KoreatownA Cookbook
A collection of 100 recipes exploring the foods and flavors of Koreatown, a New York Times bestseller and one of the most praised cookbooks of 2016.
This is not your average soft-focus “journey to Asia” kind of cookbook. Koreatown is a spicy, funky, flavor-packed love affair with the grit and charm of Korean cooking in America. Koreatowns around the country are synonymous with mealtime feasts and late-night chef hangouts, and Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard show us why with stories, interviews, and over 100 delicious, super-approachable recipes.
It’s spicy, it’s fermenty, it’s sweet and savory and loaded with umami: Korean cuisine is poised to break out in the U.S., but until now, Korean cookbooks have been focused on taking readers to an idealized Korean fantasyland. Koreatown, though, is all about what’s real and happening right here: the foods of Korean American communities all over our country, from L.A. to New York City, from Atlanta to Chicago. We follow Rodbard and Hong through those communities with stories and recipes for everything from beloved Korean barbecue favorites like bulgogi and kalbi to the lesser-known but deeply satisfying stews, soups, noodles, salads, drinks, and the many kimchis of the Korean American table.
“Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard have given us a deep and important look at the people, places and cuisine that are reshaping what we want for dinner. Koreatown thrills with flavors that will change your life.” — Anthony Bourdain
“Koreatown is not a place. It’s an energy, an attitude, a painstaking stew of spice and frugality and brutally honest flavors. For the first time, here’s a book that captures all of its electricity and mystery in a voice that is both vibrant and respectful.” — Edward Lee, chef and author of Smoke and Pickles
“Eating Korean food is the best legal high in the world and Koreatown is the gateway drug you need!” –Gary Shteyngart, author of The Russian Debutante’s Handbook and Little Failure: A Memoir
“The food of Korea is complex, and becomes fully realized in this amazing new book by Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard. With a thrilling new voice and original ideas, this is not the same boring “ethnic eats explainer” that is often used as an excuse to profile a country’s cuisine. I couldn’t put it down, and can’t wait to start cooking from these pages. Bibimbap for the win!” — Andrew Zimmern, author and television host
“I fell in love with Korean food over a decade ago, and enjoy learning as much as I can about this complex and flavorful cuisine. Koreatown is filled with information about ingredients, techniques, and insights into Korean American food culture. This cookbook is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to know more about where to find delicious Korean food across America and how to prepare dishes at home.” – Eric Ripert
“Deuki Hong is making great Korean food, and not just for Koreans.” – David Chang Chef/Founder of Momofuku
“Thanks to this cookbook, I can finally make all the dishes at home that I obsess over when I visit Koreatown. It’s amazing to have all these mysteriously delicious recipes in one place.” — Sean Brock, chef and author of Heritage
“Unwrap the world of Korean-American food through a guide demystifying the cuisine of fire and fermentation.” – The New York Times
“A detailed and sharply written collection that includes nearly 100 recipes, as well as photos, short essays, and interviews that explore various K-towns across the U.S.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A book that’s true to Korean cuisine and totally accessible.” — Bookforum
“A great book whether you’re new to Korean food or looking for recipes for old favorites, Koreatown will have you running to your local Asian grocery to stock up on rice cakes, gochujang, and kimchi. Or, better yet, making your own kimchi from scratch.” — Epicurious
“Koreatown is one of the most accessible and entertaining tomes on Korean cuisine we’ve come across.” — Cool Hunting
“The evangelists Korean food needs to become the next big cuisine.” — Tasting Table
“The last Korean cookbook that you will ever need.” — Vice
“In the burgeoning genre of cookbooks written as much to be read as to be cooked from, Koreatown paints a portrait of America’s vibrant Korean-American communities and invites a broad audience to experiment with this style of cooking.” — Eater
“Korean food is built on bold flavors: spicy pickled vegetables, sweet, smoky meats and pungent, salty stews. That can be a little intimidating for some American diners. But the authors of Koreatown have changed that.” — NPR “Morning Edition
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