Encyclopedia of Chinese Food and Cooking

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and Indispensible reference
Review: I have the original 1970 edition of this work and was looking for a copy for a friend. It's worth giving to those who appreciate real Chinese food. It's a very stark book - not much text at all, and the recipes are of the "Add A to B to C" type, but if you are competant in the kitchen, then you only need the ingredient list, anyway. It's truly an encyclopedia - its collection of dishes are complete, and the regional information is given for each. This book makes it criminally easy to plan a Cantonese dinner party or a Mandarin luncheon and to be assured of doing it right. All in all, my copy is perhaps the most well worn kitchen reference I own.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and Indispensible reference
Review: This book is the most complete and interesting book of authentic Chinese cooking I have read in years. The first step are the photographs and information of Chinese foodstuffs. Including the pronunciation of the chinese form of the namme and how and where to find them. This gives the timid a flying chance at getting things right. Then on to the recipes. While there is a distinct lack of photos in this book, the assembly and cooking instructions are quite precise. The tastes are very good. Although they do not do much with Americanized meals, you can put one together once you are familiar with the book. They include diatetic recipes as well as vegetarian. I have bought all the copies I could get my hands on last time I got to the bookstore and gave them as presents. It is worth the effort to hunt it down.

Rating:
Summary: Indispensable tool! A foundation book for the dedicated
Review: This book is the most complete and interesting book of authentic Chinese cooking I have read in years. The first step are the photographs and information of Chinese foodstuffs. Including the pronunciation of the chinese form of the namme and how and where to find them. This gives the timid a flying chance at getting things right. Then on to the recipes. While there is a distinct lack of photos in this book, the assembly and cooking instructions are quite precise. The tastes are very good. Although they do not do much with Americanized meals, you can put one together once you are familiar with the book. They include diatetic recipes as well as vegetarian. I have bought all the copies I could get my hands on last time I got to the bookstore and gave them as presents. It is worth the effort to hunt it down.

Rating:
Summary: Chinese cooking bible
Review: This book really is the book to own for chinese cooking. I have recently tried several recipes and was really happy with all of them. The book is pretty stark--ingredients list and very simple directions. But it has hundreds and hundreds of recipes. If you enjoy cooking, this book will give you tons of great ideas for recipes of your own. If you happen to get a copy, don't give it up, because it's out of print.