Official Review: Kitchens Beyond Borders by Ronald LeClair

[Jacque33]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Kitchens Beyond Borders" by Ronald LeClair.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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When I pick up a cookbook I don’t intend to read it from cover to cover, as I did with this book. Skipping around and looking through the different recipes is part of the fun. China: Kitchens Beyond Borders, International Cooking Made Easy, A Culinary Adventure by Ronald LeClair, an epub book, was easy to navigate from the beginning. When I opened the first page, I knew exactly what recipes were included and where to find them. The links worked perfectly.

The recipes in the book were familiar and found in just about any Chinese restaurant, “westernized” as the author explains it, and represented a wide range of regions. They were easy to follow and most used popular, fresh ingredients. The names of the recipes told you exactly what to expect, although a preparation time would have been helpful. Every recipe went together to create a large buffet style meal or could be modified and cooked one at a time to serve fewer people. Side dishes were created to go along with each of the main dishes, where one could pick and choose.

There were several layout issues with this book. Some recipes listed ingredients by letters, some weren’t labeled at all. When a recipe called for a whole and a fraction of a measurement, sometimes the fraction wasn’t separated by a space, making it difficult to read. There were times when the amount of the measurement wasn’t separate either, for example 2tbsp instead of 2 tbsp. I think my biggest complaint was when one recipe would begin on the same page that another ended, even if it meant just the title and one ingredient was listed.

The author explained briefly, on the back of the book and near the end, what his experience was. He had travelled extensively and had cooked for large groups of people in camps. Knowing this at the beginning or having a narrative throughout the book would have helped me trust the recipes.

I give this book 2 out of 4 stars based on layout, some editing errors, and lack of character. The pictures were appealing and easy to see on the screen. It gave a sense of what the dish should look like when complete. The instructions were clear. I didn’t have any problem knowing what the next step was. I think the recipes will appeal to a large audience but the layout might turn some away.

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Kitchens Beyond Borders
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[kimmyschemy06]

That was a very honest review. I'm not much of a cook and a cookbook would be very helpful to me. This sounds like something I could easily follow. Too bad, though, about the errors. Good job on the review.

[Jacque33]

Thank you kimmyschemy06. I hope it helps the author in the long run.