Review
"[Nik Sharma brings] together Indian flavors from his hometown of Bombay with those [he] encountered when he moved to the U.S. There's apple masala chai cake, tumeric-and-chile-roasted red snapper with melon salsa, and curry leaf popcorn chicken inspired by his husband's Deep South roots, all illustrated with Sharma's high contrast photos." --Food & Wine---
"A wonderful gateway book to Indian flavors, yet approachable for home cooks. Recommended for all collections."--Library Journal, Starred Review---
"Every so often a title shows up that refuses to be cast aside, and Season by Nik Sharma, our very first Cookbook Club pick, is one of them. Flipping through Sharma's recipes for dishes like Chaat-Masala Grilled Pork Chops and Apple Masala Chai Cake will make you want to raid your own spice cabinet for the cumin, coriander, and cardamom (or perhaps go out and stock up on fresh spices, because yes, they go bad!). "-- Bon Appetit---
"I chose Season-for its elegance, it ingenious marrying of compelling, global spices, and, finally, for the semi-calm that pervaded my kitchen as I cooked from it. That hard-to-define-or-describe thing that I love about food has been revealed to me, existing along the lines of strong, persuasive flavors and a feeling of semi-ease that these flavors engender in me. I loved the smell of my kitchen when I cooked from this book, and that made me want to linger at the counter and then, longer, at the table. I happily entered the doorway of Season, and stayed for the story."-Meg Wolitzer, author of The Female Persuasion, The Interestings and The Wife---
"It's rare to open a cookbook and leaf through it in wonder at the flavor combinations. That's what Nik Sharma's book did to me: it's full of dishes that are crying out to be cooked and photographs that have a gorgeous dark elegance. Nik Sharma is a rare talent." --Diana Henry, James Beard award-winning author of A Bird in the Hand---
"Mr. Sharma's food is quietly expressive, nodding to the flavors he grew up eating in Mumbai without chaining itself to tradition." --The New York Times---
"Nik Sharma's recipes meld the pantry and techniques of India, the American South, and California; they also have the rare quality of always, always working out exactly as promised. He writes about his interest in "the inherent tension between originality and tradition," which is evident in inspired dishes like a riff on caprese salad, dressed in a tart-sweet tamarind vinaigrette and greened up with cilantro leaves instead of basil." -- Helen Rosner, The New Yorker---
"The best cookbooks are those with an unmistak-able voice. 'Mine is the story of a gay immigrant, told through food, ' is how Nik Sharma opens Season, and he tells his story so beautifully. I can't think of another cookbook that takes you not only to Bombay and Oakland, but also to science labs in Cincinnati and D.C., and a farm in Virginia. Memorable food is the string that Nik uses to tie all of these seemingly disparate places together and, in doing so, he shares himself. Do yourself a favor and buy two copies: one to tear out pages to frame because his photos are so stunning, the other to read and cook his tempting recipes from."--Julia Turshen, author of Small Victories, Feed the Resistance, and Now & Again---
"This book from an important new voice-and eye-is positively enchanting, page after page. Nik Sharma seasons his food, his photography and his writing with the same ingredients: passion, creativity, and love. You can practically smell the cardamom, the jaggery, the shiso leaves, and you'll be left wanting to cook each and every recipe." --Joe Yonan, food and dining editor, The Washington Post, editor, America The Great Cookbook ---
"This book is full of mouthwatering recipes that home cooks will actually make and dozens of Nik's breathtaking, low-light images that sit at the intersection of food photography and fine art. More than providing 100 thoughtful recipes, however, Nik encourages us to connect the dots between our cultural foods, memories, and cur-rent geographic location so we may also cultivate a way of cooking and eating that represent who we truly are." --Bryant Terry, James Beard award-winning author of Afro-Vegan---
About the Author
Nik Sharma is the writer, photographer, and recipe developer behind A Brown Table, the award-winning food blog. He lives in Oakland, California.
