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 like that it has more than 100 recipes.
I love that they are unusual recipes in the cookbook. I love to explore new foods and flavors!
Exotic and different types of food very different than other cookbooks
this is great,, the site is very different
i like that she is one of New York City’s top culinary innovators and has travelled the world to learn the spices and flavors herself
I like the idea of using exotic spices in my “American” food.
The tweet today 7/11 should have been: mobile.twitter.com/AnnJopb/status/620047156397907968
Having spent way too long reading from the “look-inside” portion available at Amazon, I’d have to say I’m very impressed with the author’s willingness and ability to explain the exotic spices and ingredients she uses, as well as a nice section on where to buy them if you can’ t find them locally.
Would love to try the Harissa and cheese-stuffed fried olives
I love all kinds of food & this is awesome
Would love to try the Kenyan coconut-coriander chicken
7/10 I put the wrong thing in the tweet section. Here is the link to my tweet:
https://twitter.com/SavewishComp/status/619458174974726144
Sorry about that.
Trust me, I’m no Betty Crocker in the kitchen! Lol So, anything this wonderful lady could teach me would be amazing as far as my household is concerned I’m sure! Thanks! 🙂
I like the idea that the book is international and written from her travels, also she writes the story behind it.
Since most of the books I read these days are cookbooks, I really appreciate the story aspect behind the recipes. It helps put you in the moment and adds to the fantasy of travelling to far off lands and tasting different foods and flavors than you find at home.
The element of “Exotic Table – Flavors, Inspiration, and Recipes from Around the World – to Your Kitchen” that appeals to me most is that it contains recipes from all over the world, so preparing these recipes will be like visiting these far off places right from your kitchen.
I like that this book will help expand my tastes and let me experience different types of food
I like that there’s more than 100 recipes!!
I like to experiment with new foods & spices whenever possible. Thank you for the giveaway!
I like that there’s more than 100 recipes from traditional to exotic.