The Foods of Vietnam [Hardcover]

Nicole Routhier (Author), Martin Jacobs (Photographer), Craig Claiborne (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1989

The Foods of Vietnam, the only book of its kind on Vietnamese cuisine, will be a revelation both to those familiar with Vietnamese dishes and to people discovering these delicate, fresh foods for the first time. Illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With the large migration of Vietnamese to the United States in the late 1970s came an array of food and cooking techniques unfamiliar to most of us. New York City chef and teacher Routhier, born in Saigon to a Vietnamese mother and a French father, captures the simple elegance of a cuisine influenced strongly by China, Thailand and Vietnam's former French rulers. Her recipes evoke meals that could have been eaten at home by typical Vietnamese families or prepared in prewar Saigon restaurants, along with dishes that Americans might encounter in their neighborhood Vietnamese restaurants. The more than 150 recipes range from plain (rice and chicken casserole, stuffed cabbage rolls) to fancy (dilled squid cakes, fried, stuffed bananas). An extensive glossary and a list of mail-order suppliers of hard-to-find Vietnamese and Asian condiments are included. Routhier and Jacobs, a New York City commercial photographer, have created a gastronomical and visual delight.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

NICOLE ROUTHIER is an acclaimed writer, cooking teacher, and restaurant consultant. Among her cookbooks are Nicole Routhier's Fruit Cookbook, a James Beard award nominee, and Cooking Under Wraps, a winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Award. She lives in Houston.

MARTIN JACOBS is a food and still-life photographer based in New York City. He has worked all over the world photographing the cuisines of many countries and has shot numerous cookbooks and advertisements. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; 1st edition (August 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556700954
• ISBN-13: 978-1556700958
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #905,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #39 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > Asian > Vietnamese

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST Vietnamese cookbook for anybody., July 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Foods of Vietnam (Hardcover)

I bought many Vietnamese cookbooks in search for "THE ONE" that will teach me how to cook authentic Vietnamese food and I found "IT". This book not only teaches one to cook Vietnamese food in easy to follow instructions, but also teaches some Vietnamese cultures behind each dish. My Aunt is a great cook and after reviewing this book, her comments were "You will be a great Vietnamese cook if you follow the recipes in this book". I strongly recommend this book for anybody who wants to learn how to cook Vietnamese food. Yes, I still have to measure each tablespoon or teaspoon, but my dishes came out super every time. Another reason for this book to be so great are the outstanding pictures that came with each dish. Thanks Nicole.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic, Beautiful, and Insightful, November 30, 1999

By 

C. Nguyen (Saratoga, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Foods of Vietnam (Hardcover)

I love this book and recommend it to everyone who inquires about Vietnamese cooking. The recipes are authentic and easy to follow; the pictures are beautiful and helpful; and the stories behind the recipe are insightful. The only drawback is there is no table of contents for the name of the recipe -- just the main category like appetizer, soup, etc.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye opener for those who love authentic Vietnamese foods, September 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Foods of Vietnam (Paperback)

Many authentic Vietnamese recipes, and some of which even I have not heard of before, even though I am Vietnamese. Once you have gathered all the herbs, the condiments, and the other necessary stuff to cook Vietnamese foods, then the actual cooking itself is quite simple. It is well worth the effort to cook the yummy dishes in this book. You will have a greater appreciation for Vietnamese foods and culture. The author does a fantastic job of explaining the recipes. This book is a must-have for serious Vietnamese foodie.