Cafe Chimes Cookbook - Review

Vegetarian Journal, Nov-Dec, 2001 by Debra Wasserman

CAFE CHIMES COOKBOOK By Kathleen J. Etter Illustrated by Shana Myers

I first met Kathy Etter when she attended a lecture I presented at a vegetarian conference. After this initial meeting, Kathleen began offering handouts from The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) to her customers at Cafe Chimes in New Hampshire. She even placed a donation jar on the front counter, and over a period of two years sent VRG more than $500. After reading this new book, I now realize that Kathy supported numerous worthwhile organizations and programs. I also learned that she died suddenly of lung cancer before completing this cookbook and that her friends and co-workers banded together to make sure that the cookbook went to press in her honor. This certainly says a lot about this remarkable woman!

Cafe Chimes Cookbook is vegan-friendly (there are vegetarian recipes, some of which can be made vegan by substituting vegan cheese.) The chapters include breakfast ideas; breads and muffins; salads, dressings, and sauces; soups; sandwiches; grains; tofu and tempeh dishes; vegetable mainstays; and desserts. These recipes were used at Cafe Chimes and reformulated to serve a family. This is not necessarily a quick and easy cookbook, and unfortunately, nutritional analyses are not provided. Nevertheless, this book offers readers the opportunity to prepare delicious meals. Who could ask for more?

Cafe Chimes Cookbook (ISBN 0-9629651-2-X) is published by Chase Publishing. The 296-page book retails for S19.95. Look for this cookbook in bookstores. Reviewed by Debra Wasserman.