Congrats to Bobby Chinn for publication this month of his recipe book Wild, Wild East.

For those who have not yet had the pleasure, Bobby stars in a television show about Asian cuisine and runs my favorite Hanoi restaurant. Creatively enough, he calls the place Bobby Chinn. Bobby’s restaurant serves some of the best food in Hanoi and is filled with resident characters of Vietnam.

The biggest character of all – of course – being Bobby and his book is certain to reflect that:

Vietnamese food is the new hip – light, fresh, clean and healthy – cuisine. Who better to delve into its secrets than the most vibrant and renowned exponent of modern Vietnamese cuisine? Hanoi restaurateur and enfant terrible, Bobby Chinn.

Chinn’s first book, Wild, Wild East, gives the most comprehensive account of this diverse and exotic cuisine ever published in English. Sharing his passion for this unique style of cooking, Chinn takes the reader on a journey of discovery into what he believes to be one of the world’s greatest cuisines.

The book is jam-packed with recipes: There are classics such as Prawn and Papaya Salad and “Pho” Rice Noodle Soup, unusual dishes such as Rice Paper Wrapped Foie Gras on Apple Compote, Tamarind and Apple Jus, and plenty of Chinn’s own fusion-style dishes. In addition, the compendium is an authentic guide to Vietnamese food as it is eaten today. Special photography by award-winning photographer Jason Lowe and personal anecdotes from Chinn make this an illuminating culinary tour. Read about his first experiences of running a kitchen, how he found out the recipe for the secret sauce for grilled chicken, and his off-the-wall tales of the more unusual foodstuffs and ingredients.

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