The Food of Sichuan by Fuchsia Dunlop
Fuchsia Dunlop’s first cookbook, Land of Plenty, was not only a home cook’s guide to Sichuanese cooking, but the English-speaking world’s first comprehensive introduction to the delights of China’s “culinary capital.” Nearly two decades later, as dishes such as hot pot, Mapo tofu, and Dandan noodles have expanded western awareness of Sichuan food, Dunlop returns on a chariot of fiery peppercorns with The Food of Sichuan (W.W. Norton, $40). With new essays, photos, and recipes added to reflect recent trends in the province, Dunlop once more shows the incredible range of dishes and techniques that embody Sichuan cuisine, and does so with remarkable warmth and passion. Especially in an abundant age of online grocery shopping where you can have Shaoxing wine and chile bean paste delivered to your door, the recipes will cater to novices and practiced cooks alike, as Dunlop guides you through menus for all occasions—from banquet foods such as Bowl-Steamed Pork Belly, to a three-ingredient fresh noodle recipe that is tiny-apartment-kitchen-approved. This latest from the doyenne of homemade Sichuanese food will have you trading in that takeout menu for a (well-seasoned) wok of your own.