Damn Good Chinese Food

From acclaimed chef Chris Cheung comes a cookbook inspired by growing up in New York's Chinatown—with a foreword by Maneet Chauhan, celebrity chef, author, and judge on The Food Network's Chopped

There is a particular region in today's renaissance of Chinese cooking that is often overlooked: the food of Chinatown.

Like many of his predecessors, chef Chris Cheung was inspired by the place where he grew up, lived, worked, and ate. From take-out orders at tiny hole-in-the wall teahouses to the lush green vegetables piled high at the markets, celebration dinners at colossal banquet halls to authentic home-cooked meals, Chinatown’s culinary treasures and culture laid the groundwork for his career as a chef and serve as the creative force behind this book.

In addition to learning the technique to make his widely revered dumplings, this cookbook includes fifty mouth-watering dishes that pay homage to the cooking traditions of Chinatown and celebrate this remarkable, resilient neighborhood. Cheung shares his thoughtful tour de force takes on timeless Chinese classics like potstickers, spring rolls, wonton soup, General Tso's chicken, beef and broccoli, scallion pancakes, har gow (shrimp dumplings), chicken chow mein, salt-and-pepper shrimp, lobster Cantonese, egg cakes, congee, and dozens of other delicious, authentic recipes perfect for cooks of all skill levels.

Through personal insights, stories, and recipes, the author walks you through the markets, restaurants, and streets, providing a stunning portrait of this important cuisine and its countless contributions to American culture.

Chris Cheung is a New York native and grew up in the heart of Chinatown. He was brought up around great Cantonese food, where he undoubtedly picked up his affinity for Chinese cuisine. Right out of school he started working for world-famous chefs like Jean Georges Vongerichten, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Masaharu Morimoto. Later, he became part of the opening kitchen staff at Jean-Georges, cooking alongside Wylie Dufresne and Didier Virot. Chef Cheung also had the privilege being Anthony Bourdain's guide to New York's Chinatowns on the hit show No Reservations and has competed on The Food Network's Beat Bobby Flay, Next Great Chef (against celebrity chef Sean Brock), and on Esquire's Knife Fight (where he won a cheap knife!). His inspiration for Chinese cooking took him to Shanghai where he prepared banquets in the country side farming and fishing villages. There he learned the nuances of Shanghai cuisine and was blown away by its farm-to-table and sea-to-table style of cooking. Currently, he is the chef and owner of East Wind Snack Shop, which has four locations in Brooklyn.

Maneet Chauhan is a celebrity chef, author, and judge on the Food Network's hit show Chopped, and won the James Beard Award of Excellence winner. She has received glowing accolades from a vast array of media for her globally-inspired culinary acumen. The only Indian female to ever compete on Iron Chef and lauded by Bon Appétit, USA Today, Time, Esquire, Travel & Leisure, Gourmet, Town & Country, Business Week, and O Magazine, as well as garnering a stunning three-star review from the Chicago Tribune, Chef Chauhan is a celebrated chef who is an inspiration to many, and a force to be reckoned with. She authored the book Flavors of Our World in 2013 and her forthcoming book Chaat: The Best Recipes From the Kitchens, Markets, and Railways of India will publish in October of 2020.