Vietnamese Home Cooking: [A Cookbook]

Charles Phan's first cookbook introduces traditional Vietnamese cooking to home cooks by emphasizing fundamental techniques and ingredients. When Phan opened The Slanted Door restaurant in San Francisco in 1995, he presented American diners with authentic Vietnamese food that was robustly flavored, subtly nuanced, and approachable. This collection presents Vietnamese home cooking as attainable as American, French, or Italian cuisine. With instruction and guidance, recipes for dishes like imperial rolls, steamed dumplings, whole fish, and lemongrass beef stew become accessible. Abundant photography documents techniques, equipment, and locations in Vietnam. The book includes master recipes for stocks and sauces, a photographic ingredient guide, and practical tips on selecting a wok and seasoning a clay pot. Phan shares stories from his early days as a refugee through his culinary career, offering a personal guide to Vietnamese cuisine from one of its leading practitioners.