offbalance80's review against another edition
4.0
The photographs in this book are wonderful, and the recipes seem easy enough to follow. But it's in such a gigantic hardcover format it's overwhelming to look through without keeping the work on a large table (the way bound newspapers were once kept, in the prehistoric, pre-internet era). I've had Kim's food in some of her Brooklyn restaurants and it's top-notch, so if you're somewhere without a quality Koreatown and want to give it a shot, definitely get the e-book. (Or the hardcover if you have a large table, a large shelf and a large budget).
djotaku's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful photos and well-written recipes fill this book. I've added lots of them to my to-cook list. My only disappointment is that the BBQ section is more about grilling indoors than true BBQ.
dray's review against another edition
4.0
Nice cookbook, good variety of recipes, all fairly easy. Alas the Koreans eat so much meat (being a vegetarian).
ajparmentier's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautifully designed cookbook. I love the large glossy photos! The beginning of the book has a few short pages with pictures and names of the ingredients used in the book and a couple different techniques to use in the kitchen. Each recipe has a short description at the beginning explaining what the dish is, its place in the Korean cooking tradition, and notes on the recipe from the author. I have not had much experience with Korean cooking at all and I found the recipe descriptions accessible and easy to follow.
jolis79's review against another edition
4.0
As the title says, this is Korean home cooking. So many of the recipes transported me back to time spent in the kitchens of Korean mothers and grandmas. For those unfamiliar with Korean food, this book does a fantastic job of introducing the reader to some staples and unique ingredients of the Korean kitchen. Where many Korean cookbooks have an assumed knowledge of the cuisine to allow entry, Korean Home Cooking provides easy access for the novice. Virtually every recipe is accompanied by beautiful photography so you know what you are going to end up with at the end. The book also includes some fantastic process photography to help the reader visualize things like the kimchi making process, rolling kimbop (Korean sushi rolls), or even attempting to make your own tteok.
Another place this book shines is its scope. It does touch on recipes that have become popular with western audiences - kimchi, korean barbecue, bibimbap, etc. - but also dishes that you don’t often see. It had been quite a while since I had some authentic tasting Japchae (stir-fried sweet potato noodles), and the recipe here was on point. Same with the Jjajang Myeon (black bean noodles) and Tteokbokki (sauteed rice cakes).
The only draw back, is to really dive into a lot of these recipes, you are going to have to make a dedicated commitment to building up your Korean pantry. While some substitutions are provided for hard to find ingredients, the authenticness of the dishes and flavors means you want those ingredients. I live in a pretty large city with some incredible Asian and Korean markets, but even I had to go to Amazon for some Korean black bean paste. Plus, once you have an item that is only used in one or two of the recipes, you potentially have a lot of something that you may not use for a while, or maybe not again.
Overall, this is a beautiful and comprehensive book. If you are already a fan of cooking Korean food at home, or want to get started, this is a fantastic cookbook to start with.
Thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy. Check out my instagram @jolis79 for pics.
Another place this book shines is its scope. It does touch on recipes that have become popular with western audiences - kimchi, korean barbecue, bibimbap, etc. - but also dishes that you don’t often see. It had been quite a while since I had some authentic tasting Japchae (stir-fried sweet potato noodles), and the recipe here was on point. Same with the Jjajang Myeon (black bean noodles) and Tteokbokki (sauteed rice cakes).
The only draw back, is to really dive into a lot of these recipes, you are going to have to make a dedicated commitment to building up your Korean pantry. While some substitutions are provided for hard to find ingredients, the authenticness of the dishes and flavors means you want those ingredients. I live in a pretty large city with some incredible Asian and Korean markets, but even I had to go to Amazon for some Korean black bean paste. Plus, once you have an item that is only used in one or two of the recipes, you potentially have a lot of something that you may not use for a while, or maybe not again.
Overall, this is a beautiful and comprehensive book. If you are already a fan of cooking Korean food at home, or want to get started, this is a fantastic cookbook to start with.
Thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy. Check out my instagram @jolis79 for pics.
storiesandsours's review
4.0
I was really excited to get my hands on this book because I enjoy trying new recipes. The pictures are gorgeous, and there are so many recipes from snacks to full meals. However, my small Asian grocery market did not have many of the items considered staples to this cookbook. I did not make any of the recipes, but they looked wonderful. There were a lot of recipes that you wouldn’t find served at a restaurant, and I think that will appeal to many people. If you live in an area with a well-stocked Asian market, then this could be a great book for you.
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