Borderlands: Recipes and Stories from the Rio Grande to the Pacific

by Hank Shaw

Genres: Cookbooks

304 pages, Hardcover

Published June 6, 2025

About the author

Hank Shaw is a New Jersey native who worked as a political reporter for various newspapers for 18 years until becoming a full-time food writer, outdoorsman and cook in 2010. A forager and angler since he could walk, Hank began hunting in 2002 and has never looked back. He hunts or fishes for all the meat he eats at home, and foraged foods form a daily part of his diet.

Hank runs the wild foods blog Hunter Angler Gardener Cook (www.honest-food.net), which has twice been nominated for a James Beard Award. He won the International Association of Culinary Professionals award for Best Blog in 2010, and his magazine writing has appeared in Food & Wine, Organic Gardening, Field & Stream, as well as many other publications."

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borderlands is Hank Shaw's newest cookbook - one filled with his love for Mexican cuisine found on the border region from California to Texas and Baja California to Nuevo Leon.

As someone who recently moved from Chicago to Arizona, I initially hated the Mexican food here. The theme being flour tortillas and too much cheese. I wanted my corn tortillas and mole verde from central Mexico. However, Hank Shaw was able to change my mind and have me appreciate the Sonoran food here more.

Hank Shaw writes some of the few cookbooks I actually read and put stock in. Almost every recipe you'll make will not only be good, but really good. Based on his prior cookbooks, I estimate 9 out of 10 recipes I make are really good and 1 put 10 are ok. He also makes you not only cook recipes, but understand the culture. His recipe writeups are also my favorite of any author.

This is now going to be THE Northern Mexican cookbook written in English. Hank has done it again!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

You often forget that you are browsing through a cookbook when you find yourself reading word after word and page after page of this beautiful book. Its a journey through culture, history, and culinary staples! The recipes are EASY to follow,and come with ingredient modifications (don't have venison in the freezer? Check the silhouette icons of the side of each recipe to indicate the proteins that can easily be subbed in). The photos are stunning and truly make my mouth water. Lastly, the index is so incredibly comprehensive that you can find any recipe or main ingredient easily in the book. Truly a work of art!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite types of food ✅
Great pictures ✅
Informative ✅
Delicious recipes ✅✅✅

Seriously, every recipe I’ve made from this so far has been happily devoured. I highly recommend.