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The Big Book of Buddha Food
The Big Book of Buddha Food
It was a rainy Thursday afternoon, as Durban was winding down with its waterproofs the vibe inside Adam's Books in Musgrave Centre was heating up in anticipation of the much-awaited launch of Plentiful, The Big Book of Buddha Food. The third book in the collection of cookbooks originating from South Africa's most popular Buddhist retreat.
Perched on a ridge at the head of a valley in the Umkomaas river system in KwaZulu-Natal, the Buddhist retreat Centre looks out on a vista of indigenous valleys, forests and rolling hills receding like waves in the blue distance. It is a gentle, sympathetic space where one can be still and get in touch with oneself and reflect on the things that crowd one's life.CNN featured the BRC as one of the 10 finest Meditation centres in the world.
Plentiful, The Big Book of Buddha Food is a collaboration of recipes and philosophies of both owners Chrisi and Louis van Loon and Chef Paul Atkinson. The Bugle spoke to the authors before the launch;
Louis van Loon who came to South Africa almost 40 years ago was instrumental in starting the vegetarian movement in this country, not impressed with the local diet Louis knew that he did not want to just start a Buddhist retreat he wanted to also introduce a wholesome vegetarian menu.
"In those days, the late 70s, no one understood the concept of Vegetarianism." Louis told The Bugle, "The vegetarian food available to the public was awful, and so we wanted to change that. We wanted to introduce people to good and nutritious vegetarian cuisine." And so each visitor that came to the Buddhist retreat was invited to leave their favourite recipes. They were often written on serviettes and preserved until the first of five recipe books was published.
Plentiful, The Big Book of Buddha Food is dedicated to the special bond Chef Paul Aikinson made with his kitchen colleagues. Lungi, Dudu, Lindiwe and Nonkanyiso are the stars of this book. Their influence is felt throughout this exquisitely delicious edition.
Plentiful recipes are focused on honest and authentic food. It is easy and quirky recipe names that will make you giggle and smile, like; Lindiwe's Luscious Layers - which is a veg lasagne. Oh Captain, my caponata, stack of fun and taste of the dark side. Everything about this recipe book is beautiful, from photos, which depict the life in the Ixopo retreat, to the recipes that adorn these pages.
The authors hope that Plentiful The Big Book of Buddha Food will give you an opportunity to explore vegetarian cuisine of the highest order, tried and tested in the kitchen of an internationally renowned meditation centre, Louis, Christi and Paul would like to assure all sceptics that there is nothing humble about vegetables!
This book makes a beautiful Christmas gift. Get one today at Adam's Books in Musgrave or order one online through Jakana publishers.