December 6, 2021
“Noodles make people happy,” writes the blogging husband-and-wife duo behind I Am a Food Blog in this charming if scattered collection. Primarily inspired by Italian and Asian cuisines, the Les showcase classic pasta dishes including cacio e pepe, and spicy sesame chili oil noodles, as well as playful riffs such as casarecce moules frites (where casarecce takes the place of fries) and chipotle adobo pork belly ramen. Throughout, they provide ample information on unfamiliar ingredients (Chinese black vinegar, made from black sticky rice, can be substituted with balsamic vinegar) and lesser-known noodles, including biang biang noodles, handmade, wide, chewy noodles originating in central China. Unfortunately, recipe organization can be dizzying: for instance, the Les present nine quick ideas for how to prepare instant noodles at the beginning of the book, but then introduce ramen toward the very end. And instead of sorting by noodle type (pasta, udon, etc.), the authors center chapters around occasions and moods—such as date nights, “cozy moods,” and potluck dinners—with recipes for chile oils and sauces sprinkled in at random. That said, the most logical section goes off course to focus on a handful of indulgent lasagna recipes, including ultimate lasagna bolognese and creamy chicken lasagna. Much sifting is required to slurp up the goods in this one.
February 15, 2022
Some variation on the noodle appears in just about every cuisine. For many Americans, chicken and noodles is a childhood staple. And noodles are virtually synonymous with Italian cooking. Many East Asian countries have ancient traditions of noodle making, and in China, long noodles equal long life. The Les, popular bloggers, express their passion for the noodle in all its global guises. Organizing recipes by complexity, they enthusiastically mix ethnic origins, with Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, and more interspersed, precisely instructing as to both ingredients and techniques. The Les are faithful to classic dishes but don't hesitate to be puckishly inventive with dishes like Philly Cheesesteak Noodles or Oven-Roasted Yakiudon al Pastor, a gleeful mash-up of Japanese and Mexican flavors. Making a bowl of ramen may prove daunting to many home cooks, and ramen fans may be surprised by a Malaysian version of this wildly popular restaurant dish. A whole chapter covers assorted versions of the ever-beloved lasagna. Photographs further set readers salivating and rushing to the kitchen to start pasta water boiling.
COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
April 2, 2022
The husband-and-wife team behind i am a food blog offer 75 recipes that center noodles in yummy, wide-ranging ways. Some dishes are traditional, some vary from a tradition but explain the alteration, and others (such as French onion mac and cheese and Philly cheesesteak instant mazemen) pull across a range of influences. If you thought you could not really mess up making noodles, the authors go over the steps (just in case) and offer buying advice, notes on salting (or not) the water, judging doneness, soaking, draining, and rinsing. Great attention is given to saucing before the chapters explode in flavors, comfort, and I-am-making-this-right-now glee. Each recipe has a photo (the Les are known for their visual aesthetic), and all come with a headnote that either situates the dish or offers extra advice. Instructions are clear and arranged in stages, most with helpful timing information. While there are plenty of dishes that can be made in the time it would take to order delivery, others take some time to prepare and have a lot of parts. Building a pantry to support the book may require those outside major cities to source online. But that is part of the fun of this exuberant collection, as even cooks that rely on noodles as a mainstay of meals will find something to try for the first time or something that will spark an idea for a new dish. VERDICT Readers who love food blogs and vlogs will find this high impact collection offers plenty of inspiration, instruction, and fun.--Neal Wyatt
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.