The Choi of Cooking
Flavor-Packed, Rule-Breaking Recipes for a Delicious Life: A Cookbook
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- £8.99
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- £8.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Culinary icon, founder of the Kogi food truck, New York Times bestselling author of L.A. Son, and star of Netflix's The Chef Show shares 100 flavor-packed recipes that empower you to eat healthy—or, at least, healthier—without ditching your go-to favorites.
A BON APPÉTIT AND DENVER PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR
Built on a foundation of balance and compassion, The Choi of Cooking is Roy Choi’s magnum opus, reflecting his personal journey of cooking, living, and learning from mistakes. When Choi realized that falling victim to his greasy cravings was not sustainable, he began to eat more nutritious foods—but he did it his way, to build a more realistic lifestyle not based on extreme dieting or deprivation. This equates to vegetable-forward recipes, with plenty of pit stops of comfort along the way, and tons of flavors layered in every single bite.
The Choi of Cooking focuses on foods that fuel your body, and Choi meets readers wherever they are, recognizing that eating healthy isn’t all or nothing. Yes, that Kimchi Philly Cheesesteak recipe is real, and exactly as good as it sounds. But Choi also can make vegetables the star of the meal with Calabrian Chile Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Harissa and Garlic Herbed Butter. And there are comforting, naturally vegetable-heavy rice and noodle bowls like Cold Bibim Noodle “Salad” and Veggie on the Lo Mein Spaghetti. Since this book is about taking steps, not leaps, there’s also plenty of inspiration for when you’re craving something indulgent, like Crispy Mashed Potatoes, but with "Power Up" modifications to make it healthier when you're ready.
Reaching for healthier foods is like flexing a muscle, and the work begins with having the confidence to cook at all. To encourage readers to take those first steps in the kitchen, Choi shares his culinary philosophy, including bits of wisdom and stories that expand on his approach to food. The Choi of Cooking is more than a collection of recipes; it’s a guide to creating a more balanced life.
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In the intro to this energetic, loosely themed "collection of fun dishes," The Chef Show presenter Choi (L.A. Son) explains how he overcame compulsive behavior that led him to overindulge in food, drugs, and gambling and developed a healthier relationship with food. Even when doling out nitty-gritty practical advice (like when to use a blender versus a food processor), he writes in a cheeky, profanity-laced voice. A chapter on vegetables aims to make eating them less of "a chore," with funky options like carrot pancakes made with tempura batter and Nicoise salad bibimbap that replaces boiled potatoes with chips alongside a "big fucking salad" that contains everything but the kitchen sink. Fusion fare is Choi's specialty: shakshuka meets baked ziti, naan mates with scallion pancakes, and tuna melts (on lettuce leaves rather than bread) incorporate kimchi. Recipe introductions reference the chef's early days in a food truck serving Mexican fare with a Korean twist and cite the influence of his family: the recipe for a single-serving bowl of rice with eggs, for example, comes from his father. Choi's endearing vulnerability punctuated with bouts of foul-mouthed bravado results in an authentic-feeling collection that both educates and entertains.
