• Share:
  • Send to Reddit
  • Send to StumbleUpon
  • Send to Facebook
  • Send to del.icio.us
  • Send to digg

Cook the Book: 'The Shun Lee Cookbook'

Book CoverIn honor of the Beijing Olympics, this week's Cook the Book selection is The Shun Lee Cookbook: Recipes from a Chinese Restaurant Dynasty, by chef, restaurant owner, and culinary visionary Michael Tong.

Until the 1960s Chinese food in America consisted of bungled Cantonese dishes like egg foo young and barbecued spare ribs. But that all changed when Tong opened his first restaurant in New York City. He introduced spicy, regional recipes for crispy sea bass, dry sautéed string beans, and red cooked chicken. In the process, he elevated the status of Chinese food from takeout to fine dining. (Restaurants don't get much more elegant than Shun Lee West, with its arresting red-eyed dragon that winds around the ceiling.)

Intimidated by the idea of preparing Chinese food at home? Don't be. All the recipes in The Shun Lee Cookbook have been adapted for home kitchens, resulting in an exotic-yet-approachable collection of dishes made from everyday supermarket ingredients. In addition to classics such as hot and sour soup and pan-fried pork dumplings, there are innovative new dishes like Hunan lamb with scallions and soft shell crabs with black bean sauce.

Win 'The Shun Lee Cookbook'

In addition to excerpting a recipe each day this week, we're also giving away five (5) copies of The Shun Lee Cookbook. To enter for a chance to win, just tell us in the comments section below: What would you eat for your celebratory dinner after winning Olympic gold?

Five (5) people will be chosen at random from among eligible comments below. Comments will close Monday, August 18 at noon ET. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Comments are closed: 368 Comments:

lobster with ginger and scallions

Surf and Turf and plenty of beer.

Lobster roll, clam chowder, fried clams, and fries.

Clearly there are many reasons why I'm not an Olympic champion.

Salt and pepper shrimp extra spicy!

Crazy amounts of Indian food and champagne.

Two pound steamed Maine lobster, crab cakes with hollandaise sauce, and a Key lime pie with a French pressed coffee.

Tacos, roll everything in them add sour cream, cheese, lettuce, tomato and let me at it. Wash it down with champagne. Add cheese cake covered with chocolate, strawberries and I would be set.

porterhouse steak with a baked potato, followed by salted caramel ice cream.

in beijing? peking duck!!

steak stuffed with blue cheese with salad, tiramisu for dessert

Surely something horrible for me!! A fresh corndog from the Western Idaho Fair, SLATHERED in mustard, with a side of fresh Idaho fries. And a very, very tall Guinness. Dear God, it's time for lunch.....

double cheeseburger, onion rings, some pickled okra on the side, and an ice-cold 32 oz. Carta Blanca for a nice frosty beverage.

Chelo kabab, with a side of tekka maki.

I would start with a Bloomin' Onion style starter, followed by a small juicy steak and a half rack of baby back ribs, with a side of loaded mashed potatoes (or load hash browns) and grilled green beans with a light rblush wine. I would finish with white chocolate hazelnut cheescake and a coffee.

A meal at Shun Lee would be the best reward in the world!!!

Mmm....there was a lamb dish I had in Xi'An, China that was AMAZING. It was an entire leg, bone in, roasted until it fell off the bone, and then served with a side of dry cumin and salt for dipping. I'm not sure what else I would have, but if I was in Beijing, I bet I could find someone who could tell me what it was that I ate in Xi'an! (I was sick for three days after nearly FINISHING that leg by myself....but it was SO worth it.) Anyone here know what it was called?

Salt and pepper shrimp, Chinese broccoli, crispy roast side of pork, and lots of those little egg custard tarts.

Squab with flowering chives.

Binge fest of Fish n' Chips from Falkner's in Hackney, London

Champagne, champagne and more champagne.

Oh! I guess some food to go with it: Steak, shrimp scampi, assorted cheeses and a big salad with blue cheese dressing. For dessert, fresh berries with whipped cream.

Just because I won doesn't mean I can go off my low carb diet! :)

Definitely something fried. The best beer I could get my hands on.

Prime Rib, a hearty salad and a foxy red wine.

Champagne with pate for starter;
Vodka martini with Crab legs and drawn butter and scalloped potatoes and roasted veggies for dinner; and
Limoncello with sorbet for dessert!

Bring on the dumplings fom Shun Lee Cafe with a big plae of spare ribs!

I would eat lobster! yum.

i would win the medal in the morning and go out and get dim sum for lunch

Peking duck "buns" with shredded scallions and cucumbers, Shanghainese soup dumplings, chewy rice cakes with lots of seafood, with a dessert of mango soup with pomelo chunks and tapioca.

cevapcici and lepinja from Bosnia

mongolian beef, heavy on the spices.

Steak and Scallops

Foie gras. Yum.

Barbecued pork ribs and cornbread, for I am a barbecue addict.

i had some chicken jambalaya!!!

my husband's fried chicken.

Fresh crudo, followed by a crisp tomato salad, a juicy ribeye, cooked to a perfect medium rare, with corn on the cob, and of course, coconut cake with vanilla bean ice cream!

a big fat juicy burger :)

i had some chicken jambalaya!!!

tasting menu at alinea.

beer and pepperoni pizza

A delicious mixed grille ....perfect sirloin tips , moist chicken cutlets , lean pork tenderloins .......with some creamy scalloped potatoes .....fresh corn on the cob .....a perfect caesar salad ....and a hot fudge sundae !

pizza, beer, ice cream, and bacon

Kung Pao Shrimp and champagne.........

A big ol ribeye steak, macaroni and cheese, and a good beer to go with it.

squash roll sushi!

In Beijing, Peking duck.

Enough pan-fried dumplings to completely reverse any health benefits from training and competing, haha.

Poached spring chicken with lop cheong, scallions and white sesame sauce; Double lobster with black peppercorn sauce; Snow pea leaves with lump crabmeat; Whole steamed bass with bacon, ginger and green onions; Salt-roasted pork ribs; Clay pot tripe; Black bean beef tenderloin with bell peppers; Black mushrooms with abalone and baby bok choy; Salt fish fried rice; Shark's fin soup.

Peking duck, of course!

Yep, Peking duck.

Hong Kong-style noodles. I mean, good, handmade noodles. By the huge plate.

Definitely Peking duck.

I would have stuffed shells and maybe garlic bread.

@Teahlo that sounds a whole lot like the Moroccan dish "Lamb Meshoui", though the Interweb only seems to have approximations, probably because no one has the room to bury a clay oven and wait for hours while it cooks...

Since the Olympics in in China, I'm assuming I'd have something Chinese. Perhaps beef rib stew, some kind of noodles, and friggin' good tea...

i go with a 'steamship roast' and all the fixin's

Pan-crisped noodles! Yum!

How about a dimsum feast?? an endless stream of steamed, baked & fried little treasures... shrimp, crab, pork, veggie..... MMMmmmmMMMMmmmm

I probably would eat anything I could find. Seriously, Lobster or Crab would fill the bill for me.

Chicken salsa with bread pudding

chile cheese fries!

anything with rice

soup dumplings!

cheeseburger and fries

Dim sum!! and then lobster, baked clams and chocolate ganache cake

Sushi with a great Savingon blanc. Yummy yummy.

I would probably have lobster and champagne. Maybe something with truffles (if I won Gold).
gkstratos@yahoo.com

Fried chicken-I've got a thing for fried chicken lately.

A huge hamburger with cheddar cheese, Applewood Bacon, and sliced avocado, thickly sliced!

steak with a loaded baked potato, grilled shrimp, and steamed asparagus

Jumbo crab legs with tons of melted butter.

Kobe burger with Foie gras

Ribeye steak with Bearnaise sauce. And lots of beer.

I'd likely not want something heavy after so much physical activity- maybe a nice citrus sorbet!

a very decadent fettucine alfredo

A real thick rib steak, pasta with grilled vegetables and salad with vinaigrette dressing and creme brulee for dessert.

I would eat 2 scoops of pistachio gelato on a sugar cone.

xiao long bao

The biggest Kobe ribeye steak in town

A nice bowl of chicken noodle soup.

8 course feast just like a chinese wedding!

Uni, oysters, hamachi... and a big bowl of fried artichokes & baby squid!

Borscht, cabbage and mushroom pierogi with sour cream, blinis with caviar, blueberry blintzes and frozen vodka, nastrovya!

Big Mac, fries, and a vanilla shake.

steak and pasta alfredo

Bacon and whiskey- perfect for any celebration!

Dim sum sampling and steamed pork buns.

steak with mushrooms

In my childhood my father served in Vietnam, and was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station in California's San Joaquin Valley. I had the great honor to live close to, and patronize often, the Imperial Dynasty, a 5-star restaurant in Hanford. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed recently after many years because chef Richard Wing's descendant didn't want to take over when he retired. If he were still cooking, I would give him carte blanche, and just sit back and enjoy--ah, to bask in his glow!

a full on chinese banquet, complete with shark's fin soup, roast suckling pig, ginger lobster, and steamed lotus-paste buns

If I was in Beijing...a huge bowl of dau fu fa, and a big plate of dumplings.

Anything involving braised pork belly.

veuve cliquot la grande dame; caviar; foie gras; oysters; mussels; amazing STINKY French cheese; baguettes and chocolate anything!!

A pizza margherita made by my hubby, washed down with lots of Bell's Two-Hearted Ale and followed by a chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting accompanied by mint chocolate chip ice cream.

about a dozen egg rolls

chataubriand with a port reduction sauce, mashed potatoes with truffle oil, and steamed green beans. If I had room, anything high quality chololate for dessert.

Crab legs, crunchy seasoned french fries, chocolatey chocolate cake, and a diet dr. pepper.

Fettucine Alfredo! Yum!

tea smoked duck, twice cooked pork and something fried

Thai duckling in green sauce, spring rolls with mint and cilantro with peanut sauce and pots du chocolate.

I love chinese food but don't know how to cook it myself. I would love to have this cook book so I can learn.

stuffed grape leaves. tabbouli and hummus with pita. kibbeh. lamb with wild rice pilaf. then more stuffed grape leaves (the ones with rice and currants, not the meat kind. they aren't as good).

A feast of the best local food in Beijing - and Champagne!

Egg Rolls, Spring Rolls and a sampler from a ful course Chinese buffet or dim sum.

Xiao long bao!

steak and lobster

Hmmm, in Beijing? A nice plate of dumplings, some silk potatoes, big bowls of noodles, peking duck.

Endless amounts of dumplings.

A good steak with a baked sweet potato and Caesar salad, with something rich and chocolately for dessert.

For these Olympics, I'd say veggie sticky rice, garlic eggplant, braised tofu and a sweet bean bun for dessert.

Lobster-and creme brulee for dessert!

roasted pork, steamed dumplings, shrimp and snow peas

feast of fresh seafood in hong kong

pulled pork bbq, beef brisket, sour cream potato salad, corn souffle, chedar biscuits with honey butter & chocolate chess pie

It would be a T-bone and a salad for me.

filet mignon and a loaded baked potato

Lobster, lots of butter...corn on the cob...fresh roles with butter and a big glass of expensive champaign!!!!!

A big ole' Maine lobster dinner with all the fixings and a cold beer.

I'll make a stir-fry with chicken and lots of vegetables and toast the athletes with a Chinese beer!

Lobster & shrimp stir fry

I would have some sweet and sour pork and fortune cookies.

Giant prawns, and lots of dumplings!

xiao long bao

Crab Sushi and some saki.

Whatever someone gave me and champagne.

It's a no brainer: Beijing Duck!

fancy sushi rolls

Champagne, serviche and kobe beef!

I would eat lobster, lobster and more lobster -- in any way, shape or form!!

salted squid w/ hot peppers

i would have dim sum, all different kinds.

Burgers & fries!

A really nice bottle of wine, lamb with rosemary-green peppercorn sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans, bittersweet chocolate tart

A French champagne, a nice grilled cut of grouper, fresh asparagus, a spinach salad with fresh raspberries and walnuts and feta cheese, and for dessert pot au creme.

In the city of Nanning there's a noodle soup called "Old Man Noodle".
Had it for lunch day after day when I lived there years ago. Loved it. Would love to have it again anytime! ---and especially for an Olympic Gold Medal celebration meal!

what could be better than chinese roast pork on garlick bread?

Hard boiled eggs...hundreds of hard boiled eggs

Peking duck and a few cold beers.

steamed crab legs w/ lemon
roasted corn on the cob
shredded carrot salad w/parsley
salted caramel gelato w/ a doubleshot of espresso poured on top

Bourban Chicken ,delicious.

Seafood and a very chocolatey dessert!

A huge steak - need the protein!

some sweetbreads,
some duck
some champagne
some chocolate

Chinese food of course!

I have no idea, it would depend on my mood.

A huuuuuge lobster!

Mmmmmmm...now I'm thinking of all my favorites, and I'm STARVING!!!! I'd definitly have to say I'd love to have a big ol' Porterhouse, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Casserole, Garden Salad with Ranch, with some Garlic Texas Toast, served with BEER, of course! Thanks for the opportunity to win this cookbook! I'd love to know how to make Chinese dishes!

honey walnut prawns, chicken salad, fried rice and chicken chow mein

An Olympic gold medalist (such as myself) from Team USA should celebrate another gold medal win by downing all least two grilled or broiled all-beef hotdogs on whole wheat buns with Vietti hot dog chilli sauce, yellow mustard, and finely chopped onoins and followed by copious amounts of Luzianne decaf ice tea with only a hint of sugar to the taste...!

the largest porterhouse I could get my hands on with french fries extra crispy. and the best champagne.

For dessert something chocolate

the largest porterhouse I could get my hands on with french fries extra crispy. and the best champagne.

For dessert something chocolate

I'm fine with a roast pork noodle soup bowl, with hearty broth and nicely charred pork. And slightly chewy noodles, of course.

Sushi - I'm a huge sushi fan and I eat it all the time!

In Beijing, Sweeat and sours shrimp and lobster.

Crispy Peking Duck and Roast Pork Bao.

For Dessert: Lemon Sorbet and lots of Fortune Cookies

in general - sushi tasting menu.

answer specific to Beijing? why, Peking duck, of course!

Peking or Mochi Duck, crispy eggplant with garlic sauce, sauteed string beams.

Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and chocolate cake!

Lobster or Shrimp marsal on a light and herby pasta.

a huge burger, big plate of fries and a milkshake

A nice steak with sauteed mushrooms and a big baked potato loaded.

I'd enjoy noshing on an assortment of cheeses, olives, couscous with veggies and some fresh berries.

After winning my Olympic gold, I would not be thinking about food. I would be focused on my next event. I am in the same league as Phelps!

We used to finish the NY Marathon with a trip to a Chinese restaurant where we would order one of everything. One of everything would be what I would need after years of training. Mary Lou Retton told me in the gym one day that she gained 8 lbs the week after she "retired" after the 1984 games. That would be me.

Shun Lee's shrimp w/ walnuts (w/ an add'l side of walnuts)

Hoisin Chicken in lettuce leaves, Grilled Tuna with Wasabi butter, cold sesame noodles and roasted pineapple cheesecake with macadamia nut crust.

yee mein + fried egg tofu and crispy chicken... maybe peking duck =) YUM!

Sushi or Braised Lamb Shanks (Surf & Turf)!

Char Siu (Chinese barbecue pork) with a side of cha sa bao.

A big bowl of noodles with some roast duck or pork

Mongolian BBQ.

The opposition. Ahhh, puns.

The crispy sea bass and dry-sauteed green beans sounds pretty darn good. I might also indugle in some steamed dumplings and something ducky.

I'd celebrate by going to an all-you-can-eat buffet!

calorie bomb time! I'd have a 1/3 lb murder burger with a zoom and ranch to dip the fried goodness into, and a root beer.

I nice big bowl of pasta with homemade pesto!

Xiao Long Bao!!!

big bowl of beef noodle soup.

Steak and bananas foster.

Lobster, grilled asparaus, baked potato and anything chocolate for dessert!

crab legs, crab rangoon and a big lobster tail

sushi from tojo's in vancouver.

Baby back ribs

Roast chicken and chocolate cake.

I'd have to have some champagne to celebrate and then I'd go on a seafood spree, with sushi, lobster, mussels, clams, crabs and shrimp. Thank you for the great contest!

grilled bone-in rib-eye

pan fried noodles, twice sauteed pork and hot tea

Prime Rib with a fully loaded baked potato.

Pizza and Barolo

I would eat oysters

grilled cheese

The largest, fattiest, carb-drenched meal I could think of. Probably something like deep-fried bacon. Followed up by deep-fried cheesecake. Then I'd go into a coma for a week.

A big juicy cheeseburger with all the trimmings and condiments and a true chocolater malt. Maybe two of each. And fries. Lots of fries.

Z

Shaomai. With loads and loads of Tsingtao.

Lobster with butter, lots of butter :)

Alaskan King Crab Legs

Crab Ravioli with a Brown Butter Rosemary Sauce with Grilled Sweetbreads

Seafood feast...lobster, shrimp, crab, scallops, salmon

It would depend on what I feel like. Dim sum? A big comforting bowl of pasta? Ice cream?

Considering that Michael Phelps reportedly eats between 8000 and 10000 calories PER DAY (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_calories_does_Michael_Phelps_eat) I'd tuck into bacon themed dinner. Bacon wrapped scallops for an appetizer, Apple and smoked-bacon salad with lychees and chili nuts, Cheddar and Bacon Bread, Bacon and thousand-year eggs for an entree, Chocolate covered bacon for dessert and a Bacon martini to round out the meal.

Lots of random seafood. and bacon

I would start off with crab ragoon appetizers with a spicy plum sauce
Szechuan Hot and Sour Soup.
Shrimp with a lobster sauce
Lots of hot tea!

linguini with clams, scallops and shrimp

A gold medal celebration in Bejing would call for Dim Sum!

Pork belly, some evil broth filled with chili peppers, steamed vegetables, dumplings...and keep it coming!

Crab in chili sauce.......with with those big coastal crabs imported from Sri Lanka

all you can eat korean bbq washed down with soju..

in beijing? A bowl of Lanzhou la mian with lots of Yanjing beer. Or if it's too hot for soup noodles, a big bowl of liang mian.

I would have to cruise the local open air markets and sample some of the exotic local fare. Lots of interesting stuff on sticks and such. I don't know what most of the food is called, but I would eat the local Chinese people are eating

Peking Duck Three Ways: carved duck in pancakes, duck morsels stir fry with bean sprouts, finishing with duck cabbage soup. Eight jewel rice for desert.

This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web's Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!

Lobster, steamed & split, with lots of butter,baked potato with sour cream & butter, fresh corn on the cob.

I would have peking duck or a chicken dish Chinese style. I think this book is just right. How to cook wonderful Chinese food at home! Thank you for the giveaway.
pintolinda (at) hotmail (dot) com

Chicken Cashew, fried rice and an egg roll with hot tea.

A giant blue cheese buffalo burger with a ton of fries slathered in mayo, and a bit chocolate malted milkshake on the side.

chinese steamed fish, sichuan style greens and eggplants, spicy tofu, rice, lotus root soup. Mango and longan for dessert.

I would chow on filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes and creme brulee. Mmmm :)

I really didn't know at first, but scrolling down to the comment box, I guess I'm drawn in by the many voices recommending Peking Duck. Accompany with exciting things local of which I've never heard.

All-you-can-eat Indian buffet. Blue Bell for dessert.

xiao long bao (a LOT of them), hand-pulled noodle soups, my mom's egg rolls

steamed fish in blacke bean sauce, honey -garlic ribs... to start.

Assuming the gold medal wasn't for competitive eating, I'd have to go for yum cha/dim sum, finishing up with the delightful ye jap gao.

Margaritas and some serious Mexican food!

Oysters, mac and cheese and unlimited amounts of sushi/sashimi. And then I'd start on the dessert table - starting off with the fruit based pies, working my way up towards the quadruple chocolate cakes.

I honestly doubt I would be able to eat anything. My favorite is garlic ginger chicken & broccoli.

Korean BBQ and beer!

Ribeye, bake potato with sour cream, salad with house dressing and a coke

Lots of seafood paired with lots of wine!

Lobster and shrimp!

MMmmm... I'd go to the best local authentic Chinese restaurant in the city and order one of each of everything on the menu.

japanese handrolls

Lobster ravioli

I guess I'd eat pennies or something since I'd be living in an alternate universe where people eat metal and I have athletic talent.

I'd have to find a place that makes good pork dumplings. The only place around where I live that had the good ones stopped making them. Any kind of seafood would be good too, especially crab and scallops.

Homemade New England Clam Chowder & Grilled Pizza! And a box of Devil Dogs for dessert because I can!

I would have a lobster du\ineer

Pizza and Lobster with a big bottle of Perrier Jouet and strawberries. Dessert would be a lovely Dulce de Leche or Tres Leches Cheesecake. Y-U-M!

Definitely lobster - steamed with steamed clams and scallops.

Big T-Bone steak

Fresh Lobster. Freshness is essential.

The Olympics is an event that symbolizes countries coming together for friendly competition, despite how they might feel about each other politically. So I think I would eat dumplings, because you can find dumplings in almost every culture. I would certainly include xiao long bao and jiaozi in homage to the host country China. Then an apple dumpling because I'm American, maybe some samosas (India), some pierogi (Poland), gnocchi (Italy), pelmenis (Russia), momos (Tibet), etc. How can you refuse a delicious morsel of food hugged by a tender doughy wrap?

Then I'd probably wash it all down with some black tea.

Salmon Patties w/redsauce, & Mac & Cheese w/pimentos-Yummy

Vanilla ice cream sundae with hot fudge

no doubt...dim sum!

...grilled seabass/vegetables...lovely chilled wine

lobster sashimi with the tail still flapping

Champagne cocktails (preferably French 75), pate, steak au poivre, mashed potatoes, and a gorgeous salad...probably involving arugula, goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, etc.

It would be a strange conglomeration from different cultures... a salad with real (French) goat cheese, Danish flaeskesteg (which is a roast pork tenderloin with the fat made into cracklings still atop it) with potatoes & red cabbage, and finished off with some gelato. These are three of my favorite foods, the flaeskesteg winning above all, and would fit an olympic meal perfectly.

Marinated beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon. Baked spinach and parmesan cheese. Slow cooked green beans. And a dusky Rhone red hovering around 65 degrees.

All you can eat dim sum...

Katz's Tongue Sandwich with Dr Browns Cream Soda, , 1 Yonah Schimmels Knish with their Mushroom Barley Soup and an Egg Cream

Fried chicken,potato salad and a huge chocolate malt.

Beijing duck aka Peking duck. And lots of it.

an insanely expensive bottle of champagne, and some kind of dense flourless chocolate cake.

in Beijing, peking duck, sauteed whole dungeness crab with garlic, lobster in black bean sauce, cumin lamb fillets, xiao long bao, and handpulled noodles; all topped off with lychee champagne cocktails.

I'd have to go with the Peking duck, as well. That lobster in black bean sauce sounds mighty fine, too.

A big hunk of tuna

King crab legs and melted butter.

i'd have champagne, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate cake

Dim Sum, (especially har gow and roast pork bao), then peking duck with pancakes and then something incredibly lemony luscious for dessert.

Pizza -- comforting & yummy!

a good steak!

Prime rib, baked potato, scallops and lobster with some kind of pasta, and for dessert, ice cream.

Hello, I am a pasta lover! I would have a large plate of spaghetti with mazzithra cheese browned in butter. Home made bread and a salad would accompany the spaghetti. I would end the meal with spumoni ice cream. Please enter me in your drawing for the Chinese Cook Book. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Pasta, Pasta, and more pasta! Shrimp Scampi with lots of garlic and butter. Oh yeah!!!

I could stand shrimp potstickers and orange beef!

I would want messy ribs on the grill with grilled corn, yam potato chips and watermellon. All made by me.

slowroasted pork belly

Peking duck seems appropriate with potstickers and some bubbly to celebrate.

a rich gooey huge hot fudge sundae

You're going to be HUNGRY after you've competed, so I'll say a Big bacon burger with gruyere and a side of spicy fries. Maybe a milkshake too!

chicken fried steak

Fresh spaghetti carbonara, a big thick hearty beef stew. But forget that, I'm going to tell you why I want this cookbook! Sorry, it's kind of a sob story and I guess kind of sad. My parents are both from HK, and my dad was an excellent though occasional cook. My mom cooked proficiently, quite delicious, but when Dad entered the kitchen was when the real magic happened. It was also rare that he did this, maybe 5-10 times a year at most. He made tons of Cantonese dishes that would blow your mind. I can't even name them all, and unfortunately, a lot of those dishes are just dim, vague memories. Like razor clams. I know he made them, I know he showed me once (when I was 8 or so) how to pick them, but I have no idea WHAT preparation they underwent nor how they even tasted anymore. He put me in the kitchen from a young age, starting with cold food preparation (sandwiches, salads, sauces/dressings, etc.) and we went from there. Unfortunately, he never taught me any Asian dishes and my repertoire of recipes runs strictly to the Western palate. I haven't the faintest when it comes to 99% of the Chinese dishes I've ever eaten, and I would love to pay homage to my heritage by winning this cookbook, making the recipes and then posting them on my blog =P Oh, and why don't I just ask Dad to teach me now? Sadly, before any of us children realized the importance of getting him to write down any of his recipes, he passed away (about 8 years ago).

***I will totally be fine if I don't win! I don't want to actually guilt you into picking me. I just wanted to share the reason I even want this cookbook when I don't even cook Chinese food.

Dan dan noodles!

I would love honey chicken and brown rice from PF Changs. Thanks!!!!! Chinese food is my favorite!

Shoot, I'd do the whole Chinese dinner banquet. Just tell the chef, we're celebrating and let the feasting begin.
It seems like after winning something so momentous, why would I have something I can have any time at home? Have something memorable to mark the uniqueness (is that a word?) of the occasion.

At first I was going to say a nice juicy rib eye, but I just realized how much I've been going through withdrawals from Taiwanese hot pot. Hot Pot Hot Pot!!! ^_^

I'd get me some Beef Wellington and mashed potatoes. I'd also love to start with some lobster bisque!

Nigiri & maki zushi (w/lots 'o uni) followed by wagyu shabu shabu.

a feast of dim sum with plenty of beeer!

prime rib, salad, baked potato, garlic toast, wine and dessert

Peking Duck!!!!!

oysters and champagne

fried chicken!

Peking duck is just ducky with me and yummy too.

Fresh lobster with butter, filet mignon, grilled asparagus topped with parmesan cheese and creme brulee for dessert.

yum Chinese food

soup dumplings, sauteed pea shoots, and custard tarts

I suspect I could have as many calories as I liked, so I'd have onion rings, Ceasar salad, filet, lobster tail, baked potato with butter, and an outrageous chocolately concoction of some sort for dessert.

I'm assuming that if I won an Olympic medal, I'd be in China. So -- I would literally STUFF myself with as much Dim Sum as possible!

Thanks for a great giveaway!!

Peking duck, for sure!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

A cheeseburger-- which is probably why I would never win a medal! Thanks!!

Steak and Scallops for me!

If I have to pick just one thing it would be the Hunan Lamb with Scallions because they are so yummy. Thanks!

Lobster tail - lots of it with lots of drawn butter

Peking duck and pan fried dumplings

Ma Po Bean curd and fries noodles

Really cheesy lobster mac and cheese.

FRESH mussels sauteed in garlic and butter, and a piece of crusty bread. Yum, yum.

Jade Garden Egg Fu Young

probably a huge crab dinner with all the fixings.

Hot and Sour Soup, Prawns in Lobster Sauce, Stir-fried Snow Peas w/Mushrooms and Steamed Rice.

lobster, crableg, coconut shrimp

After gold, a plate of spring rolls!

I love chicken lo mein and General Tso's chicken!!

Pizza!! Extra cheese, pepperoni and jalapeño.

A big, fat, juicy steak!

Veggie Pizza on Whole Wheat Crust!!!

Lobster and LOTS of crab-not to mention the finest champagne and fruit- every kind!

falafel and pizza (do they go together? doesn't matter)

I would have stuffed shells and lots of them!

filet mignon with a side of spinach

A hot fudge sundae.

Should I win Olympic Gold, I think not that I could eat. I would try tempting myself with a crab based tomato sauce over angel hair pasta. Served with a side of garlic cheese bread. No kisses from those judges for me!

if I won a gold medal I'd probably have achieved all of my fitness goals so it would be time to treat myself to something special so I'm going w/ a nice banana split.

Lump crab, shrimp, and roasted asparagus

Pizza for my entree and chocolate for my dessert. My two favorite foods1

My Grandma's biscuits!

Fried chicken, french fries & mac and cheese - all heavy, fatty stuff!

I haven't had real Chinese food, just the stuff you described above. But, I think I would like to have orange chicken and fried noodles.

I think I would still eat very healthy . Starting with a salad. My husbands cheesy chicken off the grill. A baked potatoe with lite sour cream. Maybe even a chicken kabob, cucumber slices in vinegar.

Since I would be in China, I would eat Peking Duck with all the Chinese trimmings..

Golden apple pancake

Peppercorn tenderloin

an Ozzy Spicy Dog from Pink's Hot Dogs!

I would celebrate over DIM SUM. I would have Shu Mai and Har Gow and Shrimp Rice Noodle(s) along with other items. To add to the joy, I would have my meal with a nice bottle of Veuve Cliquot.

Deep fried chicken breasts stuffed with prociutto & provolone, garlic mashed potatoes and fresh italian green beans.

I like grilled halibut or salmon.

a seafood platter with whole belly clams,shrimp,scallops, haddock :)~~~~~~

foie gras, lobster, crab, oysters, clams, scallops, couscous, lamb, pasta, and cheesecake

In Beijing, Peking Duck, at home steak and crabcakes.

prime rib, mashed potatoes, salad with shrimp and a huge piece of new york cheesecake - oh yes and a huge glass of water with tons of ice

a massive cheeseburger and excellent, crispy, salty fries. yum.

Caesar salad Linguini Italian Ice garrettsambo@aol.com

All you can eat king crab legs!

To celebrate in China, I would order Peking Duck. YUM. To celebrate in the US, I would order lazy lobster. YUM. Thanks for this chance.

Cajun-style blackened chicken with a mustard sauce, the absolute best red potato salad I could find, fresh corn seasoned with paprika, & a vanilla cake filled with cooked blueberries and cherries with a vanilla bean-pecan glaze.

ummm, some fish tacos! i'm easy to please!!

All-American, baby! Hamburger and Freedom Fries! :-D

hot & sour soup, pork & chive dumplings, scallion pancakes, kung pao chicken, and something noodle-y, cause I just looove noodles!

Peking Duck...Wait, shouldn't that be Beijing Duck??? LOL...

Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:

Cataroo
MrKnish
beausdorei
kathyvegas
MerMade07

Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.