Serve the People: a stir-fried journey through China, by Jen Lin-Liu. 22.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Jen Lin-Liu is a Chinese-American food writer who moves to Beijing and goes to cooking school. Her appetite whetted by that, she proceeds to work first in a noodle stand and then in a gourmet restaurant in Shanghai.

Lin-Liu recounts the stories of the Cultural Revolution that she hears from her cooking mentors, looks into the background and myths surrounding MSG and the nature of Shanghainese cooking, and gets "noodle elbow" from sawing at a block of dough all day. It's informative, mouthwatering, and includes recipes - some of which sound easy enough for me to try.

Get it from Amazon: Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China

Comments

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I liked this book a lot! Even for those who are not interested in cooking, there are some great stories about people in here. I especially liked the way the author talked about the growth of her friendship with the facilitator of her cooking school, who seemed remote and forbidding at first, but who, by the end of the book, had become a friend and mentor.

[daedala.livejournal.com]

I have been making the recipes for a forthcoming review that may or may not come forth any time soon. Its main fault as a cookbook is the COMPLETE AND TOTAL LACK OF INDEX WHAT WAS SHE THINKING.

I think a very good first recipe to try is the stir-fried mushrooms. Super easy and delicious!

The dongbei salad was also good (though I could not find what she meant by "shredded tofu"). The fish-flavored pork threads were not difficult, and ok, but not great; I preferred the restaurant version.

I will not be making noodles. :) I did think I should make more than three things to review it properly though.