The breath of a wok : unlocking the spirit of Chinese wok cooking through recipes and lore

Award-winning author Grace Young celebrates and demystifies the art of wok cooking for the Western home cook.

Youngs fascination with wok cooking began in San Franciscos Chinatown, where her father taught her to appreciate wok hay, the elusive and prized taste that food achieves when cooked in a wok. As an adult, her quest to reproduce that extraordinary taste sent her on a journey through America, Hong Kong, and China, where she gathered stories, recipes, and advice from home cooks, professional chefs, and culinary teachers. The result is not just a cookbook but a unique documentation of a way of life: wok cooking is not just about recipes, but about cultivating and cooking with all the senses, and about perpetuating one of the worlds oldest culinary traditions.
Beginning with the selection, seasoning, and care of a wok, Young elucidates the secrets of wok hay and offers 120 recipes ranging from simple to complex, including favorites like Kung Pao...