Tava: Eastern European Baking and Desserts From Romania & Beyond

Tava is a 2023 James Beard Award-winning baking and desserts book that explores the centuries-long diversity and overlapping cultures of Romanian cuisine. It features recipes from various cultural communities, including Armenian pakhlava, Saxon plum pies, Jewish fritters, and Hungarian langoși, and includes easy-to-follow recipes with beautiful photographs. The book aims to connect the past with the present and encourages readers to embrace the unfamiliar while enjoying the comforting and homely feel of the recipes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2022
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books (UK)

Winner of the 2023 James Beard Award for Best Baking and Desserts Book

"A joy and an education. Irina Georgescu has disentangled the strands woven into Romanian cooking and identity, and she has done so deliciously, through glorious cakes, pies, strudels, and doughnuts. Cook, eat, learn." - Diana Henry

"I am such a huge admirer of Irina Georgescu in general, and of this extraordinarily impressive and important book in particular. A must-have, not just for enquiring bakers, but, crucially, for all those interested in the context and evolution of culinary culture." - Nigella Lawson

Tava: A Celebration of Romanian Baking Heritage

Tava is a meticulously researched baking book celebrating centuries of diversity and overlapping cultures that form today's cuisine in Romania. The authors aim is to also share the story of those dishes that have come to represent the identity of different cultural communities across the country.

Tava means tray in Romanian, a metaphor for how a whole culinary landscape is presented to the reader.

You will find Armenian pakhlava, Saxon plum pies, Swabian poppyseed crescents, Jewish fritters, and Hungarian langoși alongside plăcinte pies, alivenci corn cake, strudels, and fruit dumplings. Rice or pearl barley puddings, doughnuts, and gingerbread biscuits come with their own story, while chocolate mousses, meringues in custard sauce, and coffee ice cream introduce you to the glamour of famous Romanian and Eastern European pastry shops.

The book is written with integrity and respect towards this rich heritage connecting the past with a present that can be encountered by the reader when traveling in Romania. The recipes are easy to follow, beautifully photographed, and tempt the reader to embrace the unfamiliar as much as the familiar, while enjoying their comforting and homely flavors.

About the Author

Irina Georgescu is a food writer, photographer, and culinary historian based in Bucharest, Romania. She has a passion for exploring the culinary heritage of her country and has written several books on Romanian cuisine. Tava is her latest project, a celebration of the diverse and delicious baking traditions of Romania.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tava is a remarkable baking book that offers a glimpse into the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Romania. With its easy-to-follow recipes, beautiful photographs, and engaging storytelling, it is a must-have for anyone interested in exploring the world of Romanian baking. Whether you are a seasoned baker or a culinary enthusiast, this book will transport you to the heart of Romania's culinary traditions and inspire you to create your own delicious masterpieces.

Weight: 1132g
Dimension: 198 x 255 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781784885441