Bong Mom's Cookbook : Stories From A Bengali Mother's Kitchen

This book is so much more than just a book of recipes!! While all the wonderful recipes are there (yes, though not indexed :-( ), my most thumbed pages are where Sandeepa weaves her stories and tales with charm, candor and disarming wit!Last summer, we were on a drive along through some back-country roads with our friends and their two boys (aged 14 and 10). To pass the time, I started a read-along of this tiny book I'd packed with me. It was singularly the most entertaining drive we've ever had! Sandeepa's narratives evoked stories and counter stories, threw up excited exchanges of experiences, brought forth a barrage of curious questions and aha's from the kids, and had us all gleefully smiling, nodding and totally engaged!Sure, I too like the blog, with the ease of its search engine and beautiful pictures, better. But this tiny book sometimes goes further --- when you need a conversation starter with an unfamiliar guest --- when an army of six develop a sudden craving for Bhapa Doi, and that blessed phone on northern Lake Michigan shores still doesn't show any coverage --- when after a busy day, I just need to tuck in with a light book, reading anecdotes that bring dreamy smiles...

I have followed Sandeepa's blog for many years and love it, so was eagerly waiting for the book. The book is not a typical cookbook, it is part memoir, part cookbook, with numerous funny narratives and anecdotes spun into the recipes. I like the way she tells stories and often I can identify myself in her stories having come from a similar background.However, I was disappointed with the quality of paper, binding, and lack of pictures. I was at least expecting a picture of the author.

I love this book. She’s hilarious, and so far all of the recipes that I’ve tried have turned out somewhere between pretty good and amazing. I don’t even know what mutton rezala is supposed to taste like, but I’m now addicted to it.

This book is like watching a feel good movie that you don't get bored watching over and over again. I have read this book twice already including the recipes and steps. Everytime I read it I am taken to the times she grew up and her present abode in NJ. I can literally smell the spices, hear the clinking glass bangles as her maid grinds the khuskhus on the stone grinder, walk in the streets of calcutta gobbling the street food, hear the alarm go off in the morning and rush through the morning craziness. Being a Non-Bengali I can proudly say that I have learned few bengali dishes which makes me drool everytime I think about it. The only downside is that there could have been more pages along with a recipe index.

I love the heart warming stories that come along with the awesome recipes. Reminds me of home and all the food i ate while growing up. Brought it a while back and i still go back to this book whenever i am homesick!

I bought this book because I enjoy reading the author's blog and like Bengali food, culture and cooking. The book did not disappoint. It was a very interesting and fun read. I particularly love Sandeepa's knack for making the mundane magical!

I've known the bongcookbook blog for a LONG time now, and it is my go-to blog for all things culinary. Now Sandeepa has gathered all of her delectable recipes (and more) into this book, and threaded them with anecdotes, nostalgia and stories, to create a vibrant and colourful archive of the finest Bangali cuisine. Highly recommended, this is a must read as much for the stories as the recipes.

I hurried to get this book as I often visit the writer's blog and do enjoy her recipes. The book is pretty much on the same lines. A lot of humorous anecdotes around the typical Bengali lifestyle and then the recipes thrown in to the mix. Definitely enjoyable from that perspective.However I must say one should not approach this as a cookbook - because that will definitely disappoint. There are not that many recipes and being a Bong myself almost all were familiar ones. I was hoping for more dessert recipes as a good book on Bengali desserts is long due but I was disappointed on that front too. Also there are no pictures and being a visual person myself that was off putting. The quality of the pages and the binding is not that great. I got the book yesterday and after a couple of hours of reading, the spine has separated from the book.To be fair I must still say overall I would still buy it and yes I prefer the blog over the book.

I have been visiting Sandeepa's blog for about 6 years now and her blog gives me that feeling when I'm in the kitchen with my mom and granny, back home. The way she describes each recipe with a brief story makes me nostalgic and reminds me of my Bong connection. I love the way she writes this book. For Bongs, it's not much of a problem as the contents reveal what recipes are included in a particular section..but for non-Bongs, this might be a big prob. Even I feel I should write the recipe list at the back with page numbers for quick reference. At first touch, the cover paper quality seems a bit too thin and the pages are quite rough. But, it doesn't matter. I love the smell of the pages and the book (full of Bong dishes) itself makes me drool! This will definitely take an honorable position in my list of cookbooks. Even if I don't try out everything, I'll know it for always reminding me of home. Thank you Sandeepa for the wonderful work!

The book made for interesting, light read. It is quite honest - the author does not claim to be an expert in Bengali cooking. Rather, she writes about the trials and tribulations of trying to keep her Bengali roots intact amidst a busy working life in a different country, at the same time managing two kids too. The book taught me a lot I hadn't known earlier about Bengali cuisine. It also inspired me to cook some of the dishes that have been mentioned, and made me crave to visit Calcutta. That said, the editing could have been a bit tighter, I felt. The memoir part of it is light-hearted, and a bit more depth would have been great.

Disclaimer being added after writing the review: I do not personally know the author, and have not been induced or incentivized in any manner to write this review, other than reading it, trying out the recipes, and enjoying the bliss that followed. :)I was under the impression I had already submitted a review for this book. Then I realized that this book, its author and the author's work on her blog have become such integral parts of our life that I believe I must have reviewed it. First off, it is a great cookbook for people who enjoy Bengali food. Second, it is a literary and cultural feast. Dare I compare it Maya Angelou's Hallelujah! The Welcome Table? Yes, I do!! Thirdly, it should serve as a gateway to her blog, which is one of the most fascinating properties to visit on the web for anyone who loves life and the transmission of life.

As a fellow blogger and a follower of the author's Insta, I have found this book a reallygood read and very relatable. I loved trying out her recipes and they are quite spot-on with my expectations. Keep up the good work!

I love this book. I bought one for myself and one for my mother-in-law. All recipes from this book turn great. It's suitable even for people who have no idea about cooking bengali food (as I was). The only thing that I am missing is a table of contents. It would be great if I didn't have to search all recipes manually.