“Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros offers some exquisite photography – not just the ingredients and dishes she creates, but the people and places the recipes are entwined with and inspired by. It explores the different dishes from the countries and cultures she has experienced during her life, as well as stories about and pictures of her exotic family. Food-wise, she covers a huge range of recipes – from family recipes of classic deserts, to her combinations of unexpected tastes – combined with the mouthwatering photography and the beautifully put together design makes this one delicious book.” ––Fashion Mad http://bit.ly/cuSYvV
“Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes, by Tessa Kiros is a gem. The cookbook is full of personal touches and stories. It is a beautiful collection of family anecdotes, history, and traditions all documented with stunning photography, unique illustrations, and a warm dialogue that will simply pull you in.” ––140 Food http://140food.com
“In Falling Cloudberries Tessa takes us on mouthwatering culinary journeys through Finland, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and South Africa, all countries she has lived in during her lifetime. Each chapter includes memories, the family members who lived there and visual reminders of her experiences. Frankly, the poetry and photography within these pages are enough to make me grab my passport and book a ticket to each local, it is all so beautiful and unique. The recipes within each chapter are amazing as well, each reflecting their country of origin in flavor and ingredients” ––The Naptime Chef http://www.thenaptimechef.com
“The photos are just dreamy, and the recipes are both evidence of Tessa’s heritage (classic finnish meatballs with lingonberry jam, stroganoff, and moussaka) and a postcard from her travels (spinach and truffle pies, champagne risotto, and lemon vanilla jam). It’s one of those books where it’s truly hard to decide how and where to begin.” ––A Sweet Spoonful http://asweetspoonful.com
“A scrap book of food memories, collected together with humble notes of their origins and creators, and published to share with the world. Even if your not a cook, it’s a lovely book with a bohemian feel, pictures and stories are food for the eyes.” –Hungry Hearts http://rosannemaryruth.blogspot.com/2010/01/salmon-ceviche-with-rocket-and-chorizo.html
“Through a gorgeous book design, we are drawn into the author’s life through her brief essays and sweet memories of food experienced through her very global existence. You’ll lose yourself too, in the full-page, full-color photos of food, interspersed with travel stories, photos and drawings that round out this food-family-travel memoir… not to mention over 170 recipes.” ––Blog Critics http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book-review-falling-cloudberries-a-world/
“The New York Times calls Tessa Kiros’s work “exuberant and colorful.” And that is just what her gem, Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes, is. The book is full of personal touches and stories. It is a beautiful collection of family anecdotes, history, and traditions all documented with stunning photography, unique illustrations, and a warm dialogue that will simply pull you in.” ––Melany GR http://melany.gr/falling-cloudberries-a-world-of-family-recipes/
“[Falling Cloudberries] is part memoir, part cookbook, (400 pages!), coffee-table style. Exquisite — reading it is like traveling to Europe for the afternoon.” ––Susie J http://www.susiej.com/index.php/cook-fried-chicken-and-soup-at-the-same-time/
“In one, big, fat, beautifully illustrated cookbook, Kiros has managed to present a wide-ranging array of cuisines from around the world. … One chapter at a time, she deals with the recipes she grew up with, as well as the dishes she’s encountered on her travels: Finland, Greece, Cyprus, South Africa, Italy, and finally, a catch-all chapter – World. There are whimsical drawings and poignant family photos. Almost every other page is a glossy, color photo of one glorious dish after another. Globalization, it’s a good thing!” ––Village Soup http://mdi.villagesoup.com/AandE/story.cfm?storyID=177723
“I am absolutely in love with Falling Cloudberries! The author has a diverse heritage and the book takes you around the world, exploring family recipes from her collection. The book is an inspiring assortment of recipes, stories, and photographs, it’s the kind of book you can pour through for hours and that you want to share with everyone you know!” ––The Design Boards http://thedesignboards.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-falling-cloudberries.html
“My favorite addition to my cookbook library this summer, has been without question Tessa Kiros’s Falling Cloudberries: A World of Family Recipes.” ––Read It And Eat http://read-n-eat.com/?p=1547
“Falling Cloudberries is a visually stunning book, filled with recipes that are, for the most part, simple, time tested, and comforting. Falling Cloudberries is a round the world journey for the author. The recipes are peppered with delicious looking pictures and family anecdotes. ” –– Cook Local http://www.cooklocal.com/?p=1831
“Chapters in Falling Cloudberries are divided like distinct patterns of memory, teamed with a corresponding recipe collection that marks years of living in Finland, Greece, Cyprus, South Africa, Italy. The final chapter…A Suitcase of Recipes reflects a composite collection from Tessa’s world travels. I am hopelessly biased towards books from Australia and Singapore. What migrates to America reflects a style that is quite different than ours–from the clean layout with judicious use of white space to their sumptuous and uncompromising photography. Art director Lisa Greenberg, photography by Manos Chatzikonstantis with food styling and illustrations by Michail Touros left me savoring every page…and begging for more!” ––Seattle Tall Poppy http://seattletallpoppy.blogspot.com/2009/08/book-review-falling-cloudberries-world.html
“Whether you make the above Millefeuille or one of her many other superb recipes I feel confident if you are a cook, baker and World traveller You will NOT put this book down. I’m even betting if you are not those things this book will still delight you.” ––The Paris House http://theparishouse.blogspot.com/2009/08/fallling-in-love-with-falling.html
“So beautiful, it’s like a coffee-table book for the kitchen counter — part travel journal, diary, mini-memoir. Oh, and the recipes are terrific, too. Tessa Kiros’s new cookbook is not to be missed.” ––House Beautiful http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/cookbooks/falling-cloudberries?src=rss
“(Falling Cloudberries) is drop-dead gorgeous, and the food is real earthy stuff from the author’s wildly cosmopolitan background and upbringing: Finnish, Greek, Greek Cypriot, South African, Italian. I’m not shilling this nor selling it; I’m just in love.” ––Chowhound http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/640164
“Falling Cloudberries is not only a work of art, but also a really, really, REALLY good cookbook! Recipes are clearly written for the home cook and are very reproducible. The international flavors make the preparation entertaining and fresh.” ––Food Reference http://www.foodreference.com/html/falling-cloudberries-421.html
“Everyone loves a good book that transports them to the world it describes. But a cookbook that does that is a rare treat. ” ––Rookie Cookie http://www.rookie-cookie.com/2009/04/falling-cloudberries-by-tessa-kiros.html
“I can’t begin to say enough nice things about this book. I absolutely loved it. It’s big, gorgeous, filled with delicious sounding recipes, gorgeous photos, and a sweet family history.” ––Sidewalk Shoes http://sidewalkshoes.blogspot.com/2009/04/falling-cloudberries-world-of-family.html
“Full of color photos and friendly stories, this is the kind of book that’s fun to sit down and lose yourself in for half an hour, even if you have no intention of cooking anything for the next month.” ––Foodie Farmgirl http://foodiefarmgirl.blogspot.com/2009/05/less-fuss-more-flavor-cooking-slow.html
“There are so many wonderful things that can be said about Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros that I just don’t know where to begin. Of all the cookbooks that I am fortunate enough to see on an annual basis, very few completely blow me away, but this one did.” ––Project Foodie http://www.projectfoodie.com/spotlights/cookbooks/falling-cloudberries-a-world-of-family-recipes.html
“Falling Cloudberries arrived at our desk and we fell in love with every aspect of the book, from the delicious recipes to the poetic sensibility of its author, Tessa Kiros. We traveled through memory and around the world with Kiros, for this is a special book, one filled with international cooking and international family memories.” ––In Mamas Kitchen http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/INTERNATIONAL_COOKING/Internat_TK_cooking.html
“The very best cookbooks have the power to take you on a journey. Such is the case with this wide-ranging memoir featuring recipes from Finland, Greece, Cyprus, South Africa, and Italy.” ––Gourmet http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2009/05/cookbook-review-falling-cloudberries
“It would be a happy person who was fed regularly from these recipes.” ––O Chef http://www.ochef.com/0740781529.htm
“Tessa captures a life rich with ingredients, dishes, smells, and tastes – a personal history in food.” ––Super Chef http://www.superchefblog.com/2009/05/tessa-kiros-falling-cloudberries.html
“Tessa Kiros’ family tree has Russian, Finish, Greek Cypriot and Italian branches. Dishes reflect that and her experience in Austraila, Mexico, and Britian as well.” ––WCBS Dining Diary, by Bob Lape http://www.wcbs880.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3704679
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Reader Comments
Author Tessa Kiros has put together a beautiful collection of recipes and photos. The book is a potpourri of recipes of family recipes spanning the world. Kiros has given us her memories from a life in many countries and a collection of family recipes from a family that enjoyed their time in the kitchen. Her recipes travel the globe from Finland, Greece, Cyprus, South Africa to Italy. She closes the book with a chapter titled A Suitcase of Recipes comprising of a reflection of her own travels and the gifts of friends she has found in these travels.
Born to a mother named Sirpa Tuula Kerttu Peiponen and a father named George it should come as no surprise that she has collected a kaleidoscope of recipes. Cooking was a tradition with both Kiros’ grandparents and parents. From her Finnish mother Kiros learned the tradition of Scandinavian cooking, from her Greek-Cypriot father and his family she learned the flavors of Mediterranean cuisine. Add to this a childhood spent growing up in South Africa and another chapter is written into her book. Readers will be able to sample zabaglione semifreddo, fried potatoes and artichoke bottoms, lachmajou (middle eastern pizza) and Sipi’s strawberry cake to name a few of the recipes. Even if you have no inclination to pull out a pot and turn on the oven you will find yourself wishing you could make all the recipes in the book.
Sometimes I choose my recipes by the photography and other times it is their names or ingredients that have seduced me to stand at my stove. How could you resist a cookbook titled “Falling Cloudberries”. Everything about this book is enticing from the photography, to the ingredients, to the names of the recipes. Who would not want to bake risotto with artichokes and Italian sausage.
I have already made my first dish from the book. Her preparation directions were easy to follow and understand. While her recipes may be exotic the ingredients are quite commonplace.
This is a book that will spend many hours on my kitchen counter or on my bed side table. If you are looking for a gift for someone who enjoys cooking or collecting cookbooks I would highly recommend this book. I am sure your recipient will be as smitten with the book as I am. This time please judge the book by its cover.