New Asian Cuisine: Fabulous Recipes from Celebrity Chefs

Reviewed by Lori Pascoe for TravelSite.com If great dishes from the four corners of the world follow some form of cyclical calendar or schedule of popularity, one has to admit that Asian cooking is now the "in" cuisine. Not only does it bring new and exotic stimulation to our taste buds but health and fitness experts also recognize it as a healthy alternative to western diets. New Asian Cuisine is not simply a collection of recipes but is a compilation of dishes focusing on health and nutrition - from Asia. In fact, the reader is provided with an education on what to eat and how it is to be eaten. Studies of Asian diets demonstrate that a variety of chronic health conditions found in the West such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, to name a few, are remarkably less common in Asia. The traditional Asian diet replaces the high fat and caloric content of western diets with high fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and low saturated fat. With the world emphasis on health, there is no wonder world famous chefs are gravitating to Asian cooking for inspiration in the preparation of new offerings. After all, who can discourage a cuisine that provides adventure in taste while inspiring healthier eating? New Asian Cuisine contains the contributions of many famous and celebrated chefs. And, their dishes range from meat and poultry to fish and seafood as well as salads, rice and noodles, vegetables and, not to be omitted, Asian cocktails. The true value to the reader of New Asian Cuisine is that here is a genuine reference book that is the product of extensive research into the serious art of Asian cooking by dedicated world famous chefs and not simply a guide to Americanizing oriental sounding dishes.

As a culinary student it's often hard to find a cookbook or resource that I agree with. After opening New Asian Cuisine, I could tell that it would be a valuable resource to have. All of the different dishes have some type of unique characteristic, and in the celebrity chef's preparation, the detailed explanation is amazing. This book is not only great for recipes, but an excellent guide to the flavors of asian cuisine. A Must Have!