Key to Chinese Cooking

by Irene Kuo

Book Overview

Illus. throughout. 6 1/8 x 9 1/4. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394496388
• ISBN13: 9780394496382
• Release Date: September 1977
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 532 Pages
• Weight: 2.51 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 7.1" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely the Best Chinese Cookbook Ever Written

The eleven other reviews of this remarkable book (as of early June, 2004) all give this book 5 stars, an equally remarkable achievement. As one of those eleven people said, this is truly the Julia Child of Chinese cookbooks. I've been using it now since 1978 and there are still hundreds of recipes I haven't tried because the ones that I *have* cooked are so wonderful that I go back to them time after time. Most of the recipes are reasonably simple, with ingredients that can be found in even the most modest Asian market, or even in a Safeway these days, but some of them are a lot easier to make if you live in San Francisco (as I did for a number of years) and can find *everything* she calls for without undue trouble.If I were marooned for life on a well-stocked desert island, this would be one of my two cookbooks, Julia being the other one. As wonderful as Italian food is, and as great as Marcella Hazen's Italian cookbook is, Chinese cuisine (with its many regional diversities) is far richer and with far more subtleties -- only French cuisine is its equal. Haunt the used book stores, or on-line sources, and try to get this unparalleled book.

How I learned to cook Chinese

In the mid-eighties I had a job that allowed me to get home at 5pm. I used Irene Kuo's book to learn to cook Chinese. Not only are the recipes great, but the book is highly educational. I found it particularly useful to shop for the right ingredients.Oneof my favorites is crab and corn soup. Overall, it's one of my "top 10 all time" cookbooks.

Best, most authentic, very thorough Chinese cookbook

... I was thrilled to find a used copy. I have been making the food from my Chinese childhood, and yes, the recipes make dishes that taste exactly how I remembered everything. Her instructions are clearly-written and concise.

Clear Directions and Authentic Recipes

I bought this book 20 years ago, the year I moved out on my own. I'm disappointed that I can't buy a new copy, plus a copy for each of my daughters (both born in China); it's hard to believe such a fantastic cookbook is out of print. Ms. Kuo not only offers many unusual and authentic recipes I've never seen elsewhere (e.g., Winter Melon Soup cooked and served in the carved Melon, and the best Steamed Pork Buns I've ever had), her directions are exceptionally clear, and she explains each technique and how each dish is traditionally served. And don't miss the explanation of how to cook Peking duck (including using a bike pump to make the skin crispy!)

This is the best chinese cookbook you will ever see.

My husband is from China, he tells me I cook like his mother now. The copy I have is old and broken I've used it so much. I was hoping to get another copy. It's a great cookbook. Cooking techniques and recipes are explained in depth. There is also a glossary of ingredients so you can figure out what something is and where to buy it.