Reviews
"If you've ever spent much time with the award-winning The Breath of a Wok , you know that Grace Young's cookbooks feel as personal as they are practical. Her latest is no exception. And if you're expecting food a la Panda Express, this book will be a revelation. Stir-fries, it turns out, can come from almost every continent, and a good one is no slapdash affair. Young reveals the many small techniques that add up to excellence." --Katherine Miller Fran Walden, The Oregonian, "With this extraordinarily inspiring and comprehensive book, Grace Young establishes herself not only as one of the world's great experts in Chinese cooking but as one of its few genuine masters. Buy it, read it, cook from it-and soon you will be on your way to becoming a stir-frying master yourself." --James Oseland, editor-in-chief of Saveur and author of Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Sipce Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, "Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge is the essential cookbook for anyone who wants to stir-fry with confidence, even mastery. Grace Young has interviewed exceptional Chinese cooks from all over the world to document their stories and recipes and to reveal the many ways in which stir-frying has sustained the Chinese in cultures as far-flung as India, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Peru, France, and America. Whether you are seeking a practical and inspiring Chinese cookbook or a beautiful culinary history, look no further." --Paula Wolfert, author of Mediterranean Clay Pot Cooking, "Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge is the essential cookbook for anyone who wants to stir-fry with confidence, even mastery. Grace Young has interviewed exceptional Chinese cooks from all over the world to document their stories and recipes and to reveal the many ways in which stir-frying has sustained the Chinese in cultures as far-flung as India, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Peru, France, and America. Whether you are seeking a practical and inspiring Chinese cookbook or a beautiful culinary history, look no further." --Paula Wolfert, author ofMediterranean Clay Pot Cooking , "For Grace Young, poet-laureate of the wok, a way of cooking is a way of life. Through stories, practical kitchen advice, and eminently doable recipes,Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edgetakes the art of stir-frying to a new level."?--Betty Fussell, author ofRaising Steaks: The Life & Times of American Beef?, "Trying to flip quickly through this book is impossible. Nearly every page turn caught me up with something I had to read. Grace Young brings us the entire being of the wok. Yes, she's a gifted recipe writer, hand holding through each step, so success comes pretty effortlessly. But the revelation with Grace goes further. The wok is probably the most underrated (and underpriced) piece of equipment we have. Grace knows its life, its place not solely in China, but in the world. The wok is immediacy, tradition and maybe even an instrument of life force. Did I get carried away? Maybe, but that's where Grace can take you. Follow her, you'll love the trip." --Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of Public Radio's national food show, The Splendid Table , from American Public Media, "Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge'is the essential cookbook for anyone who wants to stir-fry with confidence, even mastery.'Grace Young'has interviewed exceptional?Chinese cooks from all over the world'to document their stories and recipes and to'reveal the many ways in which stir-frying has sustained the Chinese in cultures as far-flung as?India, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Peru, France, and America.' Whether you are seeking a practical and inspiring Chinese cookbook or a beautiful culinary history, ?look no further."?--Paula Wolfert, author ofMediterranean Clay Pot Cooking?, "Young, whose expertise in wok technique has already enlightened American cooks, has now gathered recipes for stir-frying reflecting culinary traditions as far-flung as Indonesia and Peru.For the novice, Young offers lots of basic yet learned advice on shopping for unfamiliar ingredients and on assembling a Chinese pantry. Photographs and step-by-step instructions make fundamental wok tools and techniques accessible to even the least experienced. Her sidebars featuring talented stir-frying masters from all over the world add human dimension to the recipes." -- Mark Knoblauch , Booklist, "With this extraordinarily inspiring and comprehensive book, Grace Young establishes herself not only as one of the world's great experts in Chinese cooking but as one of its few genuine masters. Buy it, read it, cook from it—and soon you will be on your way to becoming a stir-frying master yourself."?--James Oseland, editor-in-chief ofSaveurand author ofCradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore?, "Stir-frying may have been pedestrianized by generations of vegetarian college students, but this beautiful, comprehensive cookbook restores it to its rightful place among the most elegant cookery techniques. Young has a scholarly yet impassioned approach, and she fuses personal anecdotes, meticulously researched history, and stir-fry'related arcana to illuminate her subject. For the serious home cook, this informative, lyrical tome is an inspiration."--Publishers Weekly, "With this extraordinarily inspiring and comprehensive book, Grace Young establishes herself not only as one of the world's great experts in Chinese cooking but as one of its few genuine masters. Buy it, read it, cook from it--and soon you will be on your way to becoming a stir-frying master yourself." --James Oseland, editor-in-chief of Saveur and author of Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Sipce Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, "Grace Young is one of the very best cookbook authors writing today. Her newest book,Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge: The Ultimate Guide to Mastery, With Authentic Recipes and Storiesis essential reading for anyone interested in Chinese cooking."--Erica Marcus,Newsday, "Young, whose expertise in wok technique has already enlightened American cooks, has now gathered recipes for stir-frying reflecting culinary traditions as far-flung as Indonesia and Peru.For the novice, Young offers lots of basic yet learned advice on shopping for unfamiliar ingredients and on assembling a Chinese pantry. Photographs and step-by-step instructions make fundamental wok tools and techniques accessible to even the least experienced. Her sidebars featuring talented stir-frying masters from all over the world add human dimension to the recipes." - Mark Knoblauch , Booklist, "The new cookbook by Grace Young is an extended love poem to the wok. It has more than 100 fab recipes, from classics such as Stir-Fried Beef and Broccoli to delicious hybrids like Chinese Jamaican Jerk Chicken Fried Rice and Chinese Trinidadian Stir-Fried Shrimp and Rum. Young's travels take her around the globe and along the way, fortunate readers will learn how to rock the wok." --Matt Schaffer, The Boston Herald, "For Grace Young, poet-laureate of the wok, a way of cooking is a way of life. Through stories, practical kitchen advice, and eminently doable recipes, Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge takes the art of stir-frying to a new level." --Betty Fussell, author of Raising Steaks: The Life & Times of American Beef, "Grace Young's masterful book reveals stir-frying as 'a cooking method of great subtlety and sophistication.' She provides a sense of spirit, of excitement, that makes stir-frying delicious fun. Recipes are clearly written and detailed; you'll get the requisite hand-holding to stir-fry your way to a delicious dinner....Young has done an admirable job showing how this ancient technique can be deliciously new and cool."--Bill Daley,Chicago Tribune, "With this extraordinarily inspiring and comprehensive book, Grace Young establishes herself not only as one of the world's great experts in Chinese cooking but as one of its few genuine masters. Buy it, read it, cook from it—and soon you will be on your way to becoming a stir-frying master yourself." --James Oseland, editor-in-chief ofSaveurand author ofCradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore , "Grace Young's masterful book reveals stir-frying as 'a cooking method of great subtlety and sophistication.' She provides a sense of spirit, of excitement, that makes stir-frying delicious fun. Recipes are clearly written and detailed; you'll get the requisite hand-holding to stir-fry your way to a delicious dinner....Young has done an admirable job showing how this ancient technique can be deliciously new and cool." --Bill Daley, Chicago Tribune, '"Trying to flip quickly through this book is impossible.' Nearly every page turn caught me up with something I had to read.'Grace Young brings us the entire being of the wok.'?Yes, she's a gifted recipe writer, hand holding through each step, so success comes pretty effortlessly. But the revelation with Grace goes further.' The wok is probably'the most underrated (and underpriced) piece of equipment we have.' Grace knows its life, its place not solely in China, but in the world. The wok is immediacy, tradition and maybe even an instrument of life force.' Did I get carried away? Maybe, but that's where Grace can take you. Follow her, you'll love the trip."--Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of Public Radio's national food show,The Splendid Table?, from American Public Media, "Trying to flip quickly through this book is impossible. Nearly every page turn caught me up with something I had to read. Grace Young brings us the entire being of the wok. Yes, she's a gifted recipe writer, hand holding through each step, so success comes pretty effortlessly. But the revelation with Grace goes further. The wok is probably the most underrated (and underpriced) piece of equipment we have. Grace knows its life, its place not solely in China, but in the world. The wok is immediacy, tradition and maybe even an instrument of life force. Did I get carried away? Maybe, but that's where Grace can take you. Follow her, you'll love the trip." --Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of Public Radio's national food show, The Splendid Table ®, from American Public Media, "With this extraordinarily inspiring and comprehensive book, Grace Young establishes herself not only as one of the world's great experts in Chinese cooking but as one of its few genuine masters. Buy it, read it, cook from it—and soon you will be on your way to becoming a stir-frying master yourself."--James Oseland, editor-in-chief ofSaveurand author ofCradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Sipce Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, "Trying to flip quickly through this book is impossible. Nearly every page turn caught me up with something I had to read. Grace Young brings us the entire being of the wok. Yes, she's a gifted recipe writer, hand holding through each step, so success comes pretty effortlessly. But the revelation with Grace goes further. The wok is probably the most underrated (and underpriced) piece of equipment we have. Grace knows its life, its place not solely in China, but in the world. The wok is immediacy, tradition and maybe even an instrument of life force. Did I get carried away? Maybe, but that's where Grace can take you. Follow her, you'll love the trip."--Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of Public Radio's national food show,The Splendid Table®, from American Public Media, "Grace Young is one of the very best cookbook authors writing today. Her newest book, Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge: The Ultimate Guide to Mastery, With Authentic Recipes and Stories is essential reading for anyone interested in Chinese cooking." --Erica Marcus, Newsday
