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 really like that this book brings in all the spices from all over the world and different recipes from ny to india, very cool
The diversity of the recipes intrigues me.
This cookbook looks fantastic, I would love to try these recipes out!
I love the very detailed descriptions of the spices and how to use them. Can’t wait to try some of the ones I’m not familiar with.
I read cookbooks like I read books. This book is so different from any cookbook that I own. The recipes described sound delicious.
I love the amount of information and the exotic spices!
I would like to read how she weaves stories in with her recipies
I like that she makes such extravagant meals seem doable and something I can actually succeed at!
I like the selection of over one hundred new recipes.
I would love to travel and try world cuisine, but cooking it at home is the next best thing.
I really like all the different diverse recipes.
I love that it has international recipies and has over 100 recipies to try.
I absolutely love how incredibly diverse this book is. It really does sound like a tour of the world through food. I’m a big fan of exotic/ unusual recipes and this book sounds right up my alley!
I love that there are different types of recipes in here, instead of the same old same old.
I like the creative recipes because they sound really tasty
Being a dad raising all 5 of my kids alone, I like the many recipes from various places to try for them
I always take cookbooks like this and try to apply them to my vegan diet. A majority of the time it only takes a little experimentation to turn a dish from a great cookbook into and amazing vegan version! The great variety also helps!
The element about Exotic Table that appeals to me is chef Aliya LeeKong tells the stories behind the recipes and I love reading about not only how to cook a recipe, but from where and why the recipe came into being.
I love that there are 100 recipes inspired by both familiar and traditional Western recipes and the cultures. I’m always looking for new recipes that I haven’t come across before.
I like cookbooks that contain more than just recipes. I like that this one tells the stories about the reipes origins.