A Cook's Journey to Japan: Fish Tales and Rice Paddies/100 Homestyle Recipes from Japanese Kitchens Book

A Cook's Journey to Japan is a marvelous collection of recipes based on one woman's journey through the simple, yet evocative, everyday foods found across Japan. This heartwarming—and hunger-inducing—book recounts the author's journey through Japan as she gathered recipes from everyday Japanese people—from wives, husbands, mothers and fathers to innkeepers and line cooks at cafés. The recipes are adapted when necessary to capture the authentic flavors and spirit of simple but delicious home cooking.

A Cook's Journey to Japan is a lovely introduction to the authentic foods eaten by everyday Japanese people.

Publishers Weekly

Feldner, a food enthusiast and Japanophile, offers an intimate and colorful guide to traditional Japanese home cooking in this unique and attractive collection. Focusing on recipes collected from a wide swath of life, from grandmothers to waitresses to fishermen, she highlights often overlooked techniques and ingredients. Most recipes are prefaced by a short story about the individual who shared it, offering glimpses into Japanese culture as well as cuisine. Feldner also offers a short tutorial on cooking tools, a section on techniques, including grating wasabi and pressing tofu, and a particularly helpful guide to essential Japanese ingredients such as burdock and dashi. Recipes are homey and mostly uncomplicated, ranging from pork and leek miso soup and sesame fried chicken to salmon teriyaki and spicy pan-seared eggplant. Desserts and drinks are also well represented, with oolong tea chiffon cake, sugar bread sticks, and gingerade. Feldner also includes a section on the basics, such as stocks and various types of rice. Entertaining, with striking full color photographs throughout, this book shows that Japanese home cooking is more than sushi and noodles, providing new perspective on everyday Japanese home fare. (Apr.)