Mexicocina: The Spirit and Style of the Mexican Kitchen

by Betsy McNair

Book Overview

In the tradition of Chronicle Book's best-selling Mexicolor and Mexicasa, Mexicocina showcases over forty kitchens throughout Mexico. Melba Levick's stunning photographs and Betsy McNair's informative text and exciting recipes reveal the blend of native tradition, Old World ornamentation, and contemporary innovation that is the Mexican kitchen. Mexicocina takes you behind the doors of private homes, museums, resorts, and cooking schools for an insider's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811845281
• ISBN13: 9780811845281
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 9.8" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Wonderfully Informative, 'Ole!

I ordered Mexicocina because I was looking for decorating ideas for my kitchen. But, I found so much more! This book is not only equipped with beautiful Mexican kitchens, but also the history behind the kitchens, and tasty recipes. Me and my husband's favorite country to visit is Mexico. This book gave us some great information on bed and breakfasts in different areas of Mexico. This is a great coffee table book too! Thank you, Adrianna

A Functional Coffee Table Book !

My husband and I are building a new home in Mexico and wanted to make sure we kept it as authentic as possible, thus the book orders. This particular book is filled with spectacular photos of Mexican kitchens ranging from the most spectacular to the more common. Each page is filled with building ideas as well as decorating inspirations. Who would have thought of collecting beautifully carved wooden spoons for a wall display ! The authors include much narrative explaining background of the kitchens and various decorations/selections, as well as history. Everyone will enjoy the brilliant colors and artwork as each page is turned.

A Fascinating Tour of the Kitchens of Mexico

The pictures are glorious and the text is very well written, concise and informative. I have travelled to many of these kitchens with Betsy McNair and it's like taking the tour all over again. There's no better guide to Mexico than Ms. McNair. She really knows the history and the people. If you can't go with her in person then the book is the next best thing.

Lovely book!

As a traveler who has been fortunate enough to experience lots of Mexican feasts in many a cocina, I found this book to bring back happy memories of many fantastic meals and parties. The photographs are lovely and Ms. McNair's descriptions bring each one to life. I especially liked that many recipes are included, including one for chiles en nogada, for which I have been searching for an authentic recipe! Highly recommended for anyone who has an affinity for all things Mexican, especially, the heart of the home!

Design inspiration

I bought this book because I love my other Betsy McNair books, "Mexicolor" and "In a Mexican Garden", and also because my friend's beautiful B & B (Casa Estrella in Guanajuato) is one of the featured inns. I am really pleased with this book. I'm always looking for design inspiration, and this one is loaded. Like Ms. McNair's other books, this one has TONS of beautiful pictures---all kitchens of different Mexican styles, from very traditional to very modern. Some of the featured historic kitchens have been pictured in other books, such as "Mexican Tiles", but there's a lot of different material here. The text is informative, without detracting from Melba Levicks's---always---gorgeous photographs. This is a nice, fat book with lots of closeups of individual elements from each kitchen, including spectacular Mexican arts and crafts, that contribute to the whole. In addition to the design information, there are 12 recipes from different inns that I can't wait to try! In the back of the book are three packed pages of references, including website addresses for each inn, and sources for some of the materials pictured. Unlike most design books, which I leaf through, I read this one cover-to-cover the day it arrived and left it handy for future reference.