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plathheart84's review against another edition
5.0
I love food writing and Japan has been top of my travel list for as long as I can remember so I just ate this book up. Filled with the most amazing sounding foods and restaurants, Booth takes us on his Japanese adventure. Having worked in Paris in Michelin starred restaurants I loved reading how enthralled he was with Japanese cuisine. Safe to say I can't wait to get to try for myself after finishing this!
thiefofcamorr's review
4.0
Super Sushi Ramen Express is a mesh of a food and travel doco-drama as the author takes his family through a holiday through Japan to try any and all types of food, take cooking classes, interview famous chefs and otherwise, and go through various markets and shopping centres. Booth is refreshing in his initial ignorance of Japan as a whole at the beginning, and explains everything with simple detail in an easy fashion. Sitting down with this book, it's easy to demolish a third of it before you simply have to put it down (too hungry to continue, thank goodness I have a very decent Japanese place over the road from home), and then only to pick it up again to read on about how tofu is made, or sake brewed, and so on.
Throughout, Booth compares the Japanese way of cooking and eating to how people think of their food in both America and France, and sometimes compares the British way also. The Japanese focus on the natural flavour of their foods, relying on the freshness and quality of ingredients over 'trying to leave their own mark on the food', like some chefs are quoted as saying the French style of cooking tends towards. We see how the food changes between Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as from each and every tip of the various islands that make up Japan - whether it's a different style of ramen, or a varying focus on vegetables making up the majority of the dish.
Booth is certainly lucky in this book to have both a guide and the opportunity to sample the rarer and higher-end level of food available in Japan. We don't get to see as much of the 'business-man' level of one bowl wonders that the normal Japanese person may live on week to week - the book shows us more of the michelin star level places, and doesn't go as in-depth for when he samples random alleyways of ramen. (If you're looking for more that style of 'anything, as long as it's tasty, try the food critic Giles Coren who is amazing.)
The only slight criticism I have of this book were certain slurs that jolted me out to think 'did he really just say that? Does he, uh, understand what that means?' that I think (hope) just come down to ignorance or a poor attempt at humour (for example, the use of the word 'tranny', as well as other culturally-based slurs that made me worry just how careful he was when travelling around Japan...)
Also, the tendency to joke about animal cruelty and the unsustainability of the certain foods, such as whale, rather than providing commentary as he does on say, MSG. MSG gets a decent chapter on what it's really made of, and how it can be used healthily, whereas whale just gets a lunch outing and crass jokes about the 'environmental outrage checklist'... which was rather disappointing.
Throughout, Booth compares the Japanese way of cooking and eating to how people think of their food in both America and France, and sometimes compares the British way also. The Japanese focus on the natural flavour of their foods, relying on the freshness and quality of ingredients over 'trying to leave their own mark on the food', like some chefs are quoted as saying the French style of cooking tends towards. We see how the food changes between Tokyo and Kyoto, as well as from each and every tip of the various islands that make up Japan - whether it's a different style of ramen, or a varying focus on vegetables making up the majority of the dish.
Booth is certainly lucky in this book to have both a guide and the opportunity to sample the rarer and higher-end level of food available in Japan. We don't get to see as much of the 'business-man' level of one bowl wonders that the normal Japanese person may live on week to week - the book shows us more of the michelin star level places, and doesn't go as in-depth for when he samples random alleyways of ramen. (If you're looking for more that style of 'anything, as long as it's tasty, try the food critic Giles Coren who is amazing.)
The only slight criticism I have of this book were certain slurs that jolted me out to think 'did he really just say that? Does he, uh, understand what that means?' that I think (hope) just come down to ignorance or a poor attempt at humour (for example, the use of the word 'tranny', as well as other culturally-based slurs that made me worry just how careful he was when travelling around Japan...)
Also, the tendency to joke about animal cruelty and the unsustainability of the certain foods, such as whale, rather than providing commentary as he does on say, MSG. MSG gets a decent chapter on what it's really made of, and how it can be used healthily, whereas whale just gets a lunch outing and crass jokes about the 'environmental outrage checklist'... which was rather disappointing.
sionna's review against another edition
I received this book through Netgalley!! Thanks so much for the book.
Opinions and ideas are my own.
Alright, as someone with a BA in Japanese and who has studied abroad for a year and a half I was pretty interested in reading this book. I think my problem was I was expecting more focus on food and its benefits to health. True, I only made it 30% into the book but, this just isn't the content I wanted to read.
Sometimes reading about things or places you've experienced can be exciting or bring back memories but, if anything I was bored. I think he tried to grasp all that Tokyo was and the feelings you get when you arrive (truly he did a great job and for people who have never been I think they will become interested) for me, for some reason, I wasn't feeling it. I also thought the author spoke as if from a higher place than the Japanese which annoyed me. Now, this is something I'm used to people doing so, perhaps I unknowingly judged his voice.
Reading about the Sumo and SMAP was fun. I really liked seeing his reactions and how people reacted. What I didn't like was how when he spoke to an actor in English and the guy didn't respond he says 'he probably does understand English oh and he was caught drunk in the park a month later' like ??? relevance to food or health?? It just felt like a dig honestly....
I'm sure it was just trying to add flavor to the book but, it gave me a bad taste in my mouth.
I did enjoy reading about how his kids reacted to things --didn't hear much about his wife though??-- because the kids really came at points to give the book a little oomph.
I really hope he and his family enjoyed Japan because it is such a great place with such AMAZING food, even for people who don't eat fish like me :).
Recommendation: if you are interested in Japanese food and culture this might be a good starting place...
Opinions and ideas are my own.
Alright, as someone with a BA in Japanese and who has studied abroad for a year and a half I was pretty interested in reading this book. I think my problem was I was expecting more focus on food and its benefits to health. True, I only made it 30% into the book but, this just isn't the content I wanted to read.
Sometimes reading about things or places you've experienced can be exciting or bring back memories but, if anything I was bored. I think he tried to grasp all that Tokyo was and the feelings you get when you arrive (truly he did a great job and for people who have never been I think they will become interested) for me, for some reason, I wasn't feeling it. I also thought the author spoke as if from a higher place than the Japanese which annoyed me. Now, this is something I'm used to people doing so, perhaps I unknowingly judged his voice.
Reading about the Sumo and SMAP was fun. I really liked seeing his reactions and how people reacted. What I didn't like was how when he spoke to an actor in English and the guy didn't respond he says 'he probably does understand English oh and he was caught drunk in the park a month later' like ??? relevance to food or health?? It just felt like a dig honestly....
I'm sure it was just trying to add flavor to the book but, it gave me a bad taste in my mouth.
I did enjoy reading about how his kids reacted to things --didn't hear much about his wife though??-- because the kids really came at points to give the book a little oomph.
I really hope he and his family enjoyed Japan because it is such a great place with such AMAZING food, even for people who don't eat fish like me :).
Recommendation: if you are interested in Japanese food and culture this might be a good starting place...
mthomas393's review against another edition
5.0
I had the privilege of visiting Japan a few years ago. I loved the country and the food. This book definitely makes me want to return to Japan! Fun read if you enjoy "foodie" books!
emesskay's review against another edition
4.0
I traveled to Japan for a brief visit about 20 years ago, and just loved the country, and the food. I have wanted to go back ever since, but finances and life circumstances have not allowed that. This book was almost as good as a trip back. Part travelogue and part food writing, it is a wonderful insight into the culture and foods of various regions of Japan. And I admit to being terrible jealous of the author, who was able to visit and travel around Japan, and eat all this fabulous food, as part of his job!
Besides being a great book in general, it also makes a great commuter read, because there are many short chapters, so it is easy to pick up and have a quick read and then stow it away when the ride is over. I have always wanted to travel back to Japan, but this book made my desire to return and see more of the country become even stronger.
If you are interested in Japan or Japanese food, highly recommend this book.
Besides being a great book in general, it also makes a great commuter read, because there are many short chapters, so it is easy to pick up and have a quick read and then stow it away when the ride is over. I have always wanted to travel back to Japan, but this book made my desire to return and see more of the country become even stronger.
If you are interested in Japan or Japanese food, highly recommend this book.
quinnster's review against another edition
4.0
I was expecting a bit more of the story to be about traveling and eating in Japan with his family, but he didn't really talk about his family too much. Still, he talked about so many aspects of Japanese food and I was engrossed the whole time!
hwks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
1.5
Had its moments that I did enjoy, but it was disappointingly "Western man goes to strange foreign land and is amazed/disgusted/fascinated by what he finds". So much of the book was devoted to how weird or disturbing things were, how rambunctious his kids were compared to the social standards there, and how surprised he was that Japanese food was actually... good? Hard pass.
maylingkuo's review against another edition
4.0
I almost didn't want to enjoy this book out of jealousy - this guy AND his family spend 3 months eating their way through Japan!?! and it's not just a typical tour; they get incredible access to growers and chefs along the way. I wish I read this before my last trip, just to have a sense of what not to miss in particular cities - I'll just have to go back again! it took me awhile to get through, perhaps since the fairly short chapters can stand alone. you could almost flip through and focus on certain ingredients or cities as a reference. I certainly gained insight into the way the Japanese approach and revere food through the seasons. it is funny to me that he returns back home before learning what to say when ending a meal; I'm not sure how they ate for 3 months without bookending their meals like our family does: itadakimasu and gochisosama deshita.
missprint's review
4.0
(Not sure why this is only listed as audio, Kindle, or e-book as I read it as a hardcover.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this! To the point that I pretty promptly went and ordered myself a copy of Booth's other book on Scandanavia.
I enjoyed how readable Booth's writing is - he's a bit Bryson-ish, mixing astute observations with humor, and keeping everything pretty accessible. I appreciated how thoroughly he delved into his topic, and how he mixed personal experience with history and science. Very journalistic but, again, very readable.
I did feel he left some holes in his exploration, most particularly "everyday" foods. And dessert. Which I found funny, because he criticized Tsuji's book for neglecting dessert, but except for a few rare mentions, Booth also totally neglects any dessert culture in Japan. No mochi, no dango, no red bean, nothing. And he also makes no mention of snacks, or more informal eating - or breakfast! He speaks of many dinners, some lunches, but no breakfasts, which I was disappointed in because I personally find breakfast traditions very interesting.
Those omissions in mind, it was still a great read, very informative, and now I am teaching myself Japanese cooking!
I thoroughly enjoyed this! To the point that I pretty promptly went and ordered myself a copy of Booth's other book on Scandanavia.
I enjoyed how readable Booth's writing is - he's a bit Bryson-ish, mixing astute observations with humor, and keeping everything pretty accessible. I appreciated how thoroughly he delved into his topic, and how he mixed personal experience with history and science. Very journalistic but, again, very readable.
I did feel he left some holes in his exploration, most particularly "everyday" foods. And dessert. Which I found funny, because he criticized Tsuji's book for neglecting dessert, but except for a few rare mentions, Booth also totally neglects any dessert culture in Japan. No mochi, no dango, no red bean, nothing. And he also makes no mention of snacks, or more informal eating - or breakfast! He speaks of many dinners, some lunches, but no breakfasts, which I was disappointed in because I personally find breakfast traditions very interesting.
Those omissions in mind, it was still a great read, very informative, and now I am teaching myself Japanese cooking!
holtkaren's review against another edition
4.0
entertaining exploration of sushi, soy, tofu, fish market, and contemporary Japanese food obsessions.