Bao Family Cookbook - by Céline Chung (Hardcover)

About the Book

"First published in French in 2022 by La Maison Hachette Pratique, an imprint of Hachett Livre, Paris"--Colophon.

Book Synopsis

Through over 80 classic, accessible, and playful recipes, Bao Family Cookbook symbolizes the bridge between two cultures: the traditions of China and the modernity of Parisian life.

Bao Family Cookbook symbolizes the bridge between two cultures: the traditions of China and the modernity of Parisian life. The Bao family run four Chinese restaurants in Paris that bridge the gap between two cultures, and between traditional and modern cuisine--here they share their love of bao and other Chinese dishes, with recipes that span the eight culinary regions of China.

Through over 80 classic yet accessible and playful recipes, Céline Chung and her family push back against the stereotypes surrounding Chinese cooking and pay tribute to its diversity and regionality. Expect an explosion of flavor, with recipes for scallion pancakes, chile chicken salad, Chinese spring rolls, hot-and-sour soup, sweet-and-sour fish, cumin beef, Cantonese fried rice, and of course bao buns--that perfectly fluffy finger food that feeds a crowd and can be tailored with delicious sweet and savory fillings.

Bao Family is a bold celebration of Chinese food today, spanning meals all through the day. The key recipes all feature handy step-by-step instructions, and every dish is imbued with the love that Céline and her family have for their homeland of Wenzhou, from their home in Paris.

Recipes include:

- Stir-fried vegetarian noodles

- Pumpkin fries with salted egg

- Fried egg on rice

- Charsiu bao

- Har gow

- Chinese spring rolls

- Wonton soup

- Steamed pork ribs with garlic and black beans

- Salt-and-pepper chicken

Review Quotes

"[A] wonderful and diversity-celebrating Chinese cookbook ... Chef and entrepreneur Chung, founder of the Bao Family chain of restaurants, invites readers into the world of Chinese cuisine, sharing the necessary tools and know-how, key ingredients, and family stories that make her passionate about Chinese food ...."----Booklist

"Chef and entrepreneur Chung, founder of the Bao Family chain of restaurants, invites readers into the world of Chinese cuisine, sharing the necessary tools and know-how, key ingredients, and family stories that make her passionate about Chinese food. Chung explains that Chinese cuisine is really a collection of cuisines, with each region--like Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong--offering a unique cultural and culinary identity. This book covers recipes for breakfast, appetizers, bao and dim sum, soups, mains, rice and noodle dishes, and desserts, with familiar favorites and dishes that might be new to readers, like congee with century eggs, pineapple buns, cheese scallion pancakes, and pork baozi. Recipes are densely packed with as much information as there is flavor but still generally fit on a single page, which adds to the ease of this wonderful and diversity-celebrating Chinese cookbook."----Booklist

"The complex flavors and textures of eight types of traditional regional Chinese cuisines are demonstrated with style and aplomb in this visual treat of a cookbook ... The illustrated introduction provides essential information on types of condiments, noodles, flours, vegetables, and other ingredients and utensils for cooks ... There's a vibrant mix of grainy black-and-white photographs of chefs at work with candy-striped, eye-popping color backgrounds and photographs of the dishes. The recipes, spanning from breakfast to dessert, are a varied sampler of traditional Chinese cooking ... The Bao Family Cookbook introduces elevated Chinese dishes with reverence for sharing food and having it define 'the rhythm of the day.'"----Foreword Reviews

"[A] delicious and culturally rich read ... The Bao 'family' named in the title of this terrific debut cookbook is actually a group of chefs connected through their work at author Chung's various Bao restaurants in Paris. The recipes within have been adapted by these cooks to bring a taste of Chinese culture and cuisine to the home chef ... Each recipe is accompanied by a mouthwatering image that will make readers want to get right into the kitchen and start cooking ...."----Library Journal

The Bao "family" named in the title of this terrific debut cookbook is actually a group of chefs connected through their work at author Chung's various Bao restaurants in Paris. The recipes within have been adapted by these cooks to bring a taste of Chinese culture and cuisine to the home chef. Chung starts with the basics: staple ingredients, condiments, spices, and useful utensils. Following this foundation, she takes readers on a culinary adventure from sunup to sundown, covering breakfast (pineapple buns), bao and dim sum (with step-by-step directions on making baozi), noodles (Shanghai noodles with scallions), soups, main dishes (twice-cooked Hunan pork and Hong Shao eggplant), and desserts (fried milk). The book closes with a brief description of tea culture along with how to make and drink tea. Each recipe is accompanied by a mouthwatering image that will make readers want to get right into the kitchen and start cooking. Not all the recipes are simple, nor are they all quick, but that is part of the journey. VERDICT Those interested in cooking Chinese food at home will not be disappointed by this delicious and culturally rich read----Whitney Bates-Gomez