“[Lakshmi] collects stories of immigrants—war brides, refugees, students—and honors their culinary contributions….Recipes, organized by course, all come with a backstory….Beautiful photography and step-by-step instructions will tempt home cooks to try a new world of recipes, and Lakshmi's suggested pantry staples (chilis, herbs, oils) will make flavors pop. Delicious food and unforgettable immigrant stories will broaden and enrich readers' culinary repertoire, strengthening bonds among all who call America home.”
—Booklist (starred)
“Colorful, lush and diverse. . . .[Padma’s All American] is her vision of what it means to be – and eat -- like an American. The result is a volume that Lakshmi’s many fans will treasure.” – Bookpage
“Lakshmi beautifully articulates what it means for her to use food as a lens into other people’s lives and cultures . . . . [She] shows that these recipes, ranging from Afghani dumplings to Indian coconut rice to Peruvian tamales, are as all-American as apple pie in a book that is a love letter to the diversity of the United States, written through food.” – Library Journal (starred review)
“I love this book so much—the wisdom, the welcome, the quality of Padma’s writing, the depth of her shared experiences, and, oh my God, the recipes. This book makes me feel as if she is gently and boldly cooking right beside me.”
—Anne Lamott
“No cookbook has ever made me cry. Until now. This book is filled with heartwarming stories of joy and resilience that made my eyes fill with tears. Then I ran into the kitchen to cook Padma’s startlingly original recipes: they instantly became part of my permanent repertoire.”
—Ruth Reichl
“Padma pushes past the familiar borders of American cooking, telling the immigrant stories that season the nation’s table. It’s American food in its truest form. . . . borderless, fearless, and extraordinarily delicious.”
—Yotam Ottolenghi
“Padma’s All American celebrates what makes the food in this country so special—the people who’ve come from all across the globe and brought their culture with them. These stories, filtered through Padma’s unique perspective, bring to life the vibrant recipes that make up the tapestry of American cuisine. Her reassuring warmth and clear instructions give me the confidence to dive into dishes I’ve never attempted or tasted before, like Amazonian tamales (made with grated yuca!) and aash, a hearty Afghan noodle soup.”
—Sohla El-Waylly
“An honest and mouthwatering ode to the many cuisines and cultures that define what it is to be American, as tasted and tested by the one, the only--Padma. As I flip through the pages of this cookbook, I've never wanted to dive into my own kitchen and 'cook like an American' more.”
—Molly Baz
