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Being Introduced To Zaynab Issa’s “Third Culture Cooking” By CultFlav
I have followed CultFlav on Tik Tok for a while now, enjoying their thorough reviews of cooking products as well as cookbooks. For all the reviews of…
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Zaynab Issa's "Third Culture Cooking" Cookbook Receives Raves for Flavor, Accessibility, and Cultural Depth
Zaynab Issa's debut cookbook, "Third Culture Cooking: Classic Recipes for a New Generation," has received an overwhelmingly positive review from independent food critics Cult Flav. The comprehensive review, spanning over 20 minutes, delves into 13 recipes from the book, highlighting its unique approach to culinary identity and accessibility.The cookbook explores the concept of "third culture cooking," a shared identity for children of immigrants, blending the culinary traditions of their parents' homeland, their adopted country, and a new, unique fusion. Reviewer Sarah, whose parents are Khoja immigrants from Tanzania to New Jersey, explained her personal connection to this concept: "The first culture is the one their parents immigrated from, the second is the one their parents immigrated to, and the third culture is this mixed, liminal identity somewhere in between the two."Cult Flav praised the book's accessibility, noting that "the techniques are clearly described and it didn't really call for any special equipment beyond a mixer." They were particularly impressed with the book's dietary inclusivity, with all 100 recipes being Halal, 66 vegetarian, 36 optionally dairy-free, 22 fully vegan, and 44 optionally gluten-free.The flavors received a perfect score, with dishes like the wings, coconut and cardamom cake, chevro chips, black bean burgers, and fatoush all described as "absolutely incredible." Sarah's partner even declared the fatoush "the best salad I've ever had."While the visual design initially presented an "aloof, luxurious vibe," author Zaynab Issa clarified in an interview that this was an intentional choice to challenge traditional notions of "nostalgic, traditional, highly cultural recipes" and present them in a "sophisticated, sharp visual" light. "I wanted to capture the theme of the book in the visuals," Issa stated. "If you're experiencing that tension of like, I want to understand, I want to keep looking even though I don't get it, like that's correct."Cult Flav also highlighted Issa's dedication to cultural preservation and advancement. She shares recipes from those who molded her cooking approach and then "directly advances the culture by riffing on those recipes to make them suit her current context and then sharing them."The review concluded with a strong recommendation, particularly after a personal anecdote where the book's "Lil' Dumpies" recipe provided comfort to Sarah's family during a time of loss. "A quick riff on a recipe that we had just been introduced to is as meaningful to our family as my grandma's pie," the reviewer's partner shared, emphasizing the profound impact of the cookbook.
