Cook Asian

Chris Joe, creator of the beloved and reliable online platform @cj.eats, dishes out tried and true recipes for classic Asian dishes

As a third-generation Chinese-American, Chris Joe grew up in Los Angeles enjoying wontons, roast duck, crispy pork belly, and more Asian classics with his family. From a young age, Chris learned first-hand the essential cooking techniques required to make these classic dishes from his grandparents, who settled in California as first-generation butchers and grocery store owners. After they had passed, Chris continued to study and practice those techniques, eventually devoting himself to learning the secrets behind the beloved dishes he grew up eating. Soon he’d perfected Egg Drop Soup (notoriously simple, but finnicky), hand-pulled noodles (intimidating, but do-able!), and even dishes inspired by his wife Kat’s Korean heritage like Korean Seafood Pancakes, or Haemul-pajeon. He mastered frying, velveting meats, folding dumplings, and more, and each recipe he conquered made him more confident and fearless in the kitchen. He wanted to inspire that feeling in others and began sharing his skills and his passion of Asian food on social media, and now has a huge and devoted audience of fans who love his approachable (and straight-forward) cooking style.   

In COOK ASIAN, Chris offers carefully crafted recipes and key tips (toss the noodles with oil before stir frying to prevent them from sticking!  Salt the cucumbers for a crispier, crunchier texture!) to make sure readers not only know the how of each step, but also the why. From an authentic Wonton Noodle Soup and Chicken Karaage to Korean BBQ Beef (Bulgogi) and Pad Thai, Chris demystifies complex recipes with straightforward steps, and a “no-advice-left-behind approach” to inspire readers to build their own cooking muscle, and make these irresistible dishes part of their life, too.