A Modern Way to Eat by Anna Jones consists of 200+ satisfying vegetarian recipes.  First off, do you know who Anna Jones is? She is Jamie Oliver's London-based food stylist and writer.  I'm a fan of Jamie Oliver - casual dining that makes it seem special every time I make one of his meals.

As to presentation, A Modern Way to Eat is beautiful with its simplicity, gorgeous photos of food that just jumps out at you and the easy read.  I especially love the way she goes through her process with us.  The start of each category has a list of variations on how to proceed.  Great for beginners and season cooks.  Not only bunch of variations for you to try, but there are additional suggestions on some of the recipes. For example, under "Gado Gado's" recipe, she ends with a list of "Things to do with

satay sauce".  With ease of use, and sharing additional knowledge with readers, this cook book hits the mark.

As to food, I loved everything I've made from the cook book.  "Warm salad of roasted kale, coconut and tomatoes", "Pan-dressed noodles with crunchy cabbage and crispy tofu", and "Mint, Pistachio and Zucchini balls" were all delicious in their own right.  I bought all of the ingredients from the local supermarket, and not fresh from local farmer's markets.  If they were local and fresh, it will give these recipes more justice.  With that said, I do find that majority of the recipes would work best with fresh produce.  Frozen or can alternatives aren't actually good alternatives at all since it takes away from the essence of Ms. Jones' recipes.  Obviously, I have yet to try all the recipes, but as a 'modern' gal, I would like to know I know what it means for a modern way to eat. Yes, it includes fresh produce, less meat and less preservatives, but it should also include ease of preparation.  True, I like traditional cooking methods, but there are several days of the week that I prefer easy-to-do preparations, and keep the taste level high for myself and my family.  It's not always easy to run out to grab some ingredients if you don't already have it in your kitchen.

In terms of concept, I'm not a vegetarian, but I do like to prepare vegetarian foods several meals a week.  I have several vegetarian cookbooks, but I'm undoubtedly happy to claim that this is one that makes it seem "gourmet" (instead of simple salad or a vegetable stew). I would be thrilled to serve this to guests as well as family.  Is it a modern way to eat? Sure, if you think a modern way is to enjoy what nature has prepared for us. Is it a modern way to cook, all depends on your perspective on how it's done.