From The Washington Post:
Two recent books — one an armchair travel book with recipes and photographs, the other a scholarly examination of the origins and cultural contexts of the foods of the Indian subcontinent — bear witness to a fascination with the food. Each takes the approach that culinary traditions of that vast landmass that stretches from Jammu and Kashmir in the north, to Pakistan in the west, Burma in the east and the Indian Ocean in the south are continually evolving.
Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, a married couple who live in Toronto, have been on the road since they met in Tibet in 1985 and began a career uniting travel memoirs with the food they recorded, researched and photographed along the way. Their earlier books, Flatbreads and Flavors: A Baker’s Atlas , Seductions of Rice , the highly praised Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet: A Culinary Journey through Southeast Asia and Home Baking: The Artful Mix of Flour and Tradition Around the World , have generally focused on a specific food category or region. Their observations are historically informed yet personal, inviting the reader to share their journeys. Mangoes & Curry Leaves has extended their exploratory approach to the street markets and homes of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and foods ranging from chutneys and salads to rice and bread, vegetables and lentils, fish, poultry and meat, and street foods, snacks and sweets.
More here.