Customer Reviews

Malaysia & Singapore: World Food (Lonely Planet World Food Malaysia & Singapore)

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

 

 

First of all, this is a Lonely Planet spinoff series, which would imply its intended usage as a guidebook over a cookbook. If you've never read a book from this series, I can see that this might be confusing, and especially since there ARE recipes included inside. The few, well-researched recipes are more there for demonstrative purposes, to help explain a regional cooking technique, dish, or ingredient.

I actually picked this book up from my local library on accident, because it was listed under Lonely Planet and I was traveling to the region. However, the book ended up being immensely helpful on my trip. Not only was every unknown item on any menu in any restaurant explained in the book, but I was also able to identify all of the local produce and ingredients at the open markets and fruit stands....places that I wouldn't have known about had it not been for the book. I ended up reading this book cover to cover because the pictures and anecdotes drew me in. But, you could use it as a reference since it has a thorough index and is small enough to throw in your bag. The pocket-sized book isn't overly academic or encyclopedic, and yet neither is it superficially written, like an extended magazine article, or incomplete and leaving the traveler with the same questions.

If I had to ask for one thing, it would be a separate table of contents for the recipes listed with their page number, since they don't get their own. But the book is so great and filled with valuable information that I'm willing to forgive that one grievance. If you're not traveling, it still makes great inspirational reading to anyone who loves food cultures of the world. And unlike some other books in the genre, this one will make you truly able to eat like a local, should you end up there one day.

As a native of Singapore, i bought this book in hopes to duplicate some recipes of the local hawker center.
The book does not disappoint with detailed recipes for local Singapore Hainaneses Chicken rice and Laksa among a whole list of others. Unfortunately, they are spread throughout the book and you basically have to thumb through cover to cover and make your own index for reference.
The book also goes further to give tips for tourists and explanations of culture and practise that i found interesting.

All in all i was pleased with this purchase and have already started using the recipes in my home.

I was disappointed in this book as the description was of a cookbook, WITH RECIPES. Instead it is nothing more than a travel guide.