18.-BEST ASIAN CUISINE BOOK

China, India and Japanese cuisines are now better understood in the West as separate cuisines and cultures. There are fewer books on Asian food in general, and more on countries. There is a clear increase in the interest and demand of the public, in parallel with more Asian cultures tourism, which increases well compared to beach and sun tourism.

1996 China (Electronics Industry Publishing House) CD-Rom

1997 Japan – (NHK Publishing)

1998 UK – Ken Hom, Karine Ash (BBC)

1999 US – Martin Yan (Bay Books)

2000 US – Corinne Trang (Simon Schuster)

2001 UK – Emi Kazuko, Yasuko Fukuoka (Lorenz)

2002 UK – Sri Owen (Quadrille)

2003 UK – Terri Tan (Jacqui Small)

2004 Vietnam – Didier Corlou (Sofitel)

2005 Singapore – Christophe Megel (Periplus)

BEST IN THE WORLD

 April 7, 2007

FINALISTS

1.- CHINA

China: Hunan – Tropical Paradise

 Rudolf Lantschbauer

 Siegnund Kahlbacher (Beijing)

 Photos: Rudolf Lantschbauer

 (Vinothek Verlag)

 Hunan is a tropical island which can be said to be the Hawaii of China. It already has glamorous hotels, beautiful beaches, and receives many tourists, including 500.000 Russian tourists a year. The beautiful book is available in English-Chinese, Russian-Chinese, and English-German. Author Rudolf Lantschbauer has received several Gourmand Awards. Siegmund Kahlbacher, also from Austria, has been a resident from China for many years, with special interest for the regions of China, for Hunan, Shandong, etc.

2.- FRANCE

Diners à Bollywood

 Recettes Dramandra Khassar

 Text: Severine Souard

 Photography: Mathilde de lEcotais

 Stylisme: John Bentham

 (Minerva)

Bollywood films are now more popular in France. There are similar cookbooks in other countries. This one is different by its serious approach to a cultural phenomenon of entertainment, while easy and attractive to the reader.

3.- ISRAEL

From Lokshen to Lo Mein

 The Jewish Love Affair with Chinese Food

 The Kosher Chinese Cookbook

 Don Siégel

 Illustrations: Esther Siegel

 (Gefen Publishing House)

 Chinese food is slowly conquering the world by adapting tastes and traditions. The strength of Chinese food culture is shown by other cultures loving Chinese food, such as the Jews, or the Peruvians, with their chifas cuisine.

4.-JAPAN

Cool Tools – Cooking Utensils from the Japanese Kitchen

 In English

 Kate Klippensteen

 Photos by Yasuo Konishi

 (Kodansha International)

Anyone serious about Japanese cuisine should get this unique book. The explanations and photos are clear and beautiful. Kodansha International is now publishing some of the very best food books in the world.

5.-NORWAY

Asia en Kokebok

 Anna Roer

 Photos: Ulla Westbo

 Styling: Johan Kridih

 Design: Ingunn Cecilie Jensen

 (Gyldendal)

 Anna Røer has been giving lectures on Asian cooking for eleven years in Oslo and presents food based on ingredients available in Norway.

6.- SINGAPORE

Fun with Asian Food

 A Kids Cookbook

 Recipes : Devagi Sanmugam

 Illustrations : Marijka Den Ouden

 (Periplus-Singapore)

Asian Food is great fun, for everyone in the family. This was the South East Asia bestseller of New Year 2006. The illustrations and recipes are outstanding.

7.- SWEDEN

Fem asiatiska kök
Yukiko Duke

Photo: Gustav Karlsson Frost

Illustartions/Layout: Sofia Sccheutz

(Natur och Kultur)

As literature critic on Swedish television, Yukiko has a curiosity and a catching enthusiasm which she takes with her when introducing the various Asian cuisines. 

8.- UK

Korean Cooking

 Young Jin Song

 (Anness Publishing)

Korean restaurants are expanding worldwide, and so is the understanding of their cooking.

9.-USA

The Sushi Experience

 Hiroko Shimbo

 (Knopf)

The author is a trained sushi chef, restaurant consultant, cooking instructor and author of cookbook The Japanese Kitchen and articles in Saveur and other magazines. A native of Japan, she lives in New York