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The best sentence I read this morning
The yogurt-based, covered-pot-baked Kazakh bread smells exactly like good dinner rolls from a Midwestern supper club, but the moist, absorbent texture seems closer to an underwater sea sponge.
The whole review is excellent; it covers a new Chinese regional cookbook Beyond the Great Wall: Recipes and Travels in the Other China.
Posted by Tyler Cowen on August 6, 2008 at 12:43 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink
Comments
I've checked out this book from the library. The photography is great, and I enjoyed the memoirs that take up a large fraction of the text. At times their attitude is a little unfair to Han Chinese - I feel they'd have no problem suggesting that I'm personally responsible for damages inflicted on native Americans. I'm glad they've taken the time to publish their observations of these cultures, but the recipes weren't that great (guess I just prefer Han Chinese food, like from Fushia Dunlops books). I have to agree with this statement from the review (though I admit I haven't done the testing that the reviewer subsequently describes):
"The theory of cultural preservation through cookery is well and good, but it works only if people like the cookery. And some of the recipes in Beyond are a hard sell."
Posted by: mixed feelings at Aug 6, 2008 1:44:31 PM
I wish Alex would post more often.
Posted by: Student at Aug 6, 2008 1:54:31 PM
Should you be allowed to write a review of a book on Chinese-or Chinese-related cuisine if you express shock at the combination of Tofu and animal fat? I think not.
I'm going to order this book. Uighar food is the best food in China, which is in turn some of the best food in the world.
Posted by: green apron monkey at Aug 6, 2008 1:56:40 PM
This sounds like a hybrid of a Chinese steamed bread and an angel cake. The yogurt base sounds most appealing, and suspiciously un-Chinese. There has to be a way to find it here!
Posted by: Yan Li at Aug 6, 2008 2:18:11 PM
yogurt-based, covered-pot-baked Kazakh bread smells exactly like good dinner rolls from a Midwestern supper club
Mmmmmmmmmmm, good dinner rolls from a Midwestern supper club.....
Posted by: chug at Aug 6, 2008 6:36:10 PM
Just what is the texture of an underwater sea sponge? I've never eaten one, but if they are anything like my kitchen sponge, thanks, but no thanks. Think I'll go get me a bag of dinner rolls from the local grocery. Mmm. And maybe a little butter to go with them.
Posted by: Charles Pergiel at Aug 7, 2008 2:43:07 PM
