Andrea Nguyen
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Handy InfoAsian IngredientsAsian MarketsBasic Vietnamese KitchenBook Reviews + moreCooking Tips and ToolsEssentials: Fish SauceEssentials: NoodlesEssentials: Pho Noodle SoupEssentials: RiceEssentials: Rice PaperGardeningHow to Find Asian Markets & IngredientsMama SaysTet New Year CelebrationTravel« Oyster Spring Rolls Recipe |Main| Sodium Benzoate in Fish Sauce »
June 06, 2011Cool New Tool: Asian Market Shopper App Let’s face it, finding and selecting Asian ingredients can be a test of endurance. I’ve had readers, friends, chefs, and little Asian ladies tell me how confusing Asian markets and ingredients can be. Some have carried my books to the market while others have used this website as a mobile resource. Add to that the countless times that I’ve asked and been asked about which brand to buy or where to find something.
Those factors seeded the Asian Market Shopper (AMS) app, a nifty new multimedia resource that helps you understand, navigate, and use Asian ingredients. I’ve been working with San Francisco-based Chronicle Books to develop this app for about a year. It’s been a lot of fun and a real learning experience, combined with a few beads of sweat and drops of tears. Finally, it’s here!
Chronicle Books is launching the AMS this week. In this initial rollout, the app is for Apple products -– iPhone, iTouch, iPads. The Android version will come later.
I’m extremely delighted to have this information in a mobile format. Who can remember all the types of Japanese miso, Thai curry pastes, and grades for dried kelp (kombu)? Or what their foreign names are? The AMS is a shopping buddy for you at the market. As a handy problem solver, it helps you to explore and understand Asian ingredients for your cooking needs.
What content is in the app?
At core, the Asian Market Shopper is a reference tool that contains 100 ingredient entries. Each entry comes with a photo and in-depth background information. There are details on how to select, store, and use these ingredients too. You can enlarge the photos and show them to a store clerk. Tap the audio icon (right side, at the top) and you’ll hear me pronounce the ingredient’s name in a foreign language!
Not only will the photo and audio help you find the ingredient, but you’ll definitely make new friends at Asian markets. They’ll be flummoxed by your fluency. I did the voice recordings in a neutral tone to help non-native speakers master the terms. Ask native speakers for the inflections and they’ll get a kick out of your earnest curiosity.
But wait, there is more! To help people use the staples, the Asian Market Shopper app also contains 25 recipes that link back to the ingredient entries. The recipes represented are iconic classics such as kung pao chicken, shaking beef, and pad Thai. I developed these recipes (they’ve all been tested) so you can easily make these favorites. (Many thanks to testers Diane Carlson, Candace Grover, Doug Grover, Sue Holt, Dave Weinstein, and Lea Yancey.)
As with the ingredient entries, each recipe comes with an audio pronunciation of the dish in its native language. People often ask me how to pronounce something because it’s part of appreciating and mastering a dish.
Linked in the recipes are short videos on foundational Asian cooking tips and techniques. You’ll see me discussing how to break down a crab, buy fresh fish, and make perfect rice. The videos are not intended to be recipe specific, instead, they present elemental, takeaway cooking concepts. In the recorded audio “Introductions” you’ll get extra pointers. And, the shopping tab lets you create personal shopping lists to keep you organized at the market.
In short, the Asian Market Shopper is designed as a nimble reference tool. While the app contains a terrific collection of authentic recipes, it was also written and designed to work in partnership with cookbooks or recipes that are already in your collection. Had we included a large collection of recipes, then it would be a cookbook and not a shopping reference tool.
How were the 100 ingredients selected?
I cross-referenced cookbooks and other sources to compile a list of the 100 most commonly used staples in Asian kitchens – which include East Asia, Southeast Asian, and South Asia. I also considered the kinds of Asian markets where most people shop. For example, Chinese, Korean, and Indian markets offer different inventories, though there is a little overlap.
In writing the ingredient descriptions, I tried to pack as much information in the text without overwhelming the user – who is trying to get through the market. For example the entry for bamboo shoots covers canned, frozen, and fresh bamboo. Coconut milk includes a discussion of coconut cream and the differences between canned, frozen, dried, and boxed. Japanese fermented soybean paste (miso) includes information about Korean doenjang paste.
As I did the research, I learned new bits of information too, such as how Sichuan peppercorn is widely used in many parts of Asia. I hope you spend a little time reading the entries because they’re chock full of details. Even if you don’t use them all, you’ll amaze people with your knowledge!
Where do you buy the app?
It’s a click away at the Apple App store, selling for $3.99 – the price of a decent cup of coffee. Check it out, pass it around, and share your reactions.
Reviews:
"Our favorite apps, however, exist as stand-alone creations: The Asian Market Shopper ($4) app can act as an extension to any of your favorite Asian cookbooks. It helps users identify ingredients thanks to a gallery that includes photos and descriptions of 100 commonly used Asian staples, and its series of videos with preparation tips is like a cooking school in the palm of your hand."-- Tasting Table National, read more"I like the idea of approaching a grocery store employee and saying, 'I'm looking for . . .' and then whipping out a phone, rather than standing there for five minutes butchering the pronunciation and getting a blank stare."
-- Michelle Woo, OCWeekly.com (6/8/11) read more"Learning how to cook Asian food is not that difficult. But you are going to need the right ingredients to get started. Having someone show you how to prepare your food wouldn’t be too bad either. Asian Market Shopper is an awesome application for anyone into Asian food.”
-- iPhoneappsfinder.com (rating: 8.8/10), read more “Asian Market Shopper serves as a great introduction to Asian cuisine… A great addition to someone’s iOS virtual bookshelf.”
-- Jennifer Allen (rating: 3.67 stars out of 5), read more “Asian Market Shopper from Asian culinary expert Andrea Nguyen is the ultimate resource for understanding and buying Asian ingredients with 100 quick reference guides to the most commonly used ingredients in Asian cuisine at your fingertips from fish sauce and Sriracha to tamarind.”
-- Everythinghapa.com, read more
Related VWK posts:
Asian Market Shopper Resources - Links to databases for finding markets in America and information on Asian chain markets. You may be surprised where they are!How to find Asian markets and ingredients – Useful pointers for getting what you need to cook with!Posted in Asian Market Shopper, Books | PermalinkReblog (0) | | Digg This | | Comments
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That sounds fantastic! I'm waiting for the Android version.
Posted by:VeenasMarket |June 07, 2011 at 02:14 AMThis Asian Market Shopper application helps you to understand use Asian ingredients.And its really one of the interesting thing.Its very Advanced applications i really impressed with it.
Posted by:grow lights |June 07, 2011 at 03:42 AMThis app looks INCREDIBLY useful and I really want to buy it, but I have to ask - does it work offline, or does it require an active internet connection? I have an iPod Touch rather than an iPhone, and there is no wifi at my local Vietnamese market.
Posted by:Eve |June 07, 2011 at 04:49 AMCannot wait to see this and use it. Thank you
Posted by:John Taliaferro |June 07, 2011 at 07:10 AMHi Eve: It totally works offline, no need to have a wireless connection. The AMS is a big app so try downloading it to your PC and then sync the app to your iTouch. You're right -- how many Viet markets have WIFI? LOL.
Veenas and John: Thanks for the interest and support!
Posted by:Andrea Nguyen |June 07, 2011 at 08:10 AMI just got this app and it's GREAT. I would love to see the Vietnamese Herb Primer incorporated into this or even a separate app :) Having the audio is fantastic. Thank you Andrea, you rawk :)
Posted by:Mytah |June 07, 2011 at 08:53 AMMytah: Thanks so much! I know...the Viet herb primer. I had to make room for the other Asian cuisines in my 100. Great idea. You and I had a mind meld!
Posted by:Andrea Nguyen |June 07, 2011 at 09:16 AMCan't wait for the Android version! Thank you!
Posted by:Karen Tran |June 07, 2011 at 01:28 PMAwesome idea, Andrea!
Posted by:Erica Peters |June 07, 2011 at 02:23 PMKaren: My pleasure! Hope the Android version comes out soon for you and many other folks!
Erica: Thanks for the support!
Posted by:Andrea Nguyen |June 07, 2011 at 03:36 PMAwesome resource, Andrea!
Posted by:Nate @ House of Annie |June 07, 2011 at 07:14 PMFabulous!! Thank you so much Andrea. Off I go to get my app -!
Posted by:Chelsea |June 07, 2011 at 09:36 PMThe AMS is a big app so try downloading it to your PC and then sync the app to your iTouch. You're right -- how many Viet markets have WIFI? LOL.
Posted by:cheap customized jerseys |June 08, 2011 at 08:32 PMIts very great thing you have described over here its all about the Market shopper Applications.I like to read its review.
Posted by:Howard Leight ear plugs |June 09, 2011 at 12:04 AMVery informative article. You have both insight as well as courage to say the right thing in a proper manner
Thank you Florence! Timing and courage are good things to maintain.
Posted by:Andrea Nguyen |June 09, 2011 at 07:38 AMPlease hurry with the android verson!
Posted by:denny |June 09, 2011 at 09:10 AMIts such a great Asian Market Shopper Application and It gives us so many best things with the Asian ingredients which are useful for your cooking process.
Posted by:pendant watches |June 09, 2011 at 10:14 PMMarket Shopper Application plays such a fantastic role.And its helps you to understand and navigate the use Asian ingredients.and it contains great and wide cooking tips with the best stuff which i like the most.
Posted by:EAR ear plugs |June 10, 2011 at 07:32 PMSO DELICIOUS HOW I WANT TO EAT IT!
Posted by:casque monster |June 11, 2011 at 01:56 AMWonderful! So sad that I've only a Blackberry.
Posted by:Krista |June 11, 2011 at 02:07 AM Verify your Comment Previewing your CommentPosted by: |This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
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