A Present for a Bookish Cook

Who knows when he’ll find the time for recreational reading (the kitchen at Bondir is pretty much a one man show) but Jason Bond is hoping there’s a copy of Vietnamese Home Cooking wrapped and ready for him under the tree. The cookbook, the first from award-winning chef Charles Phan of San Francisco's Slanted Door restaurant, focuses on the fundamental techniques and ingredients of Vietnamese cooking. With some solid instruction and encouraging guidance, Phan makes the flavorful yet subtle fare totally approachable for amateurs as well as James Beard Award-nominated chefs who don’t necessarily have a lot of experience with Vietnamese food – like Bond. Grab a copy for any chef you’re shopping for who, like the ever-humble Bond, wants to add a few healthy tweaks and new flavor pairings to his or her repertoire. Maybe around the holidays they’ll find a little downtime to catch up on some reading and try a few new recipes.