I got this cookbook as a gift a couple of years ago and I find it to be really comprehensive and inspiring cookbook that has taught me a lot about asian cooking. It has tons of recipes but also really informative sections on different techniques like "How to make the best Fried Rice" along with helpful pictures, charts and graphics.
Feb 14, 2024
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If you are familar with Kenji's recipes and books, you know they are incredibly detailed and well researched, and teach you how to cook rather than just give you a recipe.
The Wok is his book about cooking with a wok but it really covers home cooking Asian food in general. I tend to find myself gravitating towards cooking Asian flavors for myself and if you cook a couple of these you can really get a sense for cooking a cuisine that you may not have grown up with, like myself.
5d ago
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Anytime I meet someone who’s also a fan of Kenji we both start geeking out like kids. This man has taught me how to cook economically and his videos helped me develop a foundation of food science knowledge to help create a wide variety of dishes. He’s incredibly humble and encourages experimentation and creativity. I have his book “The Food Lab” and it’s probably the only cook book you would ever need.
Jul 2, 2024
Not really a recipe book (though certainly has recipes) and more of a reference bible about the chemical processes of cooking. Kenji answers questions like:
- Why does the pH of my pancake batter matter?
- Why should I add sodium citrate to mac n cheese?
- Why is my turkey dry?
- How to make can beans taste good?
and will also teach you how to butterfly a chicken, faux-tourné your carrots, and emulsify your vinaigrettes.
Kenji is extraordinarily online (linked his website for socials) and posts tons of stuff for free if you don’t wanna shell out for this very expensive and very heavy book. I have a ton of respect for him and genuinely think he is the most influential living person working in food right now + will be remembered among the greats.
Can’t rec this book enough!
Feb 19, 2025
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Just because I see a window to get across the street doesn’t mean you don’t have to look both ways. I’ve been on the other side of that though…
May 11, 2025
I met Erin (@RIOTGRRRL) and Jake (@SLOWDAZZLE) last year after I started using PI.FYI—we organized a meetup before a Jonathan Richman show and immediately clicked over our shared taste in music and similar sensibilities. We started hanging out a lot and had some great times together. I’ve also gotten to know many of their friends, who are all really cool. Erin and Jake started dating a couple of months after the three of us became friends, but our group chat still pops off. Their friendship has meant a lot to me, especially since moving to NYC in 2023, and I really appreciate having them in my life.
May 16, 2025
Come hang with some PI.FYI folks at Franklin Park in Crown Heights in Brooklyn on 7/19 @ 6:30. riotgrrrl and slowdazzle will be there too! Link is the Partiful invited!
Jun 22, 2024