Myers+Chang at Home: Recipes from the Beloved Boston Eatery
by Joanne Chang & Karen Akunowicz
One of the joys of living in Boston is that it’s exposed me to the wonderful cooking of Joanne Chang. She’s reached almost superstar status with her flagship Myers + Chang restaurant in the South End: a spot my wife and I cannot seem to get enough of. It’s a must-go especially on Mondays and Tuesdays when they have their date nights and their tasting menus are cheap and plentiful. Every time we go we are both impressed by new items we order and reminded why the tried and true stuff (like those steak Tiger Tears) always make such an impact.
If you were to describe the menu at Myers + Chang it would be Asian new American, in the sense that there’s clearly an Asian theme going on with everything on the menu, but they’ve been updated, experimented on, or modified. There’s flavor at the core of everything at Myers + Chang and one can clearly tell that the staff is having fun with the menu and some of the more traditional fare. This is simply a must-hit spot if you’re a foodie in Boston and people have known this for a long time.
But let’s not forget the other side of the equation which is that Joanne Chang is an accomplished pastry chef in her own right. Flour Bakery is expanding and you can find one their locations almost anywhere in Boston. I myself visit it several times a week for lunch (they have somehow managed to make a vegan sandwich that’s actually stellar) and whenever I feel like rewarding myself with accomplishing even the most menial task. I have tried most
So, with so much experience under her belt, it would be a shame for Joanne Chang to keep all that knowledge to herself. Enter Myers + Chang at Home: a new cookbook which manages to combine the two worlds that she inhabits.
Myers + Chang at Home will guide you through the process of shopping for the right ingredients and meal preparation for some of the staples of the Myers + Chang menu. Of course the Tiger Tears are present, but also Garlicky Spicy Coal Black Chicken Wings, Bacon and Egg Bahn Mi, their incredible Dan Dan Noodles, Short Rib Tacos and even the basics like a Chinese Caesar Salad and Papaya Slaw. You see what we mean that these are exciting new takes on what’s tried and true? Of course the pastries are represented here as well with recipes for some of Flour Bakery’s favorites like their cookies and Meringue Clouds.
Myers + Chang at Home is essential for any Asian food aficionados who want to branch out from the classics and try some exciting and new. For Boston residents, there’s no excuse. This is simply a love letter to the city. Who wouldn’t want Myers + Chang in their home?
