Much has been written about the Mediterranean diet, but Nikki Rose’s little book just might be my favorite. It is so to the point, so clear, so accessible and of course, so delicious if you cook from it. It really shows that you don’t need a thousand recipes or an entire day in the kitchen to eat well and with great pleasure. That the pictures include people, plants, and vistas as well as cooked dishes shows that this is about a way of life, not just about recipes. As it should be. And I love that it includes chapters devoted to kids and to Lenten dishes, as well as wine and more. I’m impressed that Nikki Rose could say so much in so few pages!
-- Deborah Madison Chef and author of Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and 10 other books
This is one of the best books on the Mediterranean Diet that I have come across. Taken from the way the people of Crete (the healthiest in the world) have eaten for centuries, Nikki provides you with all the practical information you need to eat for optimal health. She shares with you how to prepare vegetables, fish, chicken, beans, soups, and stews the delicious Greek way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their health while experiencing all the joys of Mediterranean eating.
-- George Mateljan Philanthropist, Award-winning author of the World's Healthiest Foods
Many tout the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet but with little cultural context for the rich milieu in which the diet and its benefits are enjoyed. And enjoyed is the fitting term. As Nikki Rose shows in this slim but rich book, the people, the land and its flavors are inextricably linked. As cooks, gardeners, and consumers we have much to learn. Lushly illustrated, with attention given to the foods, recipes, characters, and traditions of the island in digestible snippets, this is the cultural study of food and nutrition as it should be done.
-- Jonathan Deutsch, Ph.D., CHE Professor of Food and Hospitality Management, Drexel University
As a whole foods chef steeped in the belief that traditional foods are life sustaining and need to be part of our daily diet, Nikki presents, shares and teaches in her book is as if I were back with her, on the Island of Crete. If, as we are now beginning to appreciate that health supportive foods begins with good ingredients, but also includes the life sustaining cultural practices which accompany such foods, then Nikki’s book introduces those necessary backstories. All I can say is come and learn how to cook the traditional Mediterranean diet from Nikki and her friends on Crete.
-- Beth Kersey Alaska Food Sovereignty and Edible Landscapes, and Alaska Seed Savers and Traditional Foods Project
About the Author: Nikki Rose is a Greek American professional chef-instructor and writer living in Crete. She has hosted teachers, students, researchers and journalists for over 15 years through her project, Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries (CCS). Her focus celebrates and helps protect Crete’s heritage. Her book highlights 15 years of her experience in Crete. Rose has received numerous awards from National Geographic, the United Nations and many other organizations for her success in creating sustainable community-based tourism initiatives and culinary seminars in several regions of the world. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, The New York Times, LA Times, Lonely Planet, National Public Radio, TV New Zealand, Archaeology Magazine, Australian Gourmet Traveller, O'Globo Brasil and publications on nutrition, ecotourism, rural tourism, responsible travel, and cultural-natural heritage preservation.
“So many people have visited me in Crete, looking for secret ingredients in our cuisine that they can bring home with them. Cretan cuisine is not just one ingredient or recipe -- it is enjoying many flavors of the seasons. So many people live far away from their food sources now. This book helps us find ways to reconnect with the dedicated people that provide our delicious and safe food and enjoy the benefits and flavor.” -- Nikki Rose
Crete: The Roots of the Mediterranean Diet can be purchased online. Proceeds support CCS programs. For autographed copies, student or volume discount orders or to arrange a presentation or book signing by Chef Rose, contact Andreas at CCS: andreas[at]cookingincrete.com
