At My Portuguese Table: Azorean Cooking and More by Maria Lawton

Portuguese cuisine often flies under the radar compared to the celebrated culinary traditions of France, Greece, and Italy, making Portuguese cookbooks uncommon and Azorean ones even rarer. That’s why Maria Lawton’s latest release, At My Portuguese Table: Azorean Cooking and More, feels like uncovering a hidden gem. Lawton, the popular PBS culinary travel host of Maria’s Portuguese Table, invites home cooks to dive into the rich, authentic flavors of Azorean cooking—a cuisine shaped by the rugged landscape and soulful heritage of the Azores islands.

Maria recently had the distinguished honor of receiving a national review from Booklist. This is a significant accomplishment, as Booklist is a highly respected publication in the literary community. Being featured in their reviews not only highlights Maria’s work on a national platform but also recognizes the quality and impact of her writing.

“Lawton brings interested home cooks along on a journey through the landscape of Azorean cooking with dozens of home-cooked recipes. Although many of the dishes speak to the wholesomeness of Iberian peninsula cooking, recipes like Lawton’s queen cakes-Azorean pastries made from corn flour, molasses, cinnamon, and nutmeg-set the book apart and tell the story of her parents’ island origins.” -Booklist

Lawton’s book offers more than just recipes; it provides readers with a taste of the warmth, love, and tradition at the heart of Portuguese culture. Each dish is a way to reconnect with one’s roots, embrace new flavors, or simply make meaningful memories around the table. Whether you’re looking to explore Portuguese cuisine for the first time or cherish memories of family gatherings, At My Portuguese Table is an invitation to celebrate the beauty of Portuguese cooking. With each page, Lawton brings a little piece of the Azores to your kitchen, turning every meal into a celebration of heritage and heart.

Maria Lawton, fondly called the “Azorean Green Bean,” is the beloved host of PBS’s Maria’s Portuguese Table, where she shares the flavors and traditions of Portuguese cuisine. Born on the picturesque Azorean island of São Miguel, Maria’s love for cooking began early, fueled by her family’s rich culinary heritage, which they brought with them to the U.S. at age six. Her award-winning show explores Portugal’s regional dishes and cultural nuances, earning her fans worldwide. Alongside her TV career, Maria’s bestselling cookbook, Azorean Cooking: From My Family Table to Yours, preserves her roots through authentic recipes and family stories. Her warmth and passion for Portuguese cooking inspire audiences globally, and she continues to share her culinary journey with new books in the works, all while enjoying life with her husband, Bob, and their cockapoo, Gracie.

I feel such pride seeing books like this come to life. Growing up in an Azorean household, I was surrounded by the rich aromas of my mother’s traditional cooking, each dish a cherished reminder of the old country that she brought with her when our family settled in Canada. I know that Maria’s series and books would fill her with joy, sparking memories that would bring both a smile and a tear to her eye. For us Azoreans, our food is more than sustenance—it’s a part of who we are, a way of sharing our heritage. Seeing our simple, soulful way of life showcased to the world like this, through such beautiful recipes and stories, reminds me of values we might do well to return to.