A continent with a great diversity of climates, Africa has a rich culinary heritage and a formidable wealth of produce and recipes with varied cuisines and flavors.
In her debut cookbook, Anto Cocagne—Chef Anto—takes us on a unique food journey and introduces us to the best pan-African recipes from Gabon, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Senegal, Congo, and beyond. We will discover the main characteristics of these cuisines, the specialties of each region, the produce, the ideal pantry, the basics, as well as mouthwatering recipes for appetizers, main courses, side dishes, street food, desserts, and drinks.
And since no one evokes a cuisine better than its daughters and sons, we will meet famous African personalities who tell stories about their favorite dishes, their family cooking memories, and what these recipes represent for them today.
With stunning food and landscape photography, complemented by beautiful and colorful design, this book is an ode to conviviality, generosity, and positivity. It is a love letter to Africa.
BIO
Anto Cocagne, known as Chef Anto, is a Gabonese woman chef who studied culinary arts in France and the US before starting her career as a chef and consultant on African cuisines in Paris. She is the artistic director of Afro Cooking magazine, president of the “We Eat Africa” food festival, and star of the African TV series Rendez-vous avec Le Chef Anto. Her ambition is to popularize African cooking throughout the world.
REVIEWS
“[A] snappy book … if you’re looking for dishes that push the boundaries of your palate, Saka Saka has you covered … For the curious American cook who wants more than weeknight dinner hacks, this engrossing book will point in a new direction, whether you head for the thiep bou dien (grouper, cassava, pumpkin and ‘dried fish and shell’) or a slightly more familiar black-eyed-pea and beet hummus.” --The New York Times, “Eight Dazzling New Cookbooks”
“[A]n adventure through sub-Saharan Africa. Named after a cassava leaf dish, this book combines recipes, portraits, and interviews that introduce African cuisine to the global consumer. Appealing dishes include everything from sides and appetizers to street food and desserts, all showcasing the beauty and art of food from Africa and the connection people have to it. Cocagne encourages readers to revise the misconceptions that food from Africa is too oily, too spicy, or too rich: in reality it is healthy and diverse … With all the love that the continent has to offer this book is a must for cooking collections.” --Booklist, Starred Review
“In Saka Saka, Gabonese and French chef Anto Cocagne celebrates sub-Saharan African cuisine. The invigorating recipes […] spotlight fresh, nourishing staples with creative flourishes […] It details foods that are pertinent to both, with a helpful pantry list, and dispels misconceptions about African food being too oily or spicy, encouraging everyone to explore its bold tastes […] Saka Saka is a congenial, welcoming cookbook that celebrates Africa’s culinary profile with tantalizing dishes and eye-catching photographs.” --Foreword Reviews, Starred Review
“Chef Cocagne celebrates ‘the tastes of Sub-Saharan Africa’ in this vibrant [debut] … In an appealing introduction, she focuses on the region’s history … the information is fascinating. Cocagne covers everything from eating with one’s hands to the absence of frozen food in Africa. Most recipes offer helpful substitutions … The range of cuisines is vast: Ravioli are filled with smoked mackerel and amaranth leaves; a chapter on street food includes fried dumplings and grilled sea bream; and desserts encompass crème brûlée with baobab powder, and mbouraké made by pounding stale bread, sugar, and evaporated milk. Meanwhile, interviews with Sub-Saharan African personalities—such as radio host Soro Solo and designer Aïssé N’Diaye—fold in enlivening cultural tidbits … making it an important entry in the growing number of books about African cuisines.” --Publishers Weekly
“[A] cookbook that educates, dazzles, and—most importantly—is delectable … Cocagne’s informative text goes beyond flavors to discuss sub-Saharan cultures … Princet’s vibrant photography delivers energy … This cookbook will delight readers and home cooks alike as an introduction to sub-Saharan cuisine, and its recipes will quickly become go-tos.” --Library Journal
[H] Interlink Books / April 12, 2022
0.97" H x 10.17" L x 7.85" W (2.06 lbs) 208 pages