This past Tuesday, The Cookbook Store in downtown Toronto opened its doors to Canada’s most popular Indian chef couple Vikram Vij and his wife, Meeru Dhalwala. The two were in town to promote their latest book, Vij's At Home: Relax, Honey: The Warmth and Ease of Indian Cooking.
(All photos courtesy of Robert Bava)
Best known for their popular Vancouver restaurants; Vij’s and Rangoli, Vij’s at Home is the follow-up publication to their multi-award winning book, Vij's Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine.
The crowd was a mix of wannabe chefs, curious passerbys and die hard foodies well versed about the flavourful and thoughtful cuisine Vij is known for.
It was an informal affair with everyone casually milling about, trying the food and chatting with the two guests of honour. Vikram was extremely warm. Noticing the food-stained copy of his last release, Vij's Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine under my arm, he asked if I had success following the recipes. He then spoke briefly with me about Vancouver and Asia before moving on to chat with a woman in town from Nova Scotia.
After Meeru signed my book, she suggested I try the vegan dish --an Indian-spiced bruschetta. This dish was a vegetarian take on Vij’s famous lamb popsicles. “A lot of people don’t eat lamb,” she said “but these bruschetta use the same spices. That’s the great thing about Indian flavors; you can use them in different ways.”
The new cookbook promises accessible recipes, with a sampling of the kind of dishes Meeru and Vij enjoy at home. If they are any bit as warm and inviting as the two of them, I am sure it will become a well loved staple in my cookbook collection. We’re going to be reviewing and giving away copies of Vij’s At Home on the site, so keep you eyes out for that!
Jennifer Myers is a Toronto based web designer/art director who loves food, design and travelling.
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Posted Wed, Sep 22 2010 11:44 AM by Guest Blogger Filed under: Toronto, Indian
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