Buy it for the Pictures Alone
Pros: Neat techniques, hilarious stories
Cons: Mistakes in various recipes.
This book is GREAT to have. While there are mistakes in the recipes here and there (probably typos or something), this is one of my favorite cookbooks. I love the writing and the voice that David Chang has in this book is so incredibly clear. He talks to you like a real Chef would, versus what you think a third-person narrative would be coming FROM a Chef.
The dish composition and fun ingredient ideas in this book are great. (Cereal milk custard, chocolate-hazelnut thing, caramelized cornflakes, avocado puree.) Everything is original yet you feel that wonderful tie to tradition. Every component of a dish in the book is so fascinating and wonderful that you feel as if you're learning a new language when you read it. My favorite thing about this book is that it's chock-full of real stories and anecdotes from Chang himself. It's like he just grabbed a bottle of vino one night, got a pack of cigs, and just started writing. I highly-highly-HIGHLY recommend this book. It's stupid-expensive, but the pictures alone are worth it.
