OP: Tropical Appetites: Fine Cooking and Dining in Tanzania

Gecko Publishing, Tanzania, 1995. Paperback. Very Good.

This oblong (8.25” x 5.75”) paperback is a celebration of local Tanzanian food and industry. Not quite a community cookbook, but certainly drawing inspiration from the concept, Tropical Appetites (1995) includes contributions from local home cooks, as well as fine dining establishments. It was printed with a local press, and a percentage of sales supported charities across the country. 

Because of the range in sources for the recipes, the dishes vary in complexity from restaurant-worthy showpieces to casual and unfussy weeknight cooking. The blend of familiarity and novelty in ingredient and concept, from an outsider’s perspective, is enticing:

• Duck and pineapple soup with spices, lemongrass, ginger, chilis, and tomatoes
• Roasted beef tenderloin stuffed with lobster tails glazed with a white wine-onion sauce
• Red chili pasta (in which a staggering amount of chili/cayenne powder is incorporated into the dough) with sauteed prawns, cilantro, and tomato salsa (with more fresh chilis)
• Mung beans tossed with garlicky vinaigrette, cucumbers, and cilantro
• Maandazi—a sweet cardamom-flavored deep fried bread

We’re pleased to offer a Very Good copy with minimal shelfwear and creasing. Totally clean and unmarked.