically the same way. Once in a while we meet another family that does it a bit different but this book does everything the fancy way with style and class.

Rating:
Summary: At last a cookbook for my ethnic background
Review: I am Cambodian. As a collector of Cook Books I have many cook books from South East Asia. In this book you will find the influences of many countries but there is a theme that is purely Khmer. Thoes of my family that survived the war all cook our food basically the same way. Once in a while we meet another family that does it a bit different but this book does everything the fancy way with style and class.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book! Buying one for my sisters!
Review: I was very excited to recieve this book in the mail. I tried a few recipes and love them! I, like others have never been able to mimick my mothers Khmer dishes and my mother wasn't able to teach me well enough. I go by measurements and my mother goes by taste and experience. So this book made it easier for me to learn how to prepare Khmer meals for my growing family. I wanted to be able to serve my children meals that I grew up loving and this book helps me in every way. True it is a bit "Americanized" but it is better than what I haven't seen published out there. This is a must have for anyone who wants to learn how to cook these delicious dishes. I plan on purchasing a copy for my two sisters, who as well have been struggling to learn how to prepare our mothers meals.

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Summary: First rate and absolutely authentic
Review: My family hails from Cambodia, and although I grew up near Boston and now live in Los Angeles, I have had a lot of experience with Cambodian cusine from my parents' cooking. I regret that I never took the time as I child to learn from my mother all the dishes I loved and gobbled up, but this book has many of my favorites and I few I didn't know about. I recently bought it, and although I have tried out only one recipe, I highly recommend this book. The meals are not EXACTLY the same as my mother's, but each family has there own ways of making things and their own little secret ingredients. I wish there were more pictures of the dishes, and more recipes for that matter, but for the price and this rarely covered subject, this book is a treasure. If you love food, especially the tasty kind, get this book.

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Summary: Great book ... too short!
Review: My family hails from Cambodia, and although I grew up near Boston and now live in Los Angeles, I have had a lot of experience with Cambodian cusine from my parents' cooking. I regret that I never took the time as I child to learn from my mother all the dishes I loved and gobbled up, but this book has many of my favorites and I few I didn't know about. I recently bought it, and although I have tried out only one recipe, I highly recommend this book. The meals are not EXACTLY the same as my mother's, but each family has there own ways of making things and their own little secret ingredients. I wish there were more pictures of the dishes, and more recipes for that matter, but for the price and this rarely covered subject, this book is a treasure. If you love food, especially the tasty kind, get this book.

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Summary: Can you say 'yuck'?
Review: My friend and I are Cambodian. We have eaten at The Elephant Walk in Boston and have found the food there to be unsatisfying. The food there does not taste like traditional Cambodian cooking and the prices there are quite high. Also, I would like to make a reccommendation to those who are thinking about buying the recipe book to not buy it-better to find another Cambodian cookbook with a Cambodian author. I totally agree with the review from Eden in NYC.

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Summary: Yum
Review: Some reviews below seek to attack this book because the food isn't exactly authentic Cambodian. I don't know about that, all I know is that if you've eaten at the Elephant Walk, you will know that the food is DELICIOUS, whatever it is. There is an odd creative mix of Asian and French elements to the cuisine, and the results are extremely flavorful. If you can't eat there, this book is the next best thing.

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Summary: superb, just like the restaurant it came from
Review: The Elephant Walk is one of Boston's most unique places to eat and really introduced me to the beauty of the Cambodian cuisine. The founder and owner of the resturant happens to have a very interesting story that explains how the interesting blend of her signature cuisine came to be: Growing up as the sheltered daughter of a Cambodian Politician and married to a diplomat, her fate and her families fortunes dramatically changed with the Kmer revolution. Fascinated with food since childhood she picked up many things in her family's professionally run large kitchen. Exiled to France her kitchen skills became the survival line for the entire family when she opened her first restaurant. In France her cuisine picked up a European twist while staying truely Cambodian at the same time. As Longteine tells her story, she introduces us to her favorite dishes from the restaurant and teaches us about the many exotic ingredients that flavor her country's food. This book is as good a read as it is a superb guide to an often overlooked Asian cuisine. The food photography and presentation of the different dishes is also extremely well done. The whole book is a well-crafted pleasure

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Summary: Amazing . . .
Review: This is a wonderful cookbook, further enhanced by the author's fascinating story. Although this cookbook is great on its own merits (the recipes are scrumptious, the directions easy, and resources provided), I felt compelled to contribute my own review in response to some of the negative reviews which unfortunately appear to have wrong impressions and/or seem to be on the offensive. I'm not saying everyone has to like the recipes, or agree with the author's viewpoint, but I think it is arrogant to think that there is only one Cambodia. Yes, every family IS different. The author clearly says that this is "her" Cambodia, and I applaud her desire to make a record of her recipes for our benefit. I also did not get the impression that she looked down on all Cambodians. Unfortunately there was a difference in classes, but the author didn't create them. I also think that Elephant Walk shouldn't be chastised for adapting some recipes for the American palate. That's just business; I don't think it could survive catering to one community. And no, I don't think she's selling out. One problem is the availability of ingredients; it's nearly impossible to find kaffir limes, (although the leaves are available). I also don't think the American palate is quite up to prahok (a paste made of decomposed fish) for instance. Cooking is an art, and I don't think anyone truly goes to a restaurant wanting merely a documentary meal. So, for those who criticize the authenticity of the dishes and advise us to buy another Cambodian cookbook - I ask -- where ?! Please write one! I might buy it. I love Cambodian food, and this is the ONLY Cambodian cookbook I've found.

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Summary: First rate and absolutely authentic
Review: This is by far the most useful Cambodian cookbook I have come across including those available in Khmer. The recipes are spot on and the instructions clear. Moreover it has so much of the local flavour that it puts the food into context - and by the way makes people home-sick.

Superb, well written and well illustrated - a credit to both author and publisher.