5 comments about The Vietnamese Cookbook (Capital Lifestyles).

1. At the time I bought this book, I bought 2 other Asian cookbooks. I've never even opened them as I have tried recipe after recipe from The Vietnamese Cookbook. The recipes are dead easy, delicious, and the ingredients are easily obtainable. And...most of the recipes are low fat. What more could you want?



2. I come from a Vietnamese family but was raised in a small Wisconsin town. Growing up, my mom would make Vietnamese dishes along with standard American fare. Although the supermarkets in the area did not have available all the necessary ingredients to make authentic Vietnamese dishes, my mom found comparable replacements. I never cooked that much to begin with, but when I got older and lived away from my folks, I wanted to try my hand at Vietnamese cooking and found this book while I was a student in Washington DC. I've tried many of the recipes in this cookbook and found them easy to follow and the results tasted quite good. Also, I thought it was especially helpful that the author used ingredients that could be found almost anywhere in the U.S. and explained or had pictures of what some of the ingredients were (I had never seen actual lemongrass until I moved to DC!). So, I recommend this book to anyone interested in trying out Vietnamese cooking.



3. I like the book after just skimming through some of the pages. I know to cook some of them before and I think it matches the way it was taught in there. I believe this is an excellent book for those who really want to know to cook traditional Vietnamese dish especially the dish from the Northern Vietnam.



4. i am vietnamese and since i never had the priviledge to learn directly from my mom how to cook.. i picked up this book just to give it a try. within a few weeks, i have tried most of the recipes particularly the main dishes. not only are they quick recipes with only 4 to 5 steps max, the dishes require simple ingredients, obtainable and cheap.. not only that but all these dishes have turned out to be delicious.. i feel like i can compete with my mom's great cooking. lol. i absolutely love this book. it's a must have!



5. I've tried three (3) dishes from this book. Part of me feel it lacks a good kick (taste) to the dishes. Is the writer from North or South Vietnam? It does give you where to start in cooking vietnamese food.

No comments about Epicurean Traveler.

2 comments about Introduction To Asian Cooking (Nitty Gritty Cookbooks).

1. In Rotisserie Oven Cooking, freelance food writer and recipe developer Sandra Rudloff showcases 125 unique and delicious recipes for a rotisserie oven that can be enjoyed any time, any where, and all year long. From Herbed Turkey Burgers, Spring Lamb Shish Kabobs, and Hot Honey Chicken, to Salmon with Avocado Salsa, Swordfish with Rosemary Butter, and Herbed Sirloin Roast, Rotisserie Oven Cooking will quickly become a counter-top rotisserie themed, family mealtime planning favorite.



2. I am the author of this cookbook.
   
   First of all, although the description does not mention it, this book also contains a detailed sushi section. It gives clear instructions on how to make great sushi at home, including how to make sushi rice, how to cut sushi, and how to make several different rolls. A detailed glossary explains different kinds of sushi, and the book also tells where someone can get great quality sushi on-line.
   
   The book also contains traditional recipes from China (stir fries and dim sum), Thailand, Vietnam, & Japan.
   
   Recipes include:
   How to make great white rice
   Red Bean Sesame Ball (Dim Sum)
   Shao Mai (Dim Sum)
   Pad Thai (Thailand)
   Larb (Thailand)
   Sticky Rice (Thailand)
   Bun Bo Hue (Vietnam)
   Bun Rieu (Vietnam)
   Fresh Spring Rolls & 2 sauces (Vietnam)
   Catfish in a Claypot (Vietnam)
   Pho (Vietnam)
   Sushi Rice
   
   Detailed glossaries explain ingredients and often brand names are suggested. There is a list of websites of where to get ingredients, including fresh ones like fresh lemongrass & galanga, as well as equipment.
   
   The recipes are written so that the novice Asian cook can immediately cook good Asian food. The more experienced Asian chef will appreciate the combination of recipes given.
   
   The recipes are not "Americanized"- they use traditional, authentic ingredients such as galanga (galangal), lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and fish sauce. Again, websites of where to get all of this are listed.

5 comments about Food of Vietnam (H): Authentic Recipes from the Heart of Indochina (Food of the World Cookbooks).

1. It has pretty pictures and some chatty writing but I would not consider it a must have on the shelf of Vietnamese cooking. Though it is better than alot of Vietnamese cookbooks I have come across.

   Flaws include:

   1) Assumption of knowledge of meat preparation including how to clean squid and cutting for tenderness;

   2) Does not prepare reader fully when recipe is longer than 15 minutes. Yes indeed it will take more than 15, matter of fact, it will approach an hour or so (yipes);

   3) Some recipes especially stocks are westernized excessively (celery! no star anise);

   The section on pickles though is good. So are the pictures dealing with ingredients.

   Get this pupster on a discount not at full retail. It is good as a supplement but it is not a desert island classic.




2. This book belongs to one of many in a series of world cuisines and I have found all of them to be embellished with decorative and beautiful pictures. Unfortunately, the recipes that accompany them tend to be instructionally inexplicit and often poor interpretations of the recipes of these countries. If you're interested in getting a crash course in a new cuisine this book is perfect, but pass on this book if you are a serious cook.



3. Perhaps this is not the best cookbook I've ever seen, but the best cookbook for Vietnamese food. It provides rich detailed pictures with each recipe, spells out all the required ingredients that you need before getting started, and even provides alternative ingredients or methods where appropriate. The introduction does a good job of explaining the unusual ingredients (with pictures)used in Vietnamese food for those who are unfamiliar with this cuisine.

   I have found that, if I follow the recipes exactly and source all the right ingredients, the dishes turn as good (or sometimes better) than the food I eat on my many trips to Vietnam.

   I have been using the book for about a year now, but unlike the first reviewer, I have not had any problems with the construction of the book itself. Perhaps she bought one of the many poorly made illegal copies on the streets on Saigon(?)




4. I bought the cook book from Mrs. Trieu Thi Choi to take home. I found there are so many ingredients called for in her recipes that are not available in US, particularly the one called "bôt khai" which is used in making steamed buns (Bánh bao) .
   Also, the recipes use too much Monosodium glutamate.



5. I found the recipes not very easy to follow, but if you are already somewhat familiar with Vietnamese cooking techniques (salad dressing, etc) it is a good reference cook. I also found the recipe for Husband and Wife cake, which is very rare among cookbooks.
   This book is definitely not for beginners.

2 comments about The Vietnamese Collection.

1. I've made more than 50% of the recipes and they're all fantastic. The two that weren't *spectacular* were still very good. Instructions are clear and the recipes don't usually require copious amounts of preparation. I've given this book as a gift and I'm going to pick up her Thai book in the hopes it's as wonderful as this.



2. The photography is beautiful but not enough of the recipes show the finished dish, just arty photos of ingredients. I'm the kind of cook that needs to see what I'm aiming at.
   The recipes were clear and easy to follow.

No comments about Vietnamese: Fragrant and Exotic: A Deliciously Simple Cuisine.

No comments about Vietnamese Cooking: Explore the traditions, techniques and ingredients, and discover over 50 authentic recipes shown step-by-step in more than 200 stunning colour photographs.

5 comments about The Asian Diet: Get Slim and Stay Slim the Asian Way (Capital Lifestyles).

1. Tran's book was an unexpected treat. These are not exotic or complicated Asian recipes, but they produce good tasting Asian dishes,that are either naturally low-fat, or adapted (less emphasis on protein, reduced oil when possible, the use of low-fat coconut milk, for example.) The ingredients are readily available in most supermarkets. There are menu plans available which promise weight loss, but I just use the recipes. (The peanut sauce for the satays is great--and I even modified it more with lower-fat peanut butter.) These are nice recipes for introducing one's family to Asian cuisine--particularly Thai and Vietnamese. I also enjoyed the photographs of Tran and her family, which personalized the book for me.



2. Tran's book was an unexpected treat. These are not exotic or complicated Asian recipes, but they produce good tasting Asian dishes,that are either naturally low-fat, or adapted (less emphasis on protein, reduced oil when possible, the use of low-fat coconut milk, for example.) The ingredients are readily available in most supermarkets. There are menu plans available which promise weight loss, but I just use the recipes. (The peanut sauce for the satays is great--and I even modified it more with lower-fat peanut butter.) These are nice recipes for introducing one's family to Asian cuisine--particularly Thai and Vietnamese. I also enjoyed the photographs of Tran and her family, which personalized the book for me.



3. Nutrition and creativity combined in this useful presentation of easy-to-make Asian recipes. Beautifully and personally written, backed by hard science.



4. How do Asian stay slim? Any aspiring to the Asian idea of slimness won't want to miss The Asian Diet: Get Slim And Stay Slim The Asian Way. From the use of more tofu and decreased focus on meat to 18 days of suggested menus for the Asian diet plan which may be used as a guide, simple recipes make it easy for non-Asians to understand the follow the concepts of the diet.



5. The recipes are great for an introduction to Asian cooking. The rest of the "diet" was not so interesting or motivating.

5 comments about The Classic Cuisine of Vietnam.

1. I am Vietnamese and have grown up in a home with authentic Vietnamese cooking. Most all of the recipes in this book are great and easy to follow. My only recommendation would be to add pictures. But it is a great book nonetheless. I especially like how it contains the Vietnamese name of each dish so I can better identify it (since I only know what the dishes are called in Vietnamese).



2. This book contained some of the tastiest dishes I ever prepared. It has many good recipes with easy to found ingredients (such as chicken and ginger). Preparations are easy and fast (under 30 minutes).



3. When I left home for college, what I missed most was my mother's Vietnamese cuisine. This book was a lifesaver! The recipes are all familiar, from the fancier noodle soups, Pho and Bun Bo Hue, to the basics, such as omlettes and picked mustard greens. Each of the dishes come with an introduction accompanying their Vietnamese name. The region of the dish is sometimes discussed as well as when the dish is enjoyed and with what. The recipes are very easy to follow. I recommend this book for anyone who wants an AUTHENTIC Vietnamese cookbook. I am just sorry to see that it's out of print.



4. This book has the most authentic Vietnamese recipes, even pickled pig's ears! Whoa! I couldn't believe it when I saw it because I've eaten it before. I'm Vietnamese, after all. This book is a treasure because it authentically writes down many Vietnamese recipes for future Vietnamese generations to enjoy. With so many changes in the world, I'm afraid that future Vietnamese generations will not know how authentic Vietnamese foods are prepared. I had to buy a used copy from Amazon.com because this book is out of print. I hope this book will be re-printed one day. The author, Bach Ngo, does not try to show how creative and inventive she is, rather she simply writes down valuable authentic recipes. If you are Vietnamese and you want an authentic Vietnamese cookbook, this is the one you should buy. It's an heirloom, for sure. Personally, I do not buy Vietnamese cookbooks that do not have authentic Vietnamese recipes.



5. My mother bought this book as a first edition and cooked from it when I was a child so I am somewhat biased towards it. page 110 is favourite.. stir fried beef with french fries was one of my favourite one dish meals as a kid, and brings back lots of memories.
   Compared to Nicole Routhiers book which is all flashy, this book is a lot more about home cooking (the food styling in the pictures is non existant.. which is cool and refreshing if a bit dated) it also has recipes for things like vietnamese pâtés, something rarely included nowdays because it is widely available in vietnamese stores ( not true when the book was written in the 70's). Some recipes need a bit of ajusting, but all in all this book is a real asset.. I still have my mum's original copy.. I had it rebound and recovered and I still cook from it.

5 comments about Authentic Vietnamese Cooking: Food from a Family Table.

1. I was compelled to write this review after reading some of the negative comments below. First of all, the recipes in this book are true and correct. One needs to understand the history and geography of Vietnam to understand its diversity and be able to judge this book's authenticity. I have owned this book for five years and cooked from its recipes several times a week. I am a casual cook but have not once had a less-than-good result. Ms. Trang apparently tested her recipes meticulously, something not many cookbook authors do nowadays. I also would like to correct one of the previous reviews, the author did tell at the end of the recipe what herbs and condiments to serve with Pho. Please do not discount the value of this cookbook before you have read and used it. This is the only Vietnamese cookbook you ever need. Lastly, the author's comment on dog consumption wes presented for information's sakes. There is no encouragement of any kind and neither is there an inappropriate detail.



2. I think the title "..Food from a family table.." is very appropriate for this cookbook. I really like the instructions that Corrine Trang gave accompanying the recipes. I feel that she had tried all her recipes herself. She also gave lots of correct insights about the Vietnamese culture and food. I really like this book and would like to buy her other book as well.
   
   About the people complaining about eating dogs, I don't eat dogs and don't like meat in general even though i am not a vegan nor a vegetarian. I have a few comments. Why do dogs have such a special status compared to cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, deers, snakes, etc...? In the U.S. dogs are more pure bred and are highly regarded as pets. In other countries, they are just another domestic animal like a cow or a chicken. Most people don't eat dogs as everyday meat, dog meat is like specialty meat such as snake or deer that only men or adventurous minded people would dare try. You don't see people complaining about eating the other animals such as cows or chickens. Some people have one of these animals as pets too. I think if you are going to complain about people eating dogs, then don't be a hypocrite and mention other animals too. Otherwise i don't think they should be saying anything.



3. I have been searching for this dessert Deep Fried Dumplings with Sesame seed, which is "banh cam" in Vietnamese and finally saw it in this book. I was so disappointed after making them. They were definitely not the same like the ones I normally purchased from these food to go vendors in the Little Saigon, CA area. I will be putting this book up for sale. Very disappointing and would not recommend this book.



4. it is sad that everyone can claim to be an authority these days.
   this book is a mess, from front to back



5. This book does not have authentic Vietnamese recipes as suggested by the title of the book. The biggest slap in the face is that the recipe for Vietnamese baguette (banh mi) does not even turn out properly. Many readers had tried the Vietnamese baguette (banh mi) recipe in this book, and it did not turn out well for any of them. No point in wasting your money buying this book.