Author(s): Maori Murota

Food & Drink | Read our reviews! | Asian | Japan

A celebration of food, culture and place, here are 100 dishes from Tokyo, the gastronomic megacity. There are recipes for miso, sushi, soba noodles, bentos, sushi, fried rice, Japanese tapas, desserts, cakes and sweets; plus features on the key essential cooking techniques and key ingredients, making it truly Japanese food made simple. Author Maori Murota grew up in Tokyo and was inspired to write this book by her mother's cooking and memories of growing up in Tokyo, cooking at home, eating out. Her mission is to demystify Japanese food, to make it accessible and understood by anyone and everyone interested in learning about a food culture and eating well...

_____________________
STELLA'S REVIEWS:

Having a themed Japanese birthday for a family member encouraged me to expand on my limited, predominantly sushi-focused, recipes. Maori Murota's Tokyo Cult Recipes was just the right level, expanding my pantry and knowledge of Japanese cooking. I like the 'Cult Recipes' series of cookbooks for their liveliness, not-too-complicated recipes, and interesting cultural outtakes. The bonuses are the street photography and the clear instructions, sometimes illustrated by photographs. A Japanese omelette was a simple joy to make, rolling the thin crepe-like layers around itself, and the photographic instructions made it perfectly comprehensible. There’s detailed information about ingredients, like different types of miso; and recipes for pantry staples, e.g. dashi. The feast meant many bowls of small dishes and all the elements on the go, but it was worth it!  On the menu from this cookbook, Edamame, Agedashi-Dofu, Ebi No Kousai Ae (Prawns with Coriander — delicious!) and some pickles.

The 'Cult Recipes' series from Murdoch Books are excellent insights to regional cooking. Very far removed from the staid regional cookbooks of days past, which tended to be packed with hundreds of recipes (worthy but sometimes dull or complicated) and few pictures, the 'Cult Recipe' books focus on particular cities, capturing the essence of that particular region’s cuisine with signature dishes from some of the best eateries, explanations of base ingredients, and wonderful insights into places and the people who are passionate about their food. Delving into Tokyo Cult Recipes by Maori Murota is inspiring and informative. The chapters take you from breakfast through to dinner, with further chapters on Izakaya (tapa-style bar food) and home cooking. There are small descriptive details about food-related utensils (ceramics, kitchenware) and Japanese classics (miso, rice balls) that lend nice breaks between the recipes. This isn’t a series for the beginner cook, but for those who love food and are curious to stretch their culinary repertoire. The photography and layout are stylish and include the food, the places (markets and eateries) and the chefs of everyday Tokyo.
Also in stock: 'Cult Recipes' of Istanbul, Venice and New York.
{STELLA}