Following the success of her Little Paris Kitchen cookbook and TV show, Rachel Khoo has become famous for her Francophile recipes. But Khoo is proudly British--with a twist. Of Austrian and Malaysian descent, she's also an avid traveler and experimental cook who loves to mix different cuisines and flavors.
In Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook, she serves up dozens of her favorite recipes, including her takes on classic dishes (fish and chips; sesame chicken; Italian panzanella) and her own inventions (eggplant-halloumi schnitzel; lemon-custard "lava cakes"). Each recipe includes a snippet of commentary on its place of origin or inspiration, and Khoo sprinkles helpful tips into the cooking instructions. Most of the recipes are simple to make (though some are time-consuming), and all are mouthwateringly illustrated. The book bursts with vivid watercolors and handwritten captions, giving it the warm, unfussy feel of a sketchbook--a perfect jumping-off point for culinary inspiration. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams