It’s the season for shopping–malls, crowded parking lots, endless checkout lines…bleah!  This year I’ve decided to give gifts that truly represent Austin.  One of Austin’s signature restaurants, Fonda San Miguel has a new book out to celebrate its 30th anniversary–Fonda San Miguel: Thirty Years of Food and Art

The book does a wonderful job of capturing Fonda San Miguel’s food and art.  The book contains recipes for the restaurants special dishes including Ceviche Veracruzano, Enchiladas Suizas, Cochinita Pibil and Pescado Tikin.  The recipes work!  For Thanksgiving I tried the Ensalada de Jicama con Melon–the recipe was easy (ok getting jicama cut into matchsticks was a bit of a pain) and was a big hit. 

To me, the books photographs of the art inside the restaurant and the stories associated with each piece add significantly to the book’s interest.  The photographs are truly beautifully done and the stories are often interesting.

This book is a a great gift for all those relatives who insist on going to Fonda San Miguel every time they are in town.