Emmanuel Laroche

ABOUT THE BOOK

Although it contains 15 recipes for the home cook, A Taste of Madagascar is more than a cookbook. And while it contains many glorious photos from Emmanuel’s research visits, it is more than a travelogue. From caviar to pink peppercorn, zebu cattle to ingeniously used rice, it’s a study of the ingredients and traditions that define a place, revealing how they have also shaped the global culinary landscape. 

Madagascar’s vibrant culinary heritage and delicate ecosystem faces imminent threats from deforestation and climate change, so you’ll learn about the environmental challenges affecting these ingredients. Traverse lush forests of fragrant vanilla, endless fields of exotic spices, and idyllic farms of sturgeon and honey, guided by passionate Malagasy farmers, food artisans, and culinary experts. Emmanuel’s love letter to Madagascar will deepen appreciation of its unique scenic beauty and culinary culture.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in France, Emmanuel lives in New Jersey and travels around the country conducting tastings and giving lectures and presentations on food, flavors, ingredients, and consumer trends. Host of the podcast Flavors Unknown, he is the author of two books—Conversations Behind The Kitchen Door and A Taste of Madagascar—and is currently working on his first novel.

TALKING POINTS

• The culinary culture of Madagascar, an often misunderstood land
• Ingredients and flavors we should know about, and how to use them in your own kitchen
• Madagascar’s global role in vanilla bean production and why vanilla is a superstar
• The threat of deforestation to the island’s distinctive biodiversity and what we need to know
• The farmers, food artisans, and small enterprises that sustain the global palate
• Learning about the world through its flavors and the people behind them
• Emmanuel as a Flavor Explorer and Culinary Storyteller