A Very Chinese Cookbook - SFBA Book Club

eBook, 384 pages

Published Oct. 24, 2023 by America’s Test Kitchen.

ISBN:: 978-1-954210-48-6

(1 review)

James Beard Award winner Kevin Pang and his dad Jeffrey, hosts of the hit America’s Test Kitchen series Hunger Pangs, show you the way to delicious Chinese cooking in this accessible, funny, heartfelt cookbook.

From American Chinese classics (General Tso’s Chicken) to Sichuan street foods (Dan Dan Mian) and Hong Kong dim sum favorites (Shu Mai), A Very Chinese Cookbook is ideal for both the Chinese food-curious and experienced cooks seeking a weekend soup dumpling project.

Chock full of tips, techniques, stories, and friendly ingredient guides, with over 100 of ATK’s trademark rigorous recipes—and even a magic trick with fortune cookies—the cookbook in your hands is very practical, very personal, and very Chinese indeed.

Two Generations of Storytelling: Jeffrey recounts a lifelong love of cooking that began in childhood, growing up in Hong Kong, cooking at his mother’s side, and exploring the street vendors and markets. Kevin dispenses practical wisdom …

James Beard Award winner Kevin Pang and his dad Jeffrey, hosts of the hit America’s Test Kitchen series Hunger Pangs, show you the way to delicious Chinese cooking in this accessible, funny, heartfelt cookbook.

From American Chinese classics (General Tso’s Chicken) to Sichuan street foods (Dan Dan Mian) and Hong Kong dim sum favorites (Shu Mai), A Very Chinese Cookbook is ideal for both the Chinese food-curious and experienced cooks seeking a weekend soup dumpling project.

Chock full of tips, techniques, stories, and friendly ingredient guides, with over 100 of ATK’s trademark rigorous recipes—and even a magic trick with fortune cookies—the cookbook in your hands is very practical, very personal, and very Chinese indeed.

Two Generations of Storytelling: Jeffrey recounts a lifelong love of cooking that began in childhood, growing up in Hong Kong, cooking at his mother’s side, and exploring the street vendors and markets. Kevin dispenses practical wisdom that brings the recipes to life—why Beef Ho Fun is the mark of a great Cantonese chef; why Shu Mai is the world heavyweight champion of dumplings.

Test Kitchen Techniques: From the basics of successful stir-frying to folding methods for Shanghai Soup Dumplings, careful instructions and abundant photos teach key steps.

Chinatown Shopping Guide: From choosing the right soy sauce or vinegar to buying fresh noodles and seeking out superlative Buddhist-style chickens, let the Pangs be your trusted guides.

2 editions

technicat@bookwyrm.social reviewed A Very Chinese Cookbook by America's Test Kitchen

good stories and histories, nice father and son team, detailed recipes

5 stars

I like to read cookbooks for the stories, and there isn't as much of that as I would like, compared for example to The Woks of Life and the Nom Wah Cookbook, but there are still some good ones here from this father and son team, especially the former's reminiscences of food from his native Hong Kong and Shanghai. (The son's stories are good too, but his ephiphany about the orange chicken at Panda Express just doesn't compare to the wonton noodle soup his dad got from a street vendor who had an all-in one kitchen operation in a cart). The son's essay on Chinese (American) New Year is right on the money, though (this is how UBS should be implemented). And I always appreciate when all the dishes have their Chinese names listed.

Subjects

Cooking, asian
Comfort food
Cooking, chinese