Review of "Seductions of Rice" by Jeffrey Alford, Naomi Duguid

If you think rice is just an ordinary sidedish that comes with Chinese takeout, think again. This informative and good-looking cookbook is truly a seducer. This book was 23 weeks on the L.A. Times' Cookbook Hotlist! And its no wonder!

Rice is a perfect food, according to the authors, and then they feature the rice in authentic recipes and family traditions from may cultures. Every variety of the grain known as rice is explored and described. There are 300 photographs that show the authors' travels around the world, collecting personal tales and recipes to share with us. This is more than just a cookbook. This is also a travel book that is filled with anecdotes and good photos. Black Rice, Sticky Rice, Thai Rice, Paella, and much more. Just about every kind of rice and every place in the world that eats this staple.

Rice is a major component of every week's meals in our household, so we were pleased to see this combination cookbook and travel journal. It's a beaut!