One of the most beloved Puerto Rican chefs, Jose Santaella, offers a beautiful homage to Puerto Rican cuisine in his lushly photographed and well-researched cookbook, Cocina Tropical . Learn how to make his favorite boricua recipes, from appetizers and desserts to morcillas (blood sausages) to the perfect plantain mofongo. - NBC News New Cookbook Worth Your Time. Puerto Rican food, with its wide range of Spanish, Native American, French and African flavors, is an ethnic cuisine with broad appeal. Jose Santaella's book captures the local flavors of his eponymous San Juan, Puerto Rico restaurant. It will likely expand culinary territory for many chefs and provide a springboard for new ideas. - FoodFanatics Acclaimed Puerto Rican chef and restaurateur José Santaella is celebrating the island's rich culinary tradition with a new cookbook. Cocina Tropical pays tribute to his native island, a land of gorgeous beaches and luxurious resorts with a culinary culture that is a mix of influences: Spanish, African, Taíno and French. In this beautifully photographed cookbook, Santaella presents foods that only a local would know...among the book's more than one hundred recipes are classics as well as contemporary creations...Peppered throughout are helpful sidebars with tips and tricks aimed at aiding the home cook. Cocina Tropical captures the flavors and spirit of this truly enchanting island. - CarribbeanBusiness.com Cocina Tropica l breaks some new ground and is a solid contribution to the culinary bookshelf. While other Puerto Rican chefs have written cookbooks, none has demonstrated the crossover potential that Cocina Tropical is likely to have. - The Latin Kitchen sakriti opis