Joanne Lee Molinaro narrates her cookbook in a warm and welcoming voice, sharing both mouthwatering recipes and poignant, funny, and powerful stories of her family. The audiobook is a sampling of her print cookbook, which gives listeners a taste of her recipes, also found in an accompanying pdf. Molinaro smoothly reveals many family lessons on making food and caring for others. Her voice is full of strength and emotion as she shares stories of her family’s origins in North Korea, their flight to South Korea, and, later, their immigration to the U.S. Her cookbook makes for an inspiring companion in the kitchen as it instructs listeners in crafting vegan Korean meals and encourages reflection on one's own connections to food and family. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

★ 10/18/2021

In this touching and transportive debut, TikTok creator Molinaro reinterprets the Korean classics she grew up with as vegan fare. She swaps out the beef used in bulgogi for soy curls (cooked and dehydrated soy beans) to recreate its meaty texture, and makes a vegan “fishy sauce” with a variety of mushrooms and dashima (dried kelp) for umami flavor. Throughout, Molinaro’s dishes are enriched with wistful anecdotes about cooking with her omma (grandmother) and stories from her parents’ youths in Korea: The chocolate sweet potato cake, for instance, is inspired by the two foods that saved her mother’s life when she fled from North Korea to South Korea as a little girl. Molinaro also adapts Western dishes for the vegan Korean kitchen, such as Angry Penne Pasta, a riff on pasta arrabbiata prepared with gochugaru and gochujang. Each recipe is categorized by difficulty level, ranging from “easy” dishes like dooboo jorim (braised tofu) to “practice makes perfect” choices such as kkanpoongi (spicy crunchy garlic “wings” made with tofu and jackfruit). Though some ingredients may prove difficult to source (such as jjajang, a fermented black soybean paste), Molinaro’s assured guidance simplifies everything else. This tasty tribute is full of heart and flavor. Agent: Charlie Brotherstone, Brotherstone Creative Management. (Oct.)

[Joanne is] an expert in veganizing dishes, especially Korean food, and a soothing storyteller….Over the course of exactly 60 seconds, Molinaro somehow makes you want to laugh, cry, march in the streets and devour every damn thing on her plate."
–The Washington Post
 
“Joanne masterfully entwines food, culture, education and self-improvement with incredibly honest, vulnerable, heartfelt stories….May this extraordinary woman inspire you to think more deeply about your own story—and the indelible power inherent in sharing it.”
–Rich Roll, ultra-endurance athlete, wellness advocate, and the host of The Rich Roll Podcast

“This Tasty Tribute is full of heart and flavor.”
–STARRED Publisher's Weekly

“With these stories, it becomes clear that every dish is deeply personal to Molinaro, and by presenting the recipes here, she does more than offer up delicious food — she invites the reader to honor one immigrant family’s story.”
–EATER
 
“You don’t have to be vegan to consume Joanne Molinaro’s cooking videos. Although you might come for the food, you’ll leave with life lessons on love, grief, and growing up Korean. If you grew up in an immigrant household or ever felt like you weren’t enough, then Molinaro’s stories may resonate with you.”
–SELF
 
“Joanne Lee Molinaro gained fame as @thekoreanvegan on TikTok, and her debut cookbook is a welcome addition to our shelves. Come for the savory soups and stews, stay for the mushroom galbi and gochujang-glazed persimmon upside-down cake.”
–EPICURIOUS

"All of Joanne Lee Molinaro's work reminds us that the best part of any recipe is the story behind it. In her debut cookbook, she shares not only so many wonderful vegan Korean dishes (I want to cook so many things!), she also shares herself and her family with us. We are better for it."
–Julia Turshen, Bestselling Cookbook Author of Simply Julia, Host of Keep Calm & Cook On, and Founder of Equity at The Table

"When you crack open The Korean Vegan Cookbook, you won't just want to make every one of Joanne's mouthwatering recipes (and you will!), you'll want to devour her writing, too. Between her creative, plant-based takes on noodles, banchan, bagels, and more, she shares stories of her family that will move you to laughter and tears by turns."
–Jeanine Donofrio, author of The Love and Lemons Cookbook

"Come for the veganized Korean recipes that will inspire you in the kitchen and delight your tastebuds (the Tteokbokki and Kkanpoong Tofu will change your life). Stay for Joanne’s poetic stories about family and culture that will move you to tears."
–Nisha Vora, creator of Rainbow Plant Life and author of The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook

"Stunningly beautiful in every way. This book will make you fall in love with the author, her culture, her family and Korean cuisine instantly. I couldn’t recommend it more."
–Kim-Julie Hansen, founder of Best of Vegan and author of Vegan Reset

★ 02/01/2022

This standout memoir/cookbook by vegan blogger Molinaro presents a rich array of vegan Korean dishes, including traditional recipes, modern interpretations, and Korean twists on a range of global cuisines. In the "Basics" chapter, Molinaro shares her secret weapons for flavor (a range of go-to sauces and dressings, including a vegan "fish" sauce) that she calls on in the book's other recipes (breads, soups, noodles, kimchi, vegetables, main dishes, street foods), all with straightforward instructions that are easy to follow. Molinaro's versions of widespread Korean dishes like bulgogi and stuffed pancakes will thrill vegan foodies; readers with a sweet tooth will appreciate her riffs on American desserts (chocolate-persimmon cupcakes; pecan pie flavored with sweet red bean paste). Many recipes have been handed down to Molinaro from family members, and she highlights the histories of these heritage dishes in poignant memoiristic accounts. VERDICT The deep connection between food and family shines through in Molinaro's enticing collection, which is highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about Korean cuisine and culture.—Kelsy Peterson

Joanne Lee Molinaro narrates her cookbook in a warm and welcoming voice, sharing both mouthwatering recipes and poignant, funny, and powerful stories of her family. The audiobook is a sampling of her print cookbook, which gives listeners a taste of her recipes, also found in an accompanying pdf. Molinaro smoothly reveals many family lessons on making food and caring for others. Her voice is full of strength and emotion as she shares stories of her family’s origins in North Korea, their flight to South Korea, and, later, their immigration to the U.S. Her cookbook makes for an inspiring companion in the kitchen as it instructs listeners in crafting vegan Korean meals and encourages reflection on one's own connections to food and family. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine