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We Are La Cocina: Recipes in Pursuit of the American Dream
Powerful stories. Beautifully evocative visuals. More than 100 recipes for all occasions, from many cultures. Here, in La Cocina's first cookbook, more than 50 successful La Cocina entrepreneurs share their inspiring narratives—and their delicious recipes! More than 200 photographs from award-winning photographer Eric Wolfinger capture the spirit of the people, the mouthwatering food, and the diversity of the immigrant experience. This is the book for cooks who love great global recipes and support organizations that make a big difference.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2019
97 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 10, 2020
4.5, and that only because I had some major problems with the Kindle format using Kindle app on PC and on the Kindle Fire. On the PC, it got stuck on one page. Unload and reload, same thing happens on the same page. On the Fire, it seemed entire recipes/pages were missing. I finally loaded it on my phone and set it to continuous scroll. That seemed to work, but who wants to read a cookbook on their phone? Have reported the problem to Amazon. Of course, they haven't responded because they never do. I don't want a refund; I want the file to function.
THAT ASIDE....
I really read this more for the stories than the recipes, but now I have a several recipes earmarked to try (providing I can overcome the tech issues eventually.) The IRC chapter in my state runs an incubator kitchen not unlike La Cocina, and it's brought such a wealth of diverse eating options to the area. And the stories are both interesting and inspiring. The photographs are gorgeous. The recipes are so very tempting. Most are not difficult, although they might require a little poking around in smaller, ethnic markets for a few ingredients unless you live in a food mecca.
Nonetheless, a great read. And to those people who want to talk smack about immigrants, screw you. The level of work ethic, imagination, and self-responsibility these women embody is EXACTLY what we need. Any one of these women could probably work circles around most of us and not even break a sweat.
THAT ASIDE....
I really read this more for the stories than the recipes, but now I have a several recipes earmarked to try (providing I can overcome the tech issues eventually.) The IRC chapter in my state runs an incubator kitchen not unlike La Cocina, and it's brought such a wealth of diverse eating options to the area. And the stories are both interesting and inspiring. The photographs are gorgeous. The recipes are so very tempting. Most are not difficult, although they might require a little poking around in smaller, ethnic markets for a few ingredients unless you live in a food mecca.
Nonetheless, a great read. And to those people who want to talk smack about immigrants, screw you. The level of work ethic, imagination, and self-responsibility these women embody is EXACTLY what we need. Any one of these women could probably work circles around most of us and not even break a sweat.
October 20, 2019
This book is legitimately one of the most inspiring cookbooks, if not books I’ve ever read. The stories of the women featured in this book were absolutely incredible and every recipe sounded mouthwatering. I made the recipe for Alfajores and holy crappy they were amazing. Everyone get out and read this book.
December 2, 2019
A gorgeous lovely gem of a book. Parts Cookbook, Parts Social History, Parts love letter to the American melting pot.
This book is not strictly a cook book, but it's got a lot of magnificent recipes. These are a collection of stories, of women who make up America and are our foundation. This is there stories,and they are worth reading. The Glue is the food in the recipes. Sometimes handed down, sometimes shared.
You will love this work, I guarantee.
This book is not strictly a cook book, but it's got a lot of magnificent recipes. These are a collection of stories, of women who make up America and are our foundation. This is there stories,and they are worth reading. The Glue is the food in the recipes. Sometimes handed down, sometimes shared.
You will love this work, I guarantee.
July 8, 2019
Great stories of entrepreneurial success with the support of a nonprofit commercial kitchen incubator. Most of the recipes are the reason I eat out - too challenging to make at home.
October 23, 2021
Love this cookbook! An homage to so many chefs' lives and to the incredible social and culinary diversity of the Bay Area. Yewande Komolafe writes in this cookbooks that, "A recipe is not an obligation; it is an opportunity for creativity and exploration. . . a recipe allows us the freedom to collaborate. . . Following a recipe is a dialogue across time and space."
I often feel underwhelmed by cookbooks or don't follow through on trying new recipes. Not so with We Are La Cocina. Ah, and the TOC and index and appendices are actually helpful. Yup: big fan.
I often feel underwhelmed by cookbooks or don't follow through on trying new recipes. Not so with We Are La Cocina. Ah, and the TOC and index and appendices are actually helpful. Yup: big fan.
July 25, 2020
Giving this book 2 stars hurts.
This is a beautiful book and I really appreciate the concept of a multicultural cookbook.
But almost every recipe calls for hard to find ingredients and spices, meaning that most home cooks will find it prohibitively challenging to try their hand at recipes in this collection.
This is a beautiful book and I really appreciate the concept of a multicultural cookbook.
But almost every recipe calls for hard to find ingredients and spices, meaning that most home cooks will find it prohibitively challenging to try their hand at recipes in this collection.
June 20, 2021
This is delicious food !
Awesome ! This place is Heaven. Cooking is a form of therapy and it feels Wonderful when people like the good that you cook. This book explores a lot of cuisines all over the world ! What I really like are the stories of all these wonderful ladies. Enjoy !
Awesome ! This place is Heaven. Cooking is a form of therapy and it feels Wonderful when people like the good that you cook. This book explores a lot of cuisines all over the world ! What I really like are the stories of all these wonderful ladies. Enjoy !
May 14, 2023
Great collection of home oriented dishes from many countries. Each dish has a bio about the chef/cook which is fascinating. Also a fantastic financial experiment to lift people up via food. Recommended.
February 25, 2020
Love these brave womens' stories bought back to life with food based purposes. Women run the world! !
August 15, 2020
amazing stories, amazing food, if you are in the SF Bay Area and not getting the La Cochina Food Box every week, you are missing out!
July 10, 2022
Beautiful food photography, inspiring stories of female immigrant entrepreneurs, and tons of recipes that sound amazing.
February 27, 2024
An amazing piece filled with awesome recipes and incredible stories. This thing is filled to the brim with heart, and now I want to own it.
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November 27, 2018Word to the wise: Don't start looking through this book when you haven't eaten lunch. Dammit.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews