My family kitchen by Tommy Pham

MasterChef fan favourite from seasons 13 & 14 Tommy Phan, shares his love of cooking in this comprehensive and beautifully presented cookbook. With a glowing foreword from MasterChef Judge Melissa Leong, an introduction and bio from Tommy himself, this cookbook has a place in the homes of passionate cooks, both experienced and inexperienced. There is a well set out contents page with recipes divided into the following chapters: Main Meals, Protein and Veg, Soups, A Full Meal, Noodles, Snacks, Sweets and Hacks. Before the recipe pages, the author shares recommendations and tips about ingredients and equipment.

The emphasis in this cookbook is on family cooking so each recipe often mentions the dish serves are for 2 adults and 2 littlies. Before each recipe is a personal comment from Tommy regarding the dish to be created and often an extra ‘Tommy’s tip’. Most dishes are presented across a double page spread with the first page being the recipe set out in the familiar procedural way and a glossy photograph of the dish/dishes on the adjacent page. Some of the longer recipes such as B?n Thang (Hanoi Chicken Noodle Soup) is spread across four pages. One dish sure to please is the Quick Fruit Ice Cream which sounds delicious. The only ingredients required are 3 cups frozen mango cubes, 1 cup coconut milk, 1-3 tablespoons honey. The method is to blend all the ingredients until smooth, then eat immediately or freeze for an hour for a thicker texture. Sure to be hit with both children and adults. Also shared throughout the book are a number of photographs of Tommy and his sons, enjoying kitchen and cooking time together. In the final pages are ‘Play in the Kitchen’ activities for children to do plus a detailed index, and acknowledgements.

For those who love Asian-inspired dishes and learning more about Vietnamese cooking and culture this cookbook is a must-have.

Themes: Family, Cooking, Kitchen Activities, Vietnamese Recipes, Asian-inspired Dishes.

Kathryn Beilby