Clarkson Potter Cook Like a Local: Flavors That Can Change How You Cook and See the World: A Cookbook

Loving this and have been exposed to some great new ingredients that are available from our local Asian grocer. Especially the red boat fish sauce which is definitely a step up from the regular fish sauce we use. Some great marinades for our weekend BBQ with an Asian twist. A little more depth in flavours then other similar cookbooks I have.

Full disclosure, I am a Chris Shepherd fan girl and always have been. As a Houstonian I love the way he has embraced our city and taken it to new and exciting culinary heights. Needless to say I had this book on pre-order since I heard it was coming. When it arrived I sat down and read through it like it was a novel. The stories Chris tells about the food and Houston had me riveted from page one! I did wait to write my review until I had tried some of the recipes. Now that I have made three of the recipes for one meal, I can whole heartedly give this cookbook the five stars it deserves. The recipes are easy to follow, full of detailed descriptions of any ingredients that might be hard to come by and the finished results were something to be very proud of. I would make these recipes for every day meals but they are also exceptional enough to serve to company. I look forward to cooking my way through this entire book. Thank you, Chris, for sharing your stories and these incredible recipes!

I’m a Houstonian and Chris Shepherd is our local foodie hero. I expected a book with his recipes. What I didn’t expect was a great book that reads like a novel full of his stories of moving to Houston and encountering the most diverse population in the US and embracing the many foods brought in from immigrant populations. Fish sauce! I love his love and description of fish sauce! We’ve already had a dinner party using his recipes and it was like eating at one of his James Beard Award winning restaurants. The only thing missing was Chris himself. We’d love him to come to the party and share more of his stories with us. This is more than a cookbook. It’s like a great class in expanding your mind and your palate. Way to represent, Mr. Shepherd!

The author shows how to introduce key ingredients from international cuisine into every dishes to kick up the flavor. I've only tried one recipe so far - the Korean Fried Chicken. Warning: The marinade (heated sauce of fish sauce, sugar and garlic), stunk up my apartment really bad! But the results were amazing!

The recipes are great. I now have a real appreciation for what fish sauce can add to a dish. But more importantly, Shepherd has opened my eyes to other cuisines. Just because I'm not an expert on Vietnamese food doesn't mean I can't go in and ask questions. I won't be intimidated again.