Cook Your Way Around the World with Exotic Table
Exotic Table P. 300, Hardcover, 100+ Recipes, Fully Illustrated. (Details on book and Aliya LeeKong; purchase via )
Exotic Table – Flavors, Inspiration, and Recipes from Around the World – to Your Kitchen, was introduced to the world in 2013 by the author, Aliya LeeKong. The cookbook received nationwide acclaim for making international flavors as familiar as they are exciting. Exotic Table was named “Best of the Best” by Food & Wine magazine in 2014; the prestigious award selects the top 25 cookbooks in the U.S. each year.
Let’s listen in on this video by Aliya LeeKong and listen to what she as to say about her cooking style:
The Chief Blonde Remarks:
I was sent a copy of the Exotic Table so I could visit culinary delights from around the world from my kitchen. I was mesmerized by the recipes. I wasn’t really sure I would have the ingredients to make anything from the book, but as I paged through, I found I had almost every ingredient for many recipes and I would just have to nip out and buy one or two (mostly the fresh items).
LeeKong gives a brief intro to each recipe which really helps you to define the location of the world that inspired the creation along with get a feel for how the recipe will appeal to your senses. For example, on the recipe I choose to make from page 133, “Chicken Salad with Bacon, Walnuts and Fruit”, Aliya writes
“Here, instead of mayonaise, toasted walnuts are spun in the food processor with pita soaked in milk to form the base. I added bacon and shallot for smoke and crunch, and the fruit adds a sweet, watery bite to the salad. This is fantastic in a sandwich or by itself with some greens.”
Is your mouth watering yet? Check out some of these other creations from the book:
Left to Right: p. 118, Butterflied Za’atar Roast Chicken; p. 72 Massaged Kale Sald with Pear, Fresh Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette; p. 300, Cherry-Yuzu Champagne Floaters
You will love the little tips she sprinkles throughout to ensure you understand why you are preparing a particular ingredient as she suggests. I found each recipe to be quite sexy in it’s presentation and illustration. You will find this book a feast for the eyes as well as the palette in my opinion. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
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UPDATE: This post originally had a $104 4 cookbook giveaway attached. The rafflecopter entry device has been removed and had 2631 entries. See Giveaway Winners.
I love that she created these recipes with visions of her own world travels in mind.
I like that this book has recipes from around the world,that way we can have something different everytime we cook.If we travel it will help as well.
I think what draws me to this book is that fact that she’s an Asian/African chef, first generation in America and has brought in original recipes with flavors from around the world. I’m a big foodie and to be able to cook something out of my comfort zone, yet be familiar with the ingredients is pretty awesome. I’m familiar with ingredients used in Southeast Asian countries and those same ingredients translate to the bulk of the world and it’s so fascinating how everyone uses it differently to make delicious food. I can’t wait to get my hands on this cookbook and test the recipes out!
I like this book as the recipes come from many different cultures. Cooking is one of my hobbies and it would be a culinary treat to own this book!
I love to cook and try new recipes. this would give me the opportunity to try recipes from many different parts of the world
I love cooking! This book is right up my alley!
I would like this because because trying foods from different countries is as close as I will come to seeing the world. I love trying new and different recipes.
I like the idea of taking something familiar and making it exotic/international with the use of spices. kinda genius.
What I find intriguing about this book, is the fact that there are recipes from around the World. This would be very inspiring for me to see. I am really interested in seeing what other Cultures Cook. I am not a Big Sea Food person so I would not like too many of them. I love veggies, Cheeses, fruits Herbs spices and Breads.
I like how she tells the stories of her travels and recipes. She also instructs you on how to properly use spices in your cooking. It sounds like a wonderful book which would inspire me to make some really good recipes from around the world.
I loved the advice on toasting spices to bring them back alive. I also located the recipe for Egyptian Dukkah which I have enjoyed.
I would love to win the cookbook. I am always interested in reading about new recipes.
I always love the stories behind a recipe. It makes it so much more fun to make.
I would love to be able to find new recipes with a exotic flavor.
I like all the different recipes and how healthy they are.
The wide range of recipes appeals to me – I’m always happy to expand our recipe arsenal!
The coconut-coriander chicken recipe sounds fantastic. At BlogHer 2 years ago in Chicago I had something similar to that, on a skewer, that was really good :).
From looking at the index in the “look inside” feature, the book is quite appealing for its wide variety of recipes ranging from vegetarian to meat-based. Something in it for everyone.
I love the exoticness of it. This would be a perfect gift for my future DIL!
I like the idea of her travels inspiring cooking. The Mexican chocolate loaf cake sounds good, too.