Archive For The “Cookbooks” Category
Here is a real winner of a cookbook from Lorenz Books, and it would make the perfect gift for any Chinese food lover! China – A Cookbook is a large and imposing tome which oozes quality. The red cover is emblazoned with a golden dragon and what could be more appropriate for this Chinese…
Janice Wong has the accolade of Asia’s no.1 Pastry Chef. Well, we all know what famous chefs are like. Ego-driven, imposing hulks with loud voices, periodically rude, consistently condescending, care-worn complexions, prematurely aged, and supremely talented. Perhaps we should have a rethink, a pause in our assumptions, put a hold on swift conclusions. Chef Janice…
To any home cook that title might sound attractive – Easy Chinese Recipes – but to a reviewer who is a passionate cook that very same title can cause worries. Is this going to be a book with its focus on convenience foods? Could it be sub-titled “Make Friends with your Microwave”? The reality is…
The title of Fuchsia Dunlop’s Chinese cookbook is intriguing. The Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook might not immediately sound appealing. Is this food for revolutionaries? Perhaps dishes to be welcomed by malcontent student activists and probably served from huge vats dotted around government buildings. It is in fact a tome that could just as reasonably be entitled…
Heat magazine proclaims “Ching-He Huang is the new face of Chinese cooking”. Fresh-faced and youthful, Ching already has, however, a good few years of successful career behind her. Ching-He is a popular contributor to various UK food programmes and was the presenter of her own series Chinese Food Made Easy. She is the author of…
This is another amazing book from Murdoch. This publisher continues to amaze me with great cookbooks at unbeatable prices. Each recipe is triple-tested in the publisher’s own kitchens so you are assured that the food that looks so good in the book will be equally attractive on your plate and wil be delicious as well….
Yes, it’s a BBQ book but one with a difference. The Asian Grill will capture the imagination of those who long for something more exotic. There are those fire-extinguisher-wielding, burnt-offering-offering culinary pyromaniacs who think that charcoal adds flavour. No, my little Webber warrior, my Hibachi hero! The charcoal is the fuel and not the food;…
Well, it’s a lengthy title but it sums up the contents of this book. It’s about health-giving liquids, or at least what Chinese tradition would have you believe are healthy drinks. One has to give some credence to a philosophy that has lasted thousands of years. The Chinese have access to modern medicine but the…
This is the 25th anniversary edition of Ken’s original and ground-breaking book. I had that first edition, and it fell apart through years of use. I am sure that many readers will have had the same experience. This is a book you will use even if you are too young to remember the BBC series…
“ … People who know Deh-ta say that he is one terrific chef, a chap who makes spectacular banquets, and one outstanding culinary host… If you do not already know this prolific author’s publications, you must! You need to try his recipes and learn from him. You will not be disappointed…” (The Institute for the…
This is the second Hugo Arnold Wagamama book that I have come across, the first being the gorgeous Wagamama – Ways with Noodles. I was impressed by that book and I have an equally good impression of this one. The photographs are almost edible and very stylish. Hugo is a self-confessed greedy man but he…
Ching-He Huang is a fresh and youthful face which might be new to those of you who have missed her cooking demonstrations on UKTV Food. She now enjoys a bit more well-earned exposure on BBC2 with a series called Chinese Food Made Easy. If you love the programmes (and who wouldn’t?) then you’ll want this…
Hugo Arnold is crazy about noodles and that enthusiasm is evident from the first page of this delectable book. The photography by Ditta Isager is marvellous and is shown off to best advantage in this large-format volume. I’ll not say too much about Wagamama, the Japanese-inspired restaurant chain, I’ll write a review later. (Read my…
This is a large format volume with a wealth of photographs by Steve Brown and it’s impressive in its presentation and content, and it even feels solid! This is one of a series of Homestyle cookbooks from those nice people at Murdoch Books and I’d say it’s a winner. We are talking about the whole…
There can’t be a single town in the UK or North America that can’t boast at least a Chinese takeaway or a brace or two of Chinese restaurants, but have you ever wondered why it’s Chinese food that is so ubiquitous and not, say, Malay or Turkish? J.A.G. Roberts has written China to Chinatown –…
A Taste of China is one of Ken Hom’s first books and probably one of the best. It’s now back in print and I would urge anyone who has an interest in China and its food to buy a copy. This is described as the definitive guide to regional cooking and it is indeed that,…
Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, Sally and Gordon that is, have produced quite one of the most sumptuous books around. Each turn of the page brings a new visual delight. Sally is an author and restaurant reviewer and has written several food and travel books. Gordon is an award-winning photographer, so the combination was bound to…