Cook Korean! - by Robin Ha (Paperback)

About the Book

"Ha presents ... comics that fully illustrate all the steps and ingredients necessary for all 64 [Korean] recipes in a ... concise presentation (with no more than 2 pages per recipe on average). Recipes featured include easy kimchi (makkimchi), spicy bok choy (cheonggyeongche muchim), and seaweed rice roll (kimbap), among many other dishes"--

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestseller - A charming introduction to the basics of Korean cooking in graphic novel form, with 64 recipes, ingredient profiles, and more, presented through light-hearted comics.

Fun to look at and easy to use, this unique combination of cookbook and graphic novel is the ideal introduction to cooking Korean cuisine at home. Robin Ha's colorful and humorous one-to three-page comics fully illustrate the steps and ingredients needed to bring more than sixty traditional (and some not-so-traditional) dishes to life.

In these playful but exact recipes, you'll learn how to create everything from easy kimchi (mak kimchi) and soy garlic beef over rice (bulgogi dupbap) to seaweed rice rolls (gimbap) and beyond. Friendly and inviting, Cook Korean! is perfect for beginners and seasoned cooks alike.

Each chapter includes personal anecdotes and cultural insights from Ha, providing an intimate entry point for those looking to try their hand at this cuisine.

Review Quotes

"Illustrator Robin Ha's cheeky cartoon characters (a cape-clad superhero Spam can, a group of signing bean sprouts) guide the reader through the basics of Korean food in comic-book-style panels and drawings. [...] Her cheerful main character, Dengki, coaches readers through each step. Before you know it, you're cooking along with her."--Food & Wine

"Simple, straightforward, and totally charming, Robin Ha's Cook Korean! is yet another example of why every cookbook should actually be a comic book."--Amanda Cohen, chef/owner Dirt Candy

"Do you feel left out when all your cool friends mention their latest Korean food adventure talking about things like galbi, doenjang and different types of kimchi? Well, fear not, as Robin Ha made it her personal mission in her graphic novel cookbook filled with colorful illustrations, incredible stories, and insightful Korean recipes to not only educate but to instill confidence."--Deuki Hong, chef and author of Koreatown: A Cookbook

"Cook Korean! is not just a wonderful collection of easy-to-follow recipes in comic form, it's also a delightful introduction to Korean culture. I can't decide what's more mouthwatering--the food or Robin Ha's art!"--Michael Cho, cartoonist and illustrator

"This highly recommended collection is a solid introduction for readers who feel daunted by Korean cooking and ingredients."--Library Journal

"Robin Ha has done a huge favor for anyone intimidated by the exotic ingredients and techniques of Korean cuisine. She's created a comic book that lays out the fundamentals of kimchi, bibimbap and Korean barbecue in the form of recipe-cartoons.
One of the most delightful cookbooks I've seen all year, "Cook Korean!" makes me want to drive to Buford Highway and fill a buggy with soybean paste, dried anchovies, green onions and tofu."--Atlanta-Journal Constitution

"The imaginative Ha, who emigrated from South Korea to Alabama as a teenager during the '90s, fills the colorful pages of Cook Korean! with detailed images, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions for even the novice chef. The result is a super-comprehensive guide to literally every kind of Korean meal you could want, from the everyday sides (i.e. banchan) to the more elaborate noodle and rice dishes that could rival anything you'd find at a Korean restaurant."--Jinnie Lee and Maura M. Lynch, MyDomaine

About the Author

Born in Seoul, Korea, Robin Ha grew up reading and drawing comics. At fourteen she moved to the United States. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in illustration, she moved to New York City and started a career in the fashion industry. Her work has been published in independent comics anthologies including Secret Identities and The Strumpet, as well as in the pages of Marvel Comics and Heavy Metal Magazine. Her blog Banchan in 2 Pages features Korean recipe comics. She currently resides in Falls Church, Virginia.