Books by Melissa King
Cook Like a King
From the moment she could see over the kitchen counter, Melissa King would spend hours in the kitchen with her mom. For King, the kitchen was a place to play with fire and knives. Now, it's a space where King can express herself, melding the Cantonese flavors with which she grew up and the French, Italian, and Californian ones of the Michelin-starred restaurants in which she trained.
Cook Like a King features 120 unforgettable dishes that showcase King's effortless blending of these cuisines, like in her Lemongrass Cioppino and Miso Caesar with Gai Lan and Chrysanthemum Greens. It includes nostalgic, homestyle dishes like my grandmother’s Shanghainese Lion's Head Meatballs and her mother’s Black Vinegar Ribs, and, of course, her famous Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu, which made renowned Italian butcher and Top Chef guest judge Dario Cecchini shed tears of joy.
THE GIRL WHO BECAME KING
Embracing my love of food has empowered me to embrace every layer of who I am: my Chinese heritage, my American upbringing, and all the parts of me that felt too much and not enough. When I chose myself, I set her free. Just me. The girl who became king.
As a kid, Melissa King lived for the moment she would come from elementary school, grab her prized Chinese meat cleaver, and prepare dinner for her family. She already knew cooking was her future, but she didn’t know how hard she’d have to fight to make that dream a reality.
In this heartfelt memoir, Melissa King shows that empowerment comes from embracing all the different ingredients that make up who you are, and models the hard-won courage it takes to believe in yourself against the odds.