Padma Lakshmi is the host of the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning Bravo series Top Chef, and the author of two cook-books: Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet and the award-winning Easy Exotic, as well as Love, Loss and What We Ate: A Memoir, a New York Times bestseller. Lakshmi has contributed to such magazines as Vogue, Gourmet, and Harper’s Bazaar, and penned a syndicated column on fashion and food for the New York Times. Her television-hosting credits include Planet Food and Padma’s Passport, as well as other programs in the United States and abroad. In The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World (Ecco), Lakshmi brings together the world’s spices and herbs in a vibrant, comprehensive alphabetical guide. This definitive culinary reference book is illustrated with color photographs that capture the essence of a diverse range of spices and their authentic flavors. The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs includes complete descriptions, histories, and cooking suggestions for ingredients from basic herbs to the most exotic seeds and chilies, as well as information on toasting spices, making teas, and infusing various oils and vinegars. Perfect for the holiday season and essential to any well-stocked kitchen, The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs is an invaluable resource as well as an adventurous tour of some of the most majestic flavors on earth.
