About Bettina Mueller
Bettina’s been a cook on a working tugboat, a news photographer, owner of a pioneering vegetarian restaurant and executive of a cutting edge Internet company. In addition to her interest in food and media, she’s been a lifelong student of Zen, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, and the natural world.
Drawing from her study of the Japanese Tea Tradition where great – even legendary – gardens are small by necessity, she set out to convert her 1/10 of an acre backyard in Tivoli, NY into a private world of beauty and tranquility. The remarkable results are documented on this blog and in her latest book.
A Tea Garden in Tivoli – American Garden Design Inspired by the Japanese Way of Tea
“For anyone who has considered taking on the challenge of transplanting Japanese culture to a new setting, here is a great example, with hints on gardens, tea ceremony, and flower arranging.”
“The photos are stunning and the words so beautiful. Ultimate zen book! It’s one of the most gorgeous books I’ve ever seen. “
Click here to order and for more information
The World in a Bowl of Tea
“This unusual book offers an intriguing and readable introduction to the Japanese tea ceremony and the foods that accompany it, called Kaiseki cuisine. In spare, elegant prose, perfectly suited to her subject, the author describes the ceremony and the refined dishes that are part of it. Among her recipes are Baby Artichokes with Pomegranate Vinaigrette and Glaze-Grilled Salmon with Ginger. Recommended for larger cookbook collections as well as for any library where there is a special interest in Japanese culture.”
A Taste of Heaven and Earth
“As a vegetarian who loves to cook, I have lots of veg or veg-friendly cookbooks, but this one is my absolute favorite. I trust it completely– every recipe is delicious. My favorites include the light quiche-like vegetable tarts and the broccoli salad with chili lime basil dressing. The simple stir-fry tofu made for this salad is the absolute best tofu I’ve ever had– the only trouble with it is how hard it is to refrain from eating it so that enough ends up in the salad! “
