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 who’s 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. He’s incredibly humble and encourages experimentation and creativity. I have his book “The Food Lab” and it’s 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-tourné your carrots, and emulsify your vinaigrettes.
Kenji is extraordinarily online (linked his website for socials) and posts tons of stuff for free if you don’t 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.
Can’t rec this book enough!
Feb 19, 2025
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I’m still on a big Kenji Lopez-Alt binge, but for the last few weeks I’ve spent every few minutes I’ve 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 I’ve f**ked up a so many dishes I’ve cooked in the past. This isn’t 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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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
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Its a web app that people submit 1 song per week and then everyone gets to vote on the all the different songs but their own. After all the rounds have been completed, the person with the most votes wins! Its a fun way to share music with people and get competitive. Been using this app with other online communities and friends for a few months and have really been enjoying it.
NOTE: I created a PI.FYI League where the first submission is this friday. I limited it to 25 people for now not sure if I should open that up to more but it would be pretty overwhelming to have more than 25 songs to listen and vote on. The join link is attached to this rec!
Jun 10, 2024
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riotgrrrl and I are planning on going to Jonathan Richman at the bell house 3/10 if anyone else is interested, drinks beforehand at Halyards. Hope people can make it out!
Feb 29, 2024