Discovering Korean Cuisine: Recipes from the Best Korean Restaurants in Los Angeles [Paperback]

Allisa Park (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2007

A step-by-step guide to re-creating healthy, delicious, Korean-style dinners, this book unlocks the mysteries behind these delicacies in an approachable, illuminating manner. Featuring contributions from 12 of Los Angeles’ most prominent Korean restaurants, this cookbook includes recipes ranging from mainstays such as kimchi, bulgogi (marinated beef), mu-saengchae (spicy Korean radish), and bossam (boiled pork) to specialty dishes such as jjim-dak (vegetable chicken stew), hobak-juk (squash porridge), and jjam-bong (spicy noodle soup with seafood). Besides the typical listing of ingredients and instructions, each recipe contains a progression of photographs illustrating various stages of preparation along with the completed dish. A handy introductory section visually identifies common ingredients and details how to complete the basics—cleaning, peeling, dicing, slicing, shredding, and preparing broths and rice. Those inspired to visit the restaurants themselves will find contact information and a map of their locations in the back of the book.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Packed with over 75 recipes from some of L.A.'s top Korean restaurants, this outstanding collection will appeal to those who've never even set foot in southern California, let alone Korea. Opening with an exhaustive, photograph-rich overview of key ingredients and preparation techniques, the book offers step-by-step instructions for simple and complex dishes ranging from appetizers to sides, salads, entrees and desserts. There are a bevy of recipes for traditional dishes such as kimchi, porridge and ribs, as well as specialty and fusion dishes to ensure palates never get bored. Budding cooks can choose from familiar fare such as Bulgogi, a marinated and stir-fried beef dish, or the more exotic, such as Jellyfish Salad, Spicy Monkfish or Seafood Vegetable Stew. Though dishes can intimidate, cooks will find their meals coming together quickly once the initial preparation is done. The book's strongest suit is its breadth of flavors and styles-there are recipes for virtually every protein source, from pine nuts to pork to tofu-offering mouthwatering options for every kind of diner.
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Review

"I've never seen such a comprehensive collection of authentic Korean recipes. Traditional cuisine, exciting new fusion dishes, it's all in here."  —Ki Young Lee, president, Los Angeles Korean American Restaurant Association

"The book is rich in recipes, techniques, tips, and photography, and is inspiring as both a cookbook and a restaurant guide."  —The BA blog by the editors of Bon Appétit

"Packed with over 75 recipes from some of L.A.'s top Korean restaurants, this outstanding collection will appeal to those who've never even set foot in southern California, let alone Korea."  —Publishers Weekly, starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Dream Character, Inc. (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978541804
• ISBN-13: 978-0978541804
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #83,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Cookbook, February 21, 2008

By 

Lester Piggott-Smith (Port Orchard, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Discovering Korean Cuisine: Recipes from the Best Korean Restaurants in Los Angeles (Paperback)

We have at least 60 or 70 cookbooks, including seven Korean cookbooks. Very few of them have provided even one recipe so successful that we replicate it year after year, so when I say that all eight of the recipes we've tried so far from this book have been truly outstanding, it's hard to believe -- especially for us.

My wife is Korean and grew up in Korea; she (of course) loves Korean food, and cooks Korean dishes frequently.

I'm not Korean, but lived in Korea for eight years; I too love Korean food and even cook it myself. We have eaten in Korean restaurants all over Korea, the U.S., and other countries, and we feel that by now we know the difference between Korean food that is excellent and that which is not.

Some of the best restaurants we used to frequent in Seoul are -- or at least were -- little holes in the wall that have thrived for a hundred or more years by specializing in only one dish, such as Komtang or Seullungtang, and maintain long-standing clienteles of fiercely loyal customers. The standards set by these restaurants for top-notch food are seldom approached in other places.

We were amazed, then, to find that the dishes we've tried from this book approximate the best we've eaten anywhere.

The recipes are easy to follow, beautifully illustrated, and delicious. If you want to cook Korean, you won't be sorry you bought this book.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for non-Korean cooks, February 23, 2008

By 

Carol Harris (Vacaville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Discovering Korean Cuisine: Recipes from the Best Korean Restaurants in Los Angeles (Paperback)

My Son-in-law is Korean and my daughter is learning to cook authentic Korean food at home. This book is both true to traditional Korean cooking and easy for a non-Korean cook to use. It does help having authentic taste buds at work in the kitchen to make sure everything tastes as it should. I purchased several books for my daughter and Son-in-law, this is the one they use.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious, March 17, 2007

By 

Jennifer A. Wickes "Food Writer" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Discovering Korean Cuisine: Recipes from the Best Korean Restaurants in Los Angeles (Paperback)

"Discovering Korean Cuisine" is packed with authentic Korean recipes from Korean master chefs. Loaded with wonderful colorful photographs guiding readers through each step of the recipe, plus the final result helps new cooks to this cuisine gain confidence. Also, included in this wonderful book is a brief history of Korean cuisine and how healthy it is for the consumer. Dream Character, Inc. has done it again ("A Collection of Fine Baking") by creating another quality cookbook, filled with delicious recipes that are easy-to-follow with the helpful addition of how-to photos and bringing forth Korean food! If you are worried about not being able to find some of the ingredients, fear not! Between Asian food markets and the Internet, all recipes are not only doable, but also tasty.