Richard Blais

Xi’an Famous Foods: The Cuisine of Western China from New York’s Favorite Noodle Shop is the long-awaited cookbook from the iconic restaurant, revealing never-before-published recipes. “Vibrant photography . . . as satisfying to flip through as it is to cook from.” ―New York Times “For any cook or foodie, having access to these recipes is almost unfair.” ―Richard Blais, winner, Top Chef All-Stars “A cultural chronicle of both cuisine and the immigrant experience in America.” ―Vogue Since its humble opening in 2005, Xi’an Famous Foods has expanded from one stall in Flushing to 14 locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. CEO Jason Wang divulges the untold story of how this empire came to be, alongside the never-before-published recipes that helped create this New York City icon. Recipes include: Tiger Vegetables Salad Lamb Meat SoupLiang Pi “Cold Skin Noodles”Spicy Cumin LambXFF Spicy and Sour DumplingsBeef and Ginkgo CongeeHerbal Hot Pot BrothSpicy Cumin Whole FishSpicy and Tingly BeefAnd more! Wang writes in his introduction, “Here it is, the never-been-told version of how the XFF empire came to be—the random weird pit stops along the way; the family drama behind the scenes; the labor hidden in the secret recipes, and, yes, some really f*cking good spicy cumin lamb.” This unique, extraordinary cookbook helps home cooks make the dishes that fans of Xi’an Famous Foods line up for while also exploring the vibrant cuisine and culture of Xi’an. Transporting readers to the streets of Xi’an and the kitchens of New York’s Chinatown, Xi’an Famous Foods is the cookbook that fans of Xi’an Famous Foods have been waiting for. Includes Color Photographs

One of Smithsonian Magazine's Ten Best Food Books of the Year A revolutionary new guide to pairing ingredients, based on a famous chef's groundbreaking research into the chemical basis of flavor As an instructor at one of the world’s top culinary schools, James Briscione thought he knew how to mix and match ingredients. Then he met IBM Watson. Working with the supercomputer to turn big data into delicious recipes, Briscione realized that he (like most chefs) knew next to nothing about why different foods taste good together. That epiphany launched him on a quest to understand the molecular basis of flavor—and it led, in time, to The Flavor Matrix. A groundbreaking ingredient-pairing guide, The Flavor Matrix shows how science can unlock unheard-of possibilities for combining foods into astonishingly inventive dishes. Briscione distills chemical analyses of different ingredients into easy-to-use infographics, and presents mind-blowing recipes that he's created with them. The result of intensive research and incredible creativity in the kitchen, The Flavor Matrix is a must-have for home cooks and professional chefs alike: the only flavor-pairing manual anyone will ever need.