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A Good read! Entertaining, reader friendly, very informative. I've always been attracted to books with funny, off-beat sorta titles, so this one obviously caught my eye. This is not your typical "STOP OBESITY NOW!!" type of book. The author did include a tiny slice containing statistics and general info on the problem of global obesity. She notes of how Japan, according to the stats, has the lowest obesity rates in the the developed world not only because of what they ate, but how they ate it. This book, however, is not a diet book, nor is it a cook book. It's true this book demystifies Japanese home style cooking, but, in a nutshell, and the author describes it best, "this is a book about discovering the joy and fun of everyday Japanese home style cooking." And that, it is! Perhaps even more... The author flavors her book with many delightful ingredients. She includes stories from her childhood about the valuable experiences and culinary wisdom she received from her mother while she cooked for the family in her Tokyo kitchen. She further enhances the taste with anecdotes from old Japan, about samurais to queens, fishermen to monks, and how their eating styles contributed to their health and greatness. And to fuse all flavors together, the author sprinkled in numerous, tasty recipes that are fairly simple to make, with ingredients that can be found in most super markets, asian grocery, health food stores, or even online. I went online for a couple, just for the experience, and it wasn't too bad, if you don't mind the wait. For those not too familiar with japanese cuisine, the author has included summaries, as well as substitutes, for the ingredients used. AND! for those who, after reading this book, are ready to become iron chef of Japanese home style cooking, the author included a section that lists and explains what will be needed to start ones own Tokyo kitchen. Personally, I'm no stranger to Japanese home style cooking. It has been one of my favorite cuisines for as long as I can remember. I am not a chef, nor do I have a drop of culinary genius in me. However, I do have an artistic eye, and I have always believed that japanese dishes have the most beautiful presentations. Rich in color. Very simple. Balanced. Pure. Clean. And so..."Zen". Fresh and organic is a must. Overcooking is a no-no. The dishes being this way, has made me appreciate, as well as be consciencious of what I am putting into my body. I love the way how the author meshes her past experiences with the ones she has now, in New York, seamlessly. She does that to many of the recipes as well, modernizing them a bit with substitute ingredients, that still add to the flavor, without sacrificing the quality or health benefits of the recipe. I liked how she further demystified Japanese home style cooking by breaking it down to its most basic culinary tradition- the seven pillars, a very different take off from what I was taught in school, the four food groups. This is a very enjoyable book, and depending on the reader's appetite, it can be consumed in bite sized morsels, or shamelessly devoured in one sitting. I assure you, it's delicious, either way!Read full review
The information is useful but I prefer "French Women Don't Get Fat."
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Very nice book.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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