cover image Chopsticks, Cleaver & Wok

Chopsticks, Cleaver & Wok

Chronicle Books, Jennie Low. Chronicle Books, $9.95 (159pp) ISBN 978-0-87701-421-8

Born in Hong Kong, Low now teaches cooking in the United States and offers here a personal, ""homestyle'' approach that nonetheless gives the basics of Chinese techniques. Dumplings and shrimp toast, congee and winter melon soup, and various sweets and savory tea pastries are included along with the expected assortment of stir-fried meat, fish and poultry dishes. And in addition to kung pao scallops and lemon chicken there are recipes for clay-pot and sizzling platter cooking, vegetables and noodles. Instructions are written in a straightforward, no-nonsense style and take full advantage of such modern conveniences as the food processor, microwave oven and bottled oyster sauce. This book is particularly suited to sophisticated consumers of Chinese food who, however, have never cooked it themselves. (June)