Customer Reviews

Cooking the Vietnamese Way (Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks)

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This was definately sparse on the recipes. It is very basic (and I was a bit surprised to see that in the publication info at the front of the book, it's also listed under "juvenile literature"). There is good info on Vietnam, it's customs, people, etc., but a full half of the book concentrated on that and a few silly things like describing the term "boil". Definately not enough recipes. A grand total of 24 recipes, including how to cook rice and recipes for simple sauces. I'm disappointed with this (and the book "Cooking the Thai Way" which I ordered with it) but hate to return things so I'll just have to make the dozen or so recipes that interest me. Then get a nice, comprehensive Vietnamese cookbook where I can preview it before buying! This was my first online book purchase...

This book is very disappointing! Very few recipes and a lot of pages wasted on things such as warning the reader to be careful while cooking. Is it really necessary to include a recipe on how to make steamed rice? This book also claimed to include vegetarian recipes, but very few were provided. Some of recipes look promissing, but really not worth buying because there are too few recipes and too many page fillers.

Just right after receiving the book, I took a look and was very disappointed immediately: "Is this all ?"The book is thin and carry almost of half for unnessary general introduction. There are not much especial and interesting recipes which you can find from the other practical and attentive book .
Perhaps because of the price so is that all we can get for what we pay?
For really really really beginner that may work.

This really is meant to be a cookbook for children. There's a page towards the end that warns you to turn your pot handles towards the back of the stove so "younger brothers and sisters" don't bump into them. When chopping vegetables, it tells you to use a cutting board as opposed to chopping them in your hand. The recipes are basic, quick and easy. Unlike more involved Asian cookbooks that call for all sorts of sauces and vegetables that you have to go to an Asian market to find, the most obscure ingredient this book calls for is fish sauce, which you can find in most American supermarkets (although more authentic fish sauces can still be found at Asian markets). As a result, these probably aren't the most authentic recipes possible, but they don't look bad in terms of a starting point. I look forward to trying them out.

If you have a child who is interested in trying to cook different cuisines, he or she might enjoy reading this book and trying out the recipes. Make sure they have access to the appropriate cooking utensils, like a wok, and they'll have fun trying it out.