Customer Reviews

The Filipino-American Kitchen: Traditional Recipes, Contemporary Flavors

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The dishes in this book fit the title: Filipino American. That is, they are based on the traditional foods of the Philippines but modified to allow the chef to take advantage of fresh local products, and of a minimum of specialty spices. The resulting foods are thus more suited to both the American taste and the American supermarket than highly traditional recipies.

Philippine food traditions are based on their particular variant on oriental cooking, but modified by years of invluence from incoming cultures. The Spanish took over the island in 1542 and left them with a deep impression of Spanish culinary heritage (paella for instance, but without saffron). The Spanish in turn brought with them some Mexican influence. And then there were the Americans, the Japanese, the Chinese.

Ms. Aranas has done an excellent job of fitting these into an American kitchen. You will be hard pressed to flip through this book without finding something that you want to try.

For years, I've been pleading with my mother to write her recipes down on paper -- everything she's ever cooked for us growing up was from her memory. And, as she was a caterer, there are many, many recipes, family or otherwise, that I would like to memorialize and pass onto my kids.....

Alas, no recipes from my mother. Yet. But. But but but but but, Ms. Aranas has managed to put into one book the key Filipino recipes ALL Filipinos should have, especially my generation and all generations to come. The recipes themselves are straight-forward -- most Filipinos will be familiar with almost every single recipe. The pictures are stunning, and evoke memories of my childhood. She gives the reader excellent insight on Filipino ingredients, and the recipes are quite easy to follow.

For all 1st generation Filipinos living in the US, BUY THIS BOOK. Hand it down to the next generation. For anyone interested in Filipino cuisine, BUY THIS BOOK. You will not regret it. I can't more highly recommend this book as a cornerstone for Filipino far into the future.

This is a very well put together book of fil/am delights. Lots of great recipes and even soups and salads. Mouth watering pictures to accompany the recipes from beginning to end, and easy to follow instructions. Malugod ito....Gusto ako!

This book only had about 2 good recipes. Otherwise, I'd rather look online for website resources for Filipino recipes. It was disappointing purchasing this book. Sorry...

No, I probably dont know squat, but I do know the food is fabulous. The book looks good, great pictures, the recipes look good, but I am used to them being called in their native language, and that is included too. The book has the look, size, and feel of a table top book, almost too pretty for a working book. I was disappointed in this quote "Like taco Tuesdays, and spaghetti on Wednesdays, you could have Adobo Thursdays." from East West Magazine. Not really with this book, Duck Adobo, a far cry from pork or chicken, wet or dry styles. Entirely simple 5 ingredients plus a meat. I have managed to make this dish a family favorite, everyone knows when I am cooking adobo, I never seem to have enough left over. I expected a bit more depth on a national dish. The second is Lumpia. She did give it space, the style is good. Considering the different combinations, I expected a little more information. I still think this book is a good deal anyway. Next, I will try the Whole cooked red snapper.

This cook book is fabulous. Jennifer Aranas has taken traditional Filipino cuisine and brought it to life for young, contemporary American foodies. I have tasted many of these recipes in the restaurant Jennifer Aranas owned and my only disappointment is that Rambutan is no longer there. However, with this easily accessible, well organized and colorful cookbook, we can bring the flavors of Rambutan and the far east right into our own modern American kitchens. I can't wait to get cooking! Thanks Jennifer! The Filipino-American Kitchen: Traditional Recipes, Contemporary Flavors

I gave my brother and his girlfriend this cookbook for Christmas one year because they had moved from Chicago and were disappointed with the lack of ethnic cuisine in their new home city, Pittsburg. They call it their go to cookbook and go to it whenever they want a taste of home. My brother does most of the cooking and shopping for them and says the recipes in this book are not difficult. He wrote me a thank you card after he made the first dish from the cookbook and said he felt like a Chef because the shrimp he made looked just like the picture in the book.

I was a regular diner at Jennifer Aranas' restaurant in Chicago, Rambutan. When it closed, I thought I'd never get to savor the delights that regularly came out of her kitchen.
I was thrilled when she released a cookbook. The recipes are easy to follow and she lists where to find the ingredients and what to use as a substitute if you can't get the traditional ingredients.
The food tastes as good as it did in the restaurant. I had a dinner party and served all my faves. The shumai, lumpia, palm heart salad, and humba paired with the maja blanca mais are mouthwatering.
If you're interested in trying Filipino cuisine, you can't go wrong with this book.

I was looking for a recipe for pancit and found several recipes in this book. I love pancit will be cooking the different recipes in this book. I think it is great that the book is written and recipies reflect what is available in America. Thank you

What a great collection of recipes! If you grew up on traditional American home cooking, you have a fantastic new culinary experience awaiting you once you try these Filipino-American recipes. Fans of the Chicago restaurant Rambutan will remember salivating as the delicious aromas wafted up from these unique dishes that are as pleasing to the eyes as they are on the palate. I've now made many of the recipes included in the book and my family and I especially love the adobo dishes and the Chayote with mushrooms and watercress! The book has lots of great photos, the recipes are easy to follow and the flavors are outstanding!