Carolyn Phillips is the brilliance behind Madame Huang’s Kitchen, a website devoted to her vast research and experience with Chinese culture and cooking. Her long anticipated cookbook, All Under Heaven, is the first book to examine all 35 of the cuisines of China and is set to be released on August 30th.
Not only is the multi-talented Phillips an award-winning writer but she also illustrated this 500 gift to those of us who crave knowledge of Chinese cuisine. The vast research necessary to write All Under Heaven resulted from studying ancient culinary texts, talking with restaurant owners in China to glean their family recipes along with her own extensive background of working, eating and cooking in China. I forgive Phillips for making us wait so long now that I have seen the genius of her work.
There are no photographs in the book because it is so jammed packed with narrative, recipes and illustrations. Organized by regions beginning with a background of that area, Phillips heart and soul can be felt in every word. The book is massive but perfectly laid out with stark white pages, easy to follow instructions with maps and drawings that speaks to her story. She highlights extra information to perfect each dish in red font after each recipe. It is as if she is in the kitchen with us working beside us to make sure we achieve the best results.
I’ve been reading the book and have enjoyed soaking up the rich history of China. The recipes are, for the most part, are totally accessible. Hainan Chicken and Rice, Sticky Rice Two Ways, Savory Crab and Cellophane Noodles and Meaty Bone Soup are all examples of recipes that can be made in our kitchens. We may need to stop at an Asian market for some ingredients or procure those hard to find ingredients online, however, most of the items needed are already in my pantry.
Phillips’ illustrations are not only art but also serve as tutorials: how to make “tiger’s mouth” balls, wrapping wontons, and cutting squid blossoms are drawn out for us step by step.
This book is sure to be this year’s best cookbook, I have no doubt.
Phillips’ second book The Dim Sum Field Guide is set to be released on the same date. The perfect guide for those who are not completely immersed in the art of dim sum. The book shares over 70 profiles and illustrations of various types of dim sum dishes from what the typical ingredients are in the dish, origins, sauces and more.
GIVEAWAY: I love this book so much, I want one of you to have a copy of All Under Heaven. To enter this giveaway leave a comment here telling me about your favorite Chinese dish. You may return daily to enter another comment for a chance. For a second entry, please share this post. The giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only and a random winner will be chosen on September 5th. Good luck!
Random Number Generator picked #99 Angela Motta.
The links to Amazon are affiliate links and your Amazon purchases help to support this site and help with giveaways. Anything you purchase through my Amazon link (also located on the right side bar) is greatly appreciated.
Special thanks to Ten Speed Press and McSweeneys for providing me with a copy of this magnificent book for review.
My family loves Szechuan cuisine, especially Dan Dan Noodles.
Yummm
Looks very interesting
Favorite Chinese dish? Impossible! It is easier to ask what I don’t care for, which isn’t much.
I love Mu Shu pork.
Cashew chicken
I love soup dumplings
Chicken with broccoli
I shared on Facebook
Chicken with basil.
Mongolian beef or chicken with cashews.
Hong shu tofu with chinese eggplant is one of my favorites.
Mu Shu Pork is one of my favorites!
My favorite is Peking Duck but I love most Chinese food
My favorite Chinese dish is LaChoy Chow Mein. 😛
My favorite is Peking Duck.
Shared on
Facebook
Chicken with Chinese eggplant
I love chicken and broccoli!
My favorite Chinese dish is Red Cooked Pork Belly.
Mongolian beef
eggrolls, pot stickers and egg foo young
Hmm far too many. I’ll say wonton soup today.
Dim Sum. Always get sticky rice.
Chicken with broccoli, or General Tsao’s chicken
When I hosted am exchange student from China, she let us know that our “Chinese” food
was “not very Chinese.” (more like a very Americanized version of traditional Chinese.)
After many attampts to cook something more authentic for her, I found success with my
Cantonese Chicken and Mushrom Stew.. She still asks me to make it for her whenever she comes to visit!
Egg rolls, spicy chicken anything..
Moo shu anything
Boiled fish with green pepper sauce
I never get tired of youpochemian 油泼扯面, the spicy, garlicky wide noodles from Xi’an.
Chinese food is so delicious!
Happy that we have Din Tai Fung in Seattle. Soup dumplings and cucumber salad every time
Looks like an,amazing book. Today my favorite is soup buns. Could be something different tomorrow; -)
I need this one!
wontons are our favorite food.
Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
I love sticky rice!
We just discovered a new to us restaurant in Chinatown in San Francisco. My new favorite fish is Explosive Chicken., Mind-numbing szechuan pepper, and chili peppers completed the dish of salty, crispy nuggets of chicken!
I love Sesame Chicken and Egg Rolls.
I shared on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/irbratb/status/768174239719366658
Moo shu pork
Shared
I love Chow Fun!
This looks so great!
Sweet and sour shrimp
Moo Goo Gai Pan and Crab Rangoon are my very favorites!!
Seafood chow mein with crispy noodles
I love it all!
Hong Kong style chow mein
Today my favorite chinese dish is baked char sui bao, or manapua if you’re from Hawaii; -)
Still chicken with broccoli
Thinking about dim sum today.
Great addition to a cookbook collection. Beef with broccoli…
I love potstickers!
Hot and sour soup
Hmmmm…chicken with broccoli
Steamed Dumplings
I overuse exclamation points on my comments on this site!
Yang Jow fried rice
While in China I had some garlic chicken wings that were hands down the best wings I have ever tasted. Crispy, garlicky, a bit of heat. I am forever on the hunt for a recipe that replicates the experience!
Shrimp shumai
Pan fried jump shrimp
My favorite today is oolong tea, not exactly a food I know, but I’m a big tea lover.
Changes often, but lamb hunan dishes are it right now
Love the cover of this book.
Beef and broccoli
Thank heavens for Friday!
Boring, I know, but I love Chow Mein!
General Tso’s Chicken
Chicken& broccoli
My dog is so cute.
I like Orange Chicken a lot, too!
dim sum
Har Gow
My son makes fabulous scallion pancakes and potstickers.
I made egg drop soup for my sick husband today
Salt and pepper spareribs
I like Black Pepper Chicken also
Uhhhh chicken & broccoli
salt baked shrimp are a honey favorite
Today I want sticky rice with Chinese sausage.
Green beans with shrimp and ginger.
My favorite dish is Won Ton Soup
Clams in black bean sauce
I like Sweet & Sour Pork a lot
Sticky rice
Good day
classic pork fried rice
It’s just another manic Monday…shoot it’s Tuesday, oh Lord I’m turning into Sybil.
fried rice
Today my favorite is moon cakes.
I also like Honey Walnut Chicken
Another honey favorite is sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves
Shrimp fried rice
Siu mai
I’d like some mei fun today
Just returned from China – food was delicious!! I really enjoyed the simple dishes – scrambled eggs and tomatoes or tomato egg soup. Black tea and salt cooked eggs were amazing too!
mu shu pork
I like black pepper chicken
Beef & broccoli
Chinese chive and egg stir-fry.
It’s all good!
hm tofu stir fry? I’m running out of ideas.
I like Bejing Beef
I also love sticky rice
I’m running out of ideas so happy Friday!
I like Wor Won Ton Soupo
Honey walnut prawns
Chicken and broccoli
I like Moo Goo Gai Pan
Leftover fried rice for breakfast today.
Gia lan with oyster sauce
I wrote earlier that I made egg drop soup for my sick husband. Well, I ended up getting his stomach bug last week and made it for myself as well. It was one of the only things that felt good to my stomach.
Just watched the seconomy episode of eat the world and I must saat soup dumplings are my favorite again today.
I’d like to make Mongolian Beef
Today my favorite is scallop stir fry. Made an amazing version from stir-frying to the sky’s edge a couple days ago.
Shark fin soup
Happy Labor Day!
I love all Chinese food!
Shrimp dumplings
Have to get my wok out.
Wok this way
Saw this book at Barnes and Noble last night. So cool, definitely need to add it to my collection. Today’s chinese favorite is flash fish soup.