My youngest daughter, who is a huge Studio Ghibli fan, went crazy when she saw this cookbook arrive at our door a few weeks ago. She had just finished watching My Neighbor Totoro for the umpteenth time and was getting ready to watch Spirited Away with her sister (another movie I have lost count of how many times she has watched over the years). She had no idea that there was a cookbook being released for fans of Studio Ghibli, and couldn't wait to get her hands on the cookbook to flip through the pages and check out the different recipes.
This cookbook was created by a Chinese South African food blogger, Jessica Ann Yun (Follow her on Instagram at @jaysing.flavours, and is the debut cookbook for her. Gastronomy is one of her passions, along with being a fan of Studio Ghibli and other Japanese films. She shares her two loves -- food and Studio Ghibli -- to create a fun cookbook for fans, no matter their cooking ability.
My daughter really enjoyed flipping through and flagging different recipes in this cookbook she wanted to try. While most recipes featured in this cookbook consist of Japanese cuisine, there are a handful of recipe that are inspired by international foods that are seen in the different films. What I like a lot about this cookbook, next to the amazing assortment of dishes and snacks to cook up is that the author includes ingredient substitutions in the Special Ingredients and Equipment section, as well as in the tip box under each recipe -- so you don't have to drive yourself crazy trying to find unique ingredients that can only be found at specialty food stores or ordered in large quantities on Amazon or online supermarket stores.
I can't tell you how many international cookbooks I have had to pass up on as many of the ingredients were foreign to me, or I wondered where I would find them in order to make the different recipes.
As you browse through the different pages of this cookbook, fans of Studio Ghibli films will pick up the mouthwatering recipes that pair with particular scenes of these amazing films. You can't help but get excited about wanting to whip up the different recipes, and then settle in to watch the Studio Ghibli film it is inspired by. So far my daughter has made a few of the recipes, and while some looked a little weird to our general Italian or Spanish cuisines, once we tasted these recipes, we discovered a new love and appreciation of international cuisines, especially Japanese cuisine.
If you are a Studio Ghibli fan or know someone who is, this unofficial cookbook from Ulysses Press and food blogger, Jessica Yun, would make for a great addition to your cookbook and Studio Ghibli film collections. My daughter can't wait to continue to cook and bake her way through the pages of this cookbook, and we are now using it as part of our homeschooling, too! You can learn more about this cookbook by visiting https://ulyssespress.com/books/the-unofficial-studio-ghibli-cookbook/.
More about this cookbook:
"Bring some magic into your kitchen with this unofficial collection of Japanese recipes inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s most beloved films.
Since 1985, Studio Ghibli has enchanted moviegoers with fantastic stories of adventure, magic, friendship, family, and most of all—the most delicious-looking animated food. Now you can create your own mouthwatering dishes with this book full of 50 unofficial, fan-created recipes! From tantalizing breakfasts and lunches to Japanese favorites like yakitori and onigiri, recipes include:
- Skillet bacon and eggs
- Ramen with “haaaam”!
- Herring and pumpkin pot pie
- Steamed red bean bao
- Salmon with beurre blanc sauce
- And more!
Perfect for fans of Japanese anime, manga, and comfort food cooking!"
Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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