Mediterranean Table, where food from this wonderful region of the world is prepared on an almost everyday basis and a diet of Mediterranean cooking is regarded as one of the most healthiest and most popular in the world for meat eaters or vegetarians. Featured in this book are mainly traditional recipes that have been prepared in Mediterranean kitchens for many years but also a lot of Vegetarian and Vegan meals using ingredients of fresh foods, vegetables, fruit, legumes/pulses, whole grains, seeds, nuts, herbs and spices, olive oil and of course garlic, as well as seafood, meat and poultry. The author who was born in a Mediterranean country was brought up enjoying food from Greece, Italy, France and the Middle East and has created easy to prepare meals with readily available ingredients found at the local supermarket which fits in with today s lifestyle. Cooking for your family and friends, fresh home cooking and sharing plates at your table including big platters or every day meals to grazing boards and tapas this beautifully photographed and easy recipes from well known and best selling author Rena Patten will be a must for food lovers. Eating is a very important event in the Mediterranean culture, so much so that I would actually call it a ritual; it is a time where beautiful memories are made spent with people we love and sharing food that we love There have been a lot of studies done on the benefits for people that fully or partially follow a Mediterranean diet. The studies have shown that the food cooked from those regions have huge benefits in controlling certain diseases as well as resulting in an overall feeling of wellness. They have been known to lower the risk of certain diseases such as cardio vascular disease, cancer and diabetes to name a few.They can also be beneficial in lowering cholesterol, promoting healthy aging and help establish healthier mental function .