Product Review: Chinese Cook Books: An Overview
Originally pought to America by Chinese immigrants lured to the Pacific coast by the gold rush of 1849, Chinese food is now one of the nation's most popular cuisines. This is reflected by the hundreds of Chinese cook books on the market. This article will look at some of the best selling Chinese cook books.
The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen
The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen: Classic Family Recipes for Celepation and Healing by Grace Young is not your typical Chinese cook book. Rather than just give the usual list of recipes, Young uses anecdotes and tales of her family experiences as a third generation Chinese immigrant living in San Francisco to illustrate the basic principles of Chinese cookery. For example, she devotes a chapter to cutting techniques and another to the art of steaming, outlining the similarities and differences between the steaming utensils found in a Chinese kitchen and the bain marie used in French cooking. Amazon compares Young to acclaimed Chinese novelist Amy Tan, not to other cookery writers, and recommends the book to those seeking to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, rather than simply preparing a meal.
Chinese Regional Cook Books by Fuchsia Dunlop
With China being such a huge country, it is no surprise that there is considerable regional variation in Chinese cooking. Fuchsia Dunlop, cooking consultant for London's fashionable Bar Shu Sichuan restaurant and the first foreign student ever enrolled in the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine, has written two books that highlight these differences, as well as a memoir, which falls outside the scope of this article. Land of Plenty is a guide to Sichuan cookery, with its 23 flavors and 56 cooking methods, all of which are listed at the back of the book.
Its companion volume, the Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook, details the cuisine of the neighboring Hunan province (birthplace of Chairman Mao, hence the book's title), which is noted for its hearty, spicy peasant food. The book includes Mao's favorite dish, red-paised pork, and contains 65 color illustrations.
The Healing Cuisine of China
The Healing Cuisine of China: 300 Recipes for Vipant Health and Longevity by Zhuo Zhao and George Ellis differs from other Chinese cook books in that its recipes are not just healthy and delicious, but viewed within the context of traditional Chinese medicine. The book outlines Chinese theories of yin and yang, the five elements and the causes of illness. According to the book's back cover, no clear distinction exists in China between food and medicine, so this book is ideal for those who take a similar holistic approach to life.
(27 customer reviews)
Product Details
- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (February 17, 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0393062228
- ISBN-13: 978-0393062229
- Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 1.1 x 10 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
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