Cook Korean! by Robin Ha

Lately our household has been into Korean food. One of my coworkers in Korean and is always giving me tips and recipes. I spotted Cook Korean on someone else's blog or instagram. I'd love to learn to make more Korean food. I've made Kimchi and we have bi bim bop a couple of times a month. We do love Korean food.

I loved how Ha created a character and uses graphics to show you how to make each dish. The colorful pages really draw you in. I wish more cookbooks were drawn this way. I made it more fun learning to cook.

I didn't have time to make anything before I had to take this one back which was a shame. But I saved some recipes and plan to make more Korean food in 2018. Others who shared their thoughts on Cook Korean!: The He Said, She Said Experience, Blogging For Books, and Cooks Without Borders.
This is my seventh read for the Foodies Read Challenge.

Pretty Good Number One by Matthew Amster-Burton

I must have checked out Pretty Good Number One 4 or 5 times from the library. The story sounded interesting to me. A Seattle family goes to live in Tokyo for a month, mostly to eat. Matthew and his daughter, Iris, are Japanese food fanatics. From yakitori to  Chankonabe to okomiyaki., they went to Japan to try it all. Seattle has decent Japanese community and several Japanese restaurants. Sushi is the most common, but Ramen and, of course Teriyaki, are easy to find. I knew one yakitori joint that diversified their menu and therefore limiting the yakitori available. Pretty Good Number One just pushed Tokyo to the top of my travel wish list.
Amster-Burton's style is conversational. I felt like he was talking to me. And because he lives in Seattle, he made comparisons to things I know. I enjoyed his stories. I learned a lot about Japanese food which surprised me since I already know a lot. Now, back to looking up fares to Tokyo.
Others who shared their thoughts on Pretty Good Number One: Readers Lane, La Fuji Mama, and The adventures of Furochan.
This was my sixth read for the Foodies Read.

September Book Update

Aquaman: The Trench vol 1 by Geoff Johns
Bliss by Lynsay Sands
Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker

Probably my worse month yet. I've been in a reading mood but not enough hours in the day. Hoping to get more reading in this month.

Book Stats:

Foodies Read: 1 (Cork Dork) YTD: 5

What's In A Name: 0 (None This Month) YTD: 1

Read Harder: 0 (None This month) YTD: 5

Total: 66

Weekend Cooking: Cork Dork by Bianca Boker

I grabbed Cork Dork off the library shelf because I love learning more about wine (and food and other beverages too). I also love food related memoirs. So Cork Dork really hit out of the park for me. I loved Bosker's writing style and enjoyed reading about her adventure.

Bosker is a wine civilian. She enjoys a glass with dinner, buys wines that liked, and tries new wines sometimes with friends. But she can't really describe the flavors of wine or describe the wine beyond it's wine. But she meets a man who is studying for a sommelier competition which causes her to search exactly what sommeliers do, how they are trained, and how the compete and win these competitions. Bosker challenges herself to go from wine novice to master sommelier in a year. Cork Dork follows her journey.

I enjoy a glass of wine occasionally. I tend to like reds but I've had a few whites surprise me. Basically, Bosker learns smelling more and learning to identify more smells will help her taste wine better. So I took her advice. I walk around smelling more. It sounds crazy but it's amazing how much you miss. I work in a very urban environment. Some smells aren't things I want to smell like garbage and stinky people. But I made note of everything I smelled and tried to describe it. I noticed that I could taste food better. I haven't been able to have any wine lately, too busy. Bosker really encourages folks to try more wines. Don't drink the same thing all the time. Ask for recommendations. Try something new.

Definitely a good read. Give as a gift with a bottle of wine. Others who shared their thoughts about Cork Dork: Decanter, Wine on VI, and Terroirist.
This is my fifth read for the Foodies Read Challenge.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth  Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

June Book Tally

The Comic Book Story of Beer by Jonathan Hennessey
A Meatloaf in Every Oven by Frank Bruni and Jennifer Steinhauer
The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord
Every Heart A Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Wonder Woman vol 2 by Greg Rucka
Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

My knitting really got in the way of my reading. I'm thinking about doing audio books again. I have to start making some more progress on these challenges.

Book Stats:

Foodies Read: 2 (The Comic Book Story of Beer & A Meatloaf in Every Oven) YTD: 4

What's In A Name: 0 (None This Month) YTD: 1

Read Harder: 0 (None This month) YTD: 5

Total: 52

Weekend Cooking: The Comic Book Story of Beer by Jonathan Hennessey & Mike Smith

I picked up The Comic Book Story of Beer because I like comic books and I like beer. While whiskey is alcoholic beverage of choice, I appreciate a good beer. I love trying new brews. But I know very little about beer.

I really enjoyed The Comic Book Story of Beer. It starts with the beginning-the first fermented drinks. The story takes the reader through the entire history of how beer went from a seasonal beverage to a huge national product. I loved the single page panels that explained one type of beer like porter, India Pale Ale, lagers, and Belgian wits. This book definitely made me want to go out and try more beer.

This was my third read for the Foodies Read Challenge.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth  Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

March Book Tally

Books for Living by Will Schwalbe
Big Bad Breakfast by John Currance
Wrinkles by Paco Roca
Just Juliet by Charlotte Reagan
Revival vol 1 by Tim Seeley
Elmer by Gerry Alanguilan
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Creamy & Crunchy by Jon Krampner
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
Black Panther vol 1 by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Revival vol 2 by Tim Seeley
Displacement by Lucy Knisley
Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia by Greg Rucka
Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes

I read a lot of graphic novels this month. Catching up to my Goodreads goal, only 2 books behind now.

Book Stats:

Foodies Read: 1 (Creamy & Crunchy) YTD: 2

What's In A Name: 0 (none this month) YTD: 0

Read Harder: 2 (Books for Living and Just Juliet) YTD: 3

Total: 29

Weekend Cooking: Creamy & Crunchy by Jon Krampner

I picked up Creamy & Crunchy because who wouldn't want to learn more about peanut butter. I do enjoy a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a good peanut butter cookie. But Creamy & Crunchy didn't hit the spot.

Krampner has a conversational tone but sometimes it rubbed me the wrong way. Sometimes I felt that I was a someone's house and he was recounting what he learned and every time I thought it was over, he'd find someone else to tell me. There are plenty of facts about where and how peanuts are grown. Some debate over who invented peanut butter (Not George Washington Carver) as well as the loss of regional brands that were made for specific tastes. There's even a chapter on peanut butter in music. I admit I skimmed a large portion of the book.

There are some interesting peanut butter recipes through out the book like Elvis' favorite peanut butter sandwich. I'd hoped to make one but time got away from me. I do love a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich with strawberry or grape jam. What's your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter?
This was my second read for the Foodies Read challenge.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth  Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

February Book Tally

The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Pancakes in Paris by Craig Carlson
You Can't Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
Lost In NYC by Nadja Spiegelman
Paper Girls vol 2 by Brian K Vaughan
Carrie by Stephen King
Jessica Jones vol 2 by Brian Michael Bendis
Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel by Anya Ulinich

Much more productive month. A lot of good reads this month. Feeling like I'm back on track. Plus I got one read towards the Foodies Read challenge. I really want to finish that challenge this year.

Book Stats:

Foodies Read: 1 (Pancakes In Paris) YTD: 1

What's In A Name: 0 (none this month) YTD: 0

Read Harder: 1 (The Mothers) YTD: 1

Total: 15

Pancakes In Paris by Craig Carlson

I picked up Pancakes In Paris on a whim. I do love reading books about Paris and pancakes are delicious. This seemed like the perfect book. I haven't heard of Breakfast In America but when I go to Paris, I'll check it out. I'm glad I picked it up. I enjoyed Carlson's story.

France and in particularly, Paris, had long been a part of Carlson's life. His sister spoke a pidgin French to annoy their father. Carlson took French in school and later studied abroad in France. But what made a former screenwriter open a restaurant in Paris when he had no restaurant experience. Each time he came to Paris, he missed the traditional American diner experience. I love a good diner so I loved hearing about how Carlson researched diners. Plus Carlson's voice is so conversational. I felt like he was just telling me a story.

Pancakes in Paris is the kind of food memoir I like. Plenty of personal stories, honest stories about how hard it is to open a business, and funny stories about living life and finding yourself. Others who shared their thoughts on Pancakes In Paris: The He Said She Said Experience, Eat. Live. Travel. Write, and Seattle Book Mama.
This is my first read for the Foodies Read challenge.

Foodies Read 2017

I'm going for the Sous-Chef level again (9-13 books) even though I had some trouble with that level this year. I love to read about food. Besides it's supposed to be a challenge! To sign up, go here.