A/P/A Month Special: Acclaimed Japanese Cookbook “At the Japanese Table” by Lesley Downer (ISBN:0811832805)

Weekly Book Special: May 24th-May 31st

May is Asian-Pacific-American (A/P/A) Heritage Month, a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States. In commemoration, this week’s special is:

At the Japanese Table:
New and Traditional Recipes
By Lesley Downer (Paperback, 223 pages, 2001, $17.00, ISBN:0811832805)

This cookbook, updated from the original 1993 version, demystifies the visual artistry, simplicity of preparation and healthfulness of Japanese cuisine for the home cook. There are nearly 100 easy-to-follow recipes, 16 pages of stunning full-color photos, and more than 30 illustrations of techniques ranging from carving carrot “flowers” to slicing sashimi.

More than just a cookbook, author Lesley Downer, who based this book on a six-part BBC2 series she presented, takes you on a culinary tour of Japan — to the feasts and festivals, into the homes, restaurants, sushi bars, street stalls and even the temples for a taste of this popular cuisine. Explains the history, legend and lore of the foods.

Our favorite spread is of the complete Japanese meal (click to enlarge):

“This is an inviting and easy-to-use introduction to Japanese cooking,” writes the Vancouver Sun. Adds Eating Well: “Illustrations of traditional techniques combine with stunning photos of exquisite food in a cool little beauty of a book.”

Purchase this book for $17.00: