A Notable New Addition To My Cookbook Nook

including more books with a spot in the nook and my author Q+A with Maria Zizka!

About 2 weeks ago, I was getting ready to run out of the house to go for a swim, when I heard Olive barking at the front door. This normally signifies that either the mailman is here or an intruder is afoot (in her mind). I peeked outside and saw a cookbook shaped packaged tucked behind our planter. I had a feeling that my advanced copy of Chinese Enough was going to be arriving sometime soon, but this was still such a surprise. I brought it inside, propped up my phone to capture the moment, and tore open the package to reveal cookbook #2! She’s beautiful. The book feels hefty and substantial. There colors are so vibrant! I can’t stop staring at it.

I waited to share that the book is here so I that I could simply take it in. It’s a strange feeling to describe, but because I’ve been working on this book for over 3 years and stared at the digital pages for so long, it’s as if I couldn’t truly process the physical impact of the book right away. I took the book along with me to friend’s house and gatherings so I could surprise them with it. I got to see my friend Sansan, who’s home is the backdrop for some many photos, flip through the pages and spot her plants and corner windows that made for a perfect spot for a bowl of San Francisco-style Garlic Noodles. My friend Alex, who naturally dyed table linens for the photoshoots, saw that her stunning orange dyed tablecloth made it as the end papers for the book. I was delighted to see people go through the book and get excited by the recipes, already making a mental list of food they want to make in the fall. Everyone else’s excitement helped allow me to fully feel proud and excited to share this book. I’ve been cooking from it, making the banh mi pasta salad and typhoon deviled eggs for the 4th and I just made the char siu mushrooms for dinner last night. Now its sitting in my cookbook nook next to it’s older sister, Mooncakes and Milk Bread, and amongst my other favorite cookbooks. Feels right at home!

If you haven’t pre-ordered a copy yet, it would mean so much to me if you did! Pre-orders are one of the most important factors for a successful book launch. It helps stores and retailers gauge interest, which will get more books out there, and I’ll be able to do more book tour events!

There’s a little sale going on at Barnes & Noble right now for 25% off now until 7/17 if you want to take advantage of that! You have to be a member (free to sign up) and use the code PREORDER25. For all who pre-order (from any retailer) you can get access to 3 exclusive recipes from the book and a virtual wonton making class with me in September! Here’s a link to claim your pre-order bonuses!

I get a lot of comments on the cookbook nook in my kitchen. It’s a detail Reuben, my husband, incorporated into the design to breakup for the mass of cabinetry and I think it helped conceal a need for a structural shear wall behind it. I keep a few trusty cookbooks that I reference more frequently on display and also a few newer ones that I’ve quickly fallen in love with. I read cookbooks like novels, from cover to cover, including all the headnotes. Cookbooks that make you want to read and invest in the story or thesis will always make it to the top of my cookbook list. Good photos, clear instructions, and delicious looking food obviously helps too! I thought this would be a fun time to share with you what I like to keep in my cookbook nook.

I’m honored to say that some of these books were written by friends of mine!

Aloha Kitchen by Alana Kysar - love love love this book so much. The grilled short ribs and mac salad are a house favorite!

My Shanghai by

Betty Liu

- a visually stunning and information dense cookbook! Betty is also somehow a surgeon full time that also writes cookbooks, which means she’s insanely talented! She has another amazing cookbook, The Chinese Way, coming out on the same day as Chinese Enough!!

More Than Cake by Natasha Pickowicz - my baking girl crush and culinary inspiration.

Amrikan by

Khushbu Shah

- I recently met Khushbu at Cookbook Fest and we became fast friends! Her first cookbook is such a lovely, fun, and colorful deep dive into the food of the Indian American diaspora.

Vegetable Kingdom by Bryant Terry - There’s endless inspiration in this book when it comes to cooking vegetables creatively and treating them like the star of the show rather than a side dish.

Tenderheart by

Hetty Lui McKinnon

- Hetty is a Queen and Tenderheart is truly such a special book. It has meaningful and touching stories about her family and nearly endless recipes that can transform a simple vegetable. Just won a James Beard Award too!

Pasta Every Day by

Meryl Feinstein

- Meryl was one of my earliest food friends and it’s been so amazing to see how our careers have changed and grown. This is a book that every pasta lover or simply anyone who likes to make and craft their food by hand should have in their home. Also just won a James Beard Award too!

The Hostess Handbook by

Maria Zizka

- This is Maria’s 5th book and it’s a fun and festive cookbook that will inspire you to host your next gathering! With relative ease too because Maria provides so many tips and tricks to be the best hostess with minimal stress! The Matcha Snickerdoodle recipe from the book is phenomenal!

A few weeks ago, I was in discussion with Maria for her cookbook release party and recorded our Q+A and you can listen to it below!

Cookbooks are probably my favorite form of escapism. A good cookbook can really transport you into someone else’s kitchen and inspire you to bring a piece of their food back into your own life. So remember to support some of your favorite authors by buying their books and supporting their work! I’m going to go reread a few of my favorite ones now and stare at Chinese enough some more!