The Japanese Kitchen : A Book of Essential Ingredients with 200 Authentic Recipes,

Rating:
Summary: Japanese cuisine revealed
Review: Not only do you learn about the various ingredients which are indigenous to the country, and essential to their cuisine but it is a trip thoughout the country, through pictures and text to the wonderful sights and aromas of this mysterious land. Familiar foods are prepared in totally different ways, and new ones are there to explore. With the advent of many ethnic food shops and open markets catering to many different cuisines one is now able to put a Japanese dish on your own table. Good reading without cooking as well.

Rating:
Summary: a brilliant introduction to Japanese food
Review: The ingredients-led entries in this book make it easy to follow and I was amazed by how simple many of the recipes were. The five that I've made have all worked extremely well and been delicious. The photography is stunning and really brought alive the world that is Japanese cooking. I read about the book in Newsweek and thoroughly agree it's one of the best cookbooks I've found in the US during 2004. Just fab.