Authentic Vietnamese Cooking : Food from a Family Table

Rating:
Summary: very disappointed. the book has no picture of any dish
Review: This book has some pictures, but all of the pictures are none dish-related. they are useless black and white pictures of dried mushrooms, uncooked dried noodles, etc... There is NO pictures of any dish! I'm very disappointed. And I am returning the book.

Rating:
Summary: When choosing a cookbook, consider this:
Review: Whatever your level of knowledge about the culinary arts, if you are interested in any cuisine, then you should go for what's authentic (this book). The kitchen has never been a place for the faint of heart. If you are a novice, then start with the simpler recipes as practice. Your enthusiasm will give you courage for the more involved recipes (which aren't all that that difficult in the first place).
***Do not judge this book by its lack of pictures like others before. I noticed that not one complainer ever talked about trying the recipes - thats why they have a complaint. In addition to pretty pictures, I'd bet all of their other books have pretty covers too. The whole point of this book is not just to cook a meal, but to gain a sense of the rich culture and history that accompany Vietnamese cuisine. One cannot appreciate any cuisine without appreciating its culture first. No photo of a dish can do that.
For a well rounded experience, buy this book.