Title:	Damn Good Chinese Food: Dumplings, Egg Rolls, Bao Buns, Sesame Noodles, Roast Duck, Fried Rice, and More―50 Recipes Inspired by Life in Chinatown
	Author:	Chris Cheung
	Published:	November 23, 2021, Skyhorse
	No. of Pages:	208
	Cover Price:	$26.99 Hardcover, $16.99

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Although there are dozens –maybe hundreds – of good Chinese cookbooks available online and in bookstores, Damn Good Chinese Food: Dumplings, Egg Rolls, Bao Buns, Sesame Noodles, Roast Duck, Fried Rice, and More―50 Recipes Inspired by Life in Chinatown is a cut above. While not a basic Chinese cookbook or “complete” cookbook including all of the recipes from China and more, this one has everything anyone might actually need. The Chinese recipes are mostly Chinese-American and are the recipes Chris Cheung, the author and celebrated chef, ate while growing up in New York City’s Chinatown.

Included are chapters on shopping at Asian markets and equipment needed to make luscious Chinese dishes at home. What stands out, however, are the dishes and the stories before every recipe that make them interesting and appealing. There are photographs of most of the dishes which add to the charm of the cookbook. There are recipes for many classic dishes found in Chinese restaurants in America, and recipes for Chinese snacks and even desserts. The recipes are easy to follow, but aren’t particularly simple – many have several steps and are time-consuming, which doesn’t take away from their appeal, but is a reality check where readers have to realize that some good dishes take time and can’t be made in 30 minutes or less.

The prose is fascinating and extremely well-written. This is a book that is good enough to curl up into a corner and read just like a good novel. The only problem is that the food looks so good, readers will need to get up at some time to cook dinner and it will be one or more of the recipes in this book. Anyone who wants to make excellent Chinese dishes and is willing to put in a little time will love this cookbook. Highly recommended for inclusion on every cookbook shelf.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.