[.ca] Artful Vegan (ISBN 1580082076)

So far soooo good!:
I have only made a few of the simpler recipes from this cookbook as I just got it recently. The simple chana dal with chanterelles became an instant staple: easy, incredibly fresh-flavored, and healthy. Chanterelles being $25 a pound, I've used fresh shiitake for all subsequent preparations of this recipe. (Chanterelles super, but not worth the money for a hearty every-day dish. Even right now I'm eating a bowl of the dal, with cheaper mushrooms.) The pistachio lace tuiles were delicious, rich, crispy; I made a double batch because I had all the ingredients on hand (you probably won't, but since I have the previous Millennium cookbook, brown rice syrup was already in my pantry). The real hit with friends was the Coconut Sorbet. So simple...but my friend S---- ran outside after one bite and started yelling for D--- to come inside and "try this ice cream NOW!". This cookbook is NOT for beginners. Try out The Voluptuous Vegan if you want to get started with simpler but still-delicious vegan food. I'm not a vegan...but I love the food in this cookbook.

This book is a piece of art!:
Wow!What an incredible collection of recipes. This book makes a wonderful gift for any person who loves to spend time in the kitchen.You can spend just a few minutes whipping up a delicious sauce or side dish or decide to spend the day in the kitchen and make your guests a four course meal they will never forget. The desserts are amazing, I have never seen anything like this. The directions are easy to follow and the result makes you feel like a professional chef.The flavors are unique and mouth watering. I recomend this book to everyone who loves to cook and of course eat. It truly is a piece of art and a must have!

Beautiful presentation - better cookbooks out there...:
Presentation and ideas are beautiful. Portions are way too big though (cut one recipe in half meant for 4 and our family still has a lot of leftovers which explains part of the insane amount of calories assigned to each portion - while most dishes are listed in the high calories if you cut the portions down to normal sizes you should be alright). Have only tried a few recipes for this- there is a fair bit of prep work- so not something to try when you are in a rush (keep in mind I am an experienced cook took me about an hour to complete a meal- may take others longer). Recipes tried all came out well as is, however I would definitely do some adjustments if repeating (for example the peanut pesto pasta with tofu - the tofu was excellent, the pesto was heavy on the limes and you could hardly taste the peanuts although the family enjoyed it). Am looking forward to trying more from this book (and I've bookmarked quite a few recipes - may up the rating after trying more), but for excellent restuarant cooking (or just an excellent vegetarian cookbook in general - my favorite) get the Rebar cookbook - it is unsurpassed-every recipe comes out great! (for easy yet tasty food get Fresh Food Fast: Delicious, Seasonal Vegetarian Meals in Under an Hour by Peter Berley).