I got this cookbook as a gift a couple of years ago and I find it to be really comprehensive and inspiring cookbook that has taught me a lot about asian cooking. It has tons of recipes but also really informative sections on different techniques like "How to make the best Fried Rice" along with helpful pictures, charts and graphics.
Feb 14, 2024
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Anytime I meet someone whoās also a fan of Kenji we both start geeking out like kids. This man has taught me how to cook economically and his videos helped me develop a foundation of food science knowledge to help create a wide variety of dishes. Heās incredibly humble and encourages experimentation and creativity. I have his book āThe Food Labā and itās probably the only cook book you would ever need.
Jul 2, 2024
Not really a recipe book (though certainly has recipes) and more of a reference bible about the chemical processes of cooking. Kenji answers questions like:
- Why does the pH of my pancake batter matter?
- Why should I add sodium citrate to mac n cheese?
- Why is my turkey dry?
- How to make can beans taste good?
and will also teach you how to butterfly a chicken, faux-tournƩ your carrots, and emulsify your vinaigrettes.
Kenji is extraordinarily online (linked his website for socials) and posts tons of stuff for free if you donāt wanna shell out for this very expensive and very heavy book. I have a ton of respect for him and genuinely think he is the most influential living person working in food right now + will be remembered among the greats.
Canāt rec this book enough!
Feb 19, 2025
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Iām still on a big Kenji Lopez-Alt binge, but for the last few weeks Iāve spent every few minutes Iāve had reading The Food Lab. It has changed the way I think about cooking. It feels really good to understand the science behind cooking, but more importantly why Iāve f**ked up a so many dishes Iāve cooked in the past. This isnāt a traditional recipe book, it dives deep into the science behind temperature, heat, acid, and even the materials that make the best pots and pans and I am hooked.
Feb 1, 2022
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Just because I see a window to get across the street doesnāt mean you donāt have to look both ways. Iāve been on the other side of that thoughā¦
May 11, 2025
I met Erin (@RIOTGRRRL) and Jake (@SLOWDAZZLE) last year after I started using PI.FYIāwe organized a meetup before a Jonathan Richman show and immediately clicked over our shared taste in music and similar sensibilities. We started hanging out a lot and had some great times together. Iāve also gotten to know many of their friends, who are all really cool. Erin and Jake started dating a couple of months after the three of us became friends, but our group chat still pops off. Their friendship has meant a lot to me, especially since moving to NYC in 2023, and I really appreciate having them in my life.
May 16, 2025
Come hang with some PI.FYI folks at Franklin Park in Crown Heights in Brooklyn on 7/19 @ 6:30. riotgrrrl and slowdazzle will be there too! Link is the Partiful invited!
Jun 22, 2024