cover image Cooking in Paradise

Cooking in Paradise

Joel Naftali, Lee Naftali. St. Martin's Griffin, $15.95 (288pp) ISBN 978-0-312-24297-8

This handy guide lists and describes recreational cooking programs around the world, with useful information on accommodations, activities for spouses and/or children and prices. The Naftalis (Generation E: The Do-It-Yourself Business Guide for Twentysomething Entrepreneurs) list cooking schools in places as far-flung as Rio de Janeiro, as well as a slew of choices in the U.S. and Canada. The usual suspects weigh in heavily, with numerous programs in Tuscany (e.g., hands-on lessons with Judy Witts Francini of Cucina Divina in Florence). For those with more exotic tastes, there is a spice-oriented tour with cooking lessons in India, offered by Indus Tours, and despite England's drab culinary reputation, it's represented by the likes of the Ashburton Centre in South Devon, whose programs on vegetarian cooking feature Indian curries and ""nut loaves."" The prose here is generally weak the Naftalis appear to have printed the information provided by the programs with little editing. Recipes scattered here and there are for standards such as stuffed calamari, and introductory sections to each chapter are gushy and insubstantial. Still, this unique and serviceable guide will appeal to adventurous gastronomes. (Apr.) Forecast: In the current heydays of travel and gourmandise, this book provides a rare market-potent combination. Shelved near lifestyle travelogues by the likes of Frances Mayes, it could take off.