Lemongrass and Lime: New Vietnamese Cooking - Hardcover

Read, Mark

9781580083218: Lemongrass and Lime: New Vietnamese Cooking

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580083218 ISBN 13: 9781580083218

Publisher: Ten Speed Press, 2004

Evolving over the centuries, Vietnamese cuisine has drawn on the influences of Chinese, Indian, and French cuisine, and absorbed them to create an irresistible combination of delicate flavors, fresh ingredients, fantastic textures, and a simple, approachable cooking style. Vietnamese food is enjoying a rising popularity in the United States, with restaurants such as San Francisco’s Slanted Door and New York’s Le Colonial drawing national attention. LEMONGRASS AND LIME introduces modern Vietnamese cooking, as pioneered by chef Mark Read. Recipes range from traditional dishes, such as Sour Green Mango Salad or Pho-Bo Noodle Soup, to divinely decadent fare, like Crispy Quail with Watercress and Tamarind or Chocolate and Lemongrass Mousse. With its insight into the food traditions of Vietnam, detailed guide to ingredients, and over 70 recipes, this beautifully illustrated book contains everything you need to know to prepare sensational Vietnamese dishes.

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Review:

"Vietnamese cuisine is light, subtle, and packed with flavor," writes Mogens Tholstrup, owner of the London restaurant Bam-Bou, whose cooking Lemongrass and Lime celebrates. The work of chef Mark Read, Lemongrass and Lime features 70 recipes based on traditional Vietnamese cooking--a delightful blend of Chinese, Indian, and French culinary influences that dips into modernity with the use of unconventional ingredients like fresh dill and teriyaki sauce. The dishes, such as Barbecued Pork Ribs with Hoisin Sauce, Pan-Fried Duck Breast with Crispy Cabbage and Sesame Soy Dressing, Coconut Curried Vegetables, and Raw Marinated Salmon with Cucumber and Cilantro, are mouthwatering. Readers should be aware, however, that the book, published originally in the U.K., has been inadequately adapted for American cooks. Some ingredients must be "translated" before cooking can begin, and measurements have also been incompletely converted in some cases (one recipe, for example, calls for eight tablespoons of honey rather than the more conventional and convenient one-half cup.) Cooks willing to make the extra effort will, however, produce remarkable food, which is in itself uncomplicated to prepare. With a tempting selection of desserts, such as Chocolate and Lemongrass Mousse, a section on drinks, menu suggestions, and a full ingredient glossary, this color-photo-illustrated cookbook is sure to expand culinary horizons while delighting those who enjoy its food. --Arthur Boehm

About the Author:

Chef MARK READ lives in London, England, and presides over the kitchen at Bam-Bou, where he reinvents traditional Vietnamese dishes with a modern flair.

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