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After reading enough vegan cookbooks, they can start to all look the same. The endless parade of tofu scrambles, stir fries, and poorly constructed baked goods start to bled together. The Artful Vegan provides a refreshing selection of truly exceptional cuisine. Chefs Eric Tucker, Bruce Enole, and Amy Pearce give us 140 amazing recipes representing interpretations of a wide range of global cuisines, taken to the cutting edge of modern gourmet cuisine. This is the second book from the Millennium Restaurant in San Fransisco (which happens to be the best vegan restaurant I have ever been to, or probably ever will), and it exceeds even the high standards set by the first book (The Millennium Cookbook). This is not just great vegan food, but truly first class, gourmet cuisine that is vegan.
Whether you are trying to impress that special someone, convince your parents vegans can eat real food too, or are looking to rekindle your culinary inspirations, you will not be disappointed. The appatizer sections contains such delights as “Sesame-Crusted Mushroom Calamari over Burdock Kimpira” (I haven’t made the recipe, but I did try this at the restaurant. It was amazing) and “Corn Flan over Tomato Compote with Spicy Grilled Nectarine.” Moving on to salads you will find an asoortment of arfully composed raw and grilled salads. A pasta section adds another selection of dishes with a range of inspired flavors. The entree section continues to impress with fully composed dishes such as “White Bean-Filled Phyllo Purse Over Soft Polenta with Porcini-Zinfandel Sauce, Broccoli Rabe, and Grilled Pear”.
Plating an avocado key lime tart for a benefit for pigs peace sanctuary.
Where The Artful Vegan really shines (for me at least) is in the dessert section. While there are a few stand alone desserts (the walnut macaroons are most likely the best gluten free cookies I have had and the tapioca pudding has become a staple in my repertoire), the book features a bevy of sophisticated, restaurant quality, plated desserts. The key lime tart uses avocado to make a smooth, rich filling that sits in a pistachio and poppy crust that is almost good enough to stand as a cookie on it’s own. The whole thing is paired with a white chocolate mouse and a mango sauce. Also featured are several amazing cakes, and an assortment of ice creams and sorbets.
While not a prime cookbook for someone who doesn’t know how to cook, The Artful Vegan is choc full of amazing dishes sure to impress and inspire even those skeptical of vegan cuisine.
