Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey Hardcover – July 16, 2011

No one can deny that this is a beautiful book filled with mouth watering recipes and exquisite photographs. But what really sets this particular cook book apart are the wonderful, heart warming stories illustrating Chef Vikas culinary journey.However, what I found to be most compelling is the simple yet subtle complexity of the flavors. Most of the Indian foods that I've been exposed to have had so many different ingredients and spices in one dish that it's difficult to distinguish any one particular flavor note and thus eventually everything tastes basically the same. Not so with these recipes. I love that there are only a few key flavors in each dish which allows the spices and ingredients to really stand out. It's about time someone has written an Indian cookbook in a sophisticated manner that really showcases the myriad of spices found in Indian cuisine. This truly is a stellar, knockout book that I would recommend for anyone who enjoys cooking, especially those who love cooking for others much like Chef Vikas.

Recipes are simple to follow and the food Is incredible in how he combines flavors that I wouldn’t normally think of combining. My Millennial daughters enjoy the unusual and yet distinctly Indian recipes in this book. We made a trip to Hos restaurant in NY and that was the best Indian restaurant in our experience. This book is an engrossing read. He is as good a storyteller as he is a chef.

I love cooking and am an absolutely huge fan of Chef Vikas Khanna. The book comes with some good recipes and I love the personal notes by the Chef.But I really wish every recipe had an accompanying picture with it. It simply makes you want to cook a particular recipe if it appears pleasing to your eyes and also when you prepare a dish you know you have a perfect dish if you have a picture to match it with. Even the photographs that are present are not extremely appetizing. This is my personal opinion. I have yet to try a recipe and sure enough the ones I am about to try are the ones that have been photographed!

Flipping through this book, I feel that the recipes are perhaps a little too Americanized. I feel that From Mom with love: Complete Guide to Indian Cooking and Entertaining by Pushpa Bhargava and The Bombay Palace Cookbook are more authentic.

so far tried the chicken tikka masala, the spinach and potatoes (though subbed paneer for potatoes), the chicken samosas, and the cilantro chutney. all excellent. no shortcuts, which i like in a cookbook...especially an ethnic cookbook.

I like cooking n i always looking for new cook book.i saw chef vikas on masterchef india n i found out bout cookbook n search on internet i order it.iade coconut gulabjamun n it turn realy well.every like it aswl.good cook book specialy who loves indian food n wnt to learn indian food.anywhy "Indian food amazing food"

I had high hopes for this book. I saw it in an Indian restaurant and everyone is raving on the cover about it. I am sure there are excellent recipes inside. !!! BUT 90% of the recipes have no pictures !!!. I'm sorry but pictures make the book. There is a nice section of pictures of what the ingredients are in the front of the book. BUT then there's almost no actual pictures of the finished dishes!Without them it's just a list of ingredients. I can just google that. In fact that's what I did. I googled for chana masala (not the author's). I gave the book a few chances but ultimately threw it away in frustration.Author: If cost was a consideration maybe cut out the pictures of you and focus more on the photos of the meal.

My friend is a budding chef and she loves using this books. Filled with many wonderful recipes and insights into spices.