The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen, with its 150 recipes culled from a lifetime of family meals and culinary instruction, is much more than a cookbook. It is a daughter's tribute -- a collection of personal memories of the philosophy and superstitions behind culinary traditions that have been passed down through her Cantonese family, in which each ingredient has its own singular importance, the preparation of a meal is part of the joy of life, and the proper creation of a dish can have a favorable influence on health and good fortune. Each chapter begins with its own engaging story, offering insight into the Chinese beliefs that surround life-enhancing and spiritually calming meals. In addition, personal family photographs illustrate these stories and capture the spirit of China before the Revolution, when Young's family lived in Canton, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The first part, "Mastering the Fundamentals," provides instruction on the arts of steaming and stir-frying; the preparation of rice, panfried, and braised dishes; the proper selection of produce; and the fine arts of chopping and slicing. Part Two, "The Art of Celebration," concentrates on the more elaborate, complex, and meaningful dishes -- such as Shark's Fin Soup and West Lake Duck -- that are usually made with rare ingredients, and sweets such as Water Chestnut Cake and Sesame Balls. The final part, "Achieving Yin-Yang Harmony," explores the many Chinese beliefs about the healing properties of ginseng, gingko nuts, soybeans, dong quai, and the many vegetable and fruit soup preparations that balance and nourish the body. The stories and recipes combine to demonstrate the range of Cantonese cooking, from rich flavors and honored combinations to an overall appreciation of health, well-being, and prosperity. In addition to the recipes, Young provides a complete glossary of dried herbs, spices, and fresh produce, accompanied by identifying photos and tips on where to purchase them. Unique traditional dishes, such as Savory Rice Tamales and Shrimp Dumplings, are also illustrated step by step, making the book easy to use. The central full-color photo section captures details of New Year's dishes and the Chinese home decorated in celebration, reminding one that these time-honored traditions live on, and the meals and their creation are connections to the past. |
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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 The Wisdom of the Chinese KitchenSep 03, 2009
It is exactly a the book I have been looking for. I am Chinese like the author and I was not fortunate enough to learn from my mother while she was still alive. Now I have some same recipes from this book that I loved and can pass on to my daughter. Thank you.
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
wisdom of the chinese kitchen . . .Aug 22, 2009
book is excellent.
my beef has to do with the inadequate protection for the 2 books in the shipping box. one of the dust jackets was badly torn during shipping because it got caught on one of the flaps of the cardboard box. the books were loose in a box which was too big; no paper or other material was used to stablize the content, so the books freely slid back and forth inside the box. :(
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Recipes are missing somethingMay 08, 2009
I was raised in a family similar to the author's and was delighted to find someone with my issues when trying to get the family recipes out of my parents. The recipes in the book are what I grew up but my mom would be vague with the recipes so I could never duplicate them. She would say, "It's so easy, what don't you understand!"
After reviewing the recipes, I knew most of them had missing ingredients and/or missing cooking steps to make them easier to create for a Western audience. This is disappointing because the author tries to explain Chinese ingredients and 'real' Chinese cooking but they are left out in the recipes.
I tried 2 of the recipes, Braised Fuzzy Melon and Chicken with Baby Corn stir-fry. The Braised melon had missing ingredients so it wasn't tasty and the amount of liquids was not enough. The chicken stir-fry had the right ingredients (tasty), but some cooking steps were missing. I followed her directions and got mushy stir-fry with undercooked vegetables!
Here are the steps for a stir-fry and it has worked for me. 1. Marinate & stir-fry meat with oil, until cooked then set aside. 2. Clean wok, stir-fry vegetables with oil, until cooked. 3. Add meat to vegetables and stir-fry. 3. Make a sauce w/ cornstarch and add to stir-fry. 4. Heat through & sauce has thickend, then serve.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Good recipes.May 02, 2009
This is your basic good solid homey dishes. Recipes are easy to follow and not complicated.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Informative and Fun to readMar 29, 2009
As a first generation Chinese American, I can really relate to the author's recollections of growing up in a traditional Chinese family, and the importance of cooking and food. As a tai chi teacher, the restoration and balancing of yin and yang is a central requirement to maintaining good health and longevity. This book delivers great insight into how to achieve great tasting authentic Chinese food, while imparting understanding of traditional Chinese concepts of medicine in using herbs and dried ingrediants. Fun to read, this book is much more than a cookbook!
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