Product Description

Coarse bread rubbed with tomato or garlic and then bathed in olive oil, is common to all the Mediterranean cultures. On the island of Majorca, it is known as pa amb oli, bread and oil. Tomas Graves takes this healthy peasant staple as a starting point to explore not only Mediterranean cooking, agriculture, and traditions but also the historical events that have rescued this simple dish from disappearing along with a way of life that had remained essentially unchanged since Roman times. In "Bread & Oil Tomas" Graves celebrates the Majorcan character as reflected in its eating habits. He makes the sights, sounds, scents and people of the Spanish island spring to life so brilliantly in this creative triumph. Part adventure, part history book, part travelogue, part restaurant guide and part cookbook, the reader is charmed throughout. Recipes reflect the indigenous ingredients; wrinkled olives made with olive oil, lemon juice and crushed garlic; fried sardines topped with sauteed onions and marinated in vinegar served cold with bread and oil, and guacamole with tomatoes and onions. Originally published as "Volem pa amb oli" in the native Catalan language of the Balearics, this new revised and updated English-language edition of Graves' book offers an informative guide not only to an overlooked culinary tradition, but also to the immense cultural transition that's changing the face of Europe.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #87225 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Review
"'...an unusual and valuable book, fascinating and unputdownable.' Elisabeth Luard"

The Good Book Guide, July, 2006
"Bringing every aspect of Majorca vividly to life...in a book of
considerable charm and engaging breadth of scope."

Spanish Magazine, August, 2006
"An informative guide to this much-loved culinary tradition."

Customer Reviews

A truly mouth-watering read.
For lovers of garlic and olive oil, this is a veritable feast of the senses. It made me drool with the fantastic descriptions of all the ways you can put together bread ,olive oil , garlic and tomatoes. The book gives some wonderful descriptions of country life in Mallorca based round olive harvesting and making olive oil. It's a wonderful historical insight into a real art form too. There is a section of lovely recipes and a list of restaurants where the "Bread & oil" of the title can be sampled. This book was a joy to read and I know that I'll read it many more times and go back to Mallorca before too long.

Simple pleasures
Sometimes what seems simplest is really the best of all. Clear, beautiful writing, simple, delicious food, quiet time with those you love, the home of your soul. This book offers all of those things, and the great pleasure of reading as well. This is one of my favorite books, and I highly recommend it. Even if you've never been to Majorca.

Since i bought this for my bloke he has been eating Pa Amb Oli every day.
We are having it tonight too!

A must read for the amusing anecdotes.

REVIVE THE EATING OF THIS SIMPLE FAIRE