Easy to read and I'm excited to try some of the suggestions!

This book is full of factual and historical information about the making of noodles. I found it lacking in good pictures that I feel would h ave enhanced the book. Also the recipes are written in a paragraph format and that makes it difficult to follow.

I was really excited for this book, as I am on a noodle soup making quest of my own, and was eager to dive in and learn more about the secrets to perfect noodle soups. However, I found that the author's personal maxims on noodle soup and the story of their quest went on a bit too long, so that by the time I reached the historical section on the history of noodle soup, I had difficulty maintaining interest. While I think hardcore noodle enthusiasts might be a fit for this title, with its poetic descriptions of appropriate bowls and utensils, the average home cook with a busy life is unlikely to devote the time to really dig in and really appreciate what the author is trying to do. I'd recommend this only to my most dedicated, food enthusiasts, and pass on it for anyone just trying to find a different variety of soup to make during the long winters.

I love noodles, unfortunately up to now my exposure to them has either been in the local Asian restaurant or the dried or semi dried instant noodles from the supermarket. I though this book is going to change all that, finally I could make my own and with the added bonus of soup ideas. Unfortunately it lost is way or just went too far for what I was hoping for
This book is very informative, it covers making eating and cultural information - which I absolutely loved. I did not find the expansion into global cuisine and the unusual interesting.

My family loves soup, and noodle soup is one of our favorite foods. This cookbook has many great recipes that introduced us to flavors and ideas we had never tried before. I’ll definitely be cooking these recipes again and again. Our household is (unfortunately) gluten free, so we didn’t get to be as adventurous with our noodle options, but I was easily able to substitute with our favorite gf noodles. I loved reading the history and extra information included in the book. Yummy recipes AND fascinating information.

Let me begin this review with: I love noodles!

Now for the actual book stuff. This book was way more than just a book of recipes, it was a trip through history of noodles, the recipes, the inspiration behind them and so much more.

There's lots of recipes, and I think there's one for each of us. Well... there might be like tons for me, but I'm noodle obsessed.

The way the recipes are presented is easy to comprehend, I'm quite sure the final version will have more pictures and formatting so I'm not taking that into consideration., but the content that I had was very good.

I strongly recommend this book if you like to experiment with new recipes or if you like me are a noodle fan.

University of Illinois Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Noodle Soup. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion was freely given.

Noodle Soup has a great introduction, explaining about the recipes in this book and why they were crafted as they are. A good section on Utensils is next, which may seem like a waste of time, but the choice of bowls especially makes a difference in how the soup cools or is presented. Etiquette and tradition is strong in Asian culture, so the author takes the time to explain why certain utensils are used and why it is important in certain cultures to eat in particular ways. On the pages that follow, there is a history of soup with some authentic recipes, tools necessary for success, and stock recipes.

The heart of the book comes next with a section on noodles. As this is the basis of the book, the author stresses the importance of the right noodle for the right type of soup. With many noodle recipes to choose from, readers will be able to craft their own delicious vittles. The section on garnishes and seasonings explains how to extract the most authentic flavors for great meals.

The biggest problem that I had with Noodle Soup is that the first half of the cookbook has very few recipes. In his zeal to explain everything about the noodles and the cuisines that use them, the author loses sight of the fact that this is a cookbook. In the second half of the book, however, there is a section on global cuisine that has recipes including noodles like Spaetzle (Germany), Soba (Japan), and Boat Noodles (Thailand), to name a few. With various world cuisines, readers will be able to explore the world from their own kitchens.

The final two sections, Reconstructions and Inventions, have the most unique and interesting recipes in the book. Here, recipes include classic dishes like Reubens, made into soups. The author gives readers license to be creative, with ideas that they can turn into inventions of their own. Readers who are looking for a straightforward cookbook may be disappointed, but those who like a little history about food will enjoy Noodle Soup.

Ken Albala gives an in depth a history of the noodle with an interesting look at the cultural differences. He adds in his own experiences and an array of recipes which are bound peak your interest. His way of educating and story-telling provides an all around enjoyable read. Who knew noodles could be so interesting? Loved this book!

I was expecting a traditional cookbook which is why this review is lower than others. Noodle Soup begins with a comprehensive history of noodles and then moves into recipes. I would recommend this book to a more advanced cook who already has experience making noodles.

Wow! Intense love affair with noodle soup in the form of a cookbook. Fascinating. Love food? Love history? Love travel? Read this - it's a culinary adventure!

In Noodle Soup: Recipes, Techniques, Obsession Ken Albala distills thousands of years of noodle soup-making from around the world into one passionate and well-informed volume. Which bowl will you use and why? Which stock, meat, vegetables, spices, herbs will you add? More importantly, which noodles? Why not make your own? Wheat, beans, rice, amaranth, chestnuts, salmon - even potato chips are all fair game. There's an interesting mix of history, cultural differences and ingredient information here, all of it rounded off by extensive personal experience and experimentation, and, of course, recipes. The final chapters are a free-for-all of delicious creativity. I loved this book. Albala's writing is comprehensive with a down-to-basics style that made me confident that I can conjure up a soup that will make me 'fall off my chair', too. So, we'll see. I'm off to fill my favorite soup bowl.

Disclosure: I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback (but, I'm ordering this book!)

This book is about every facet of Noodle Soup. It starts with the author talking about the perfect vessels and utensils to use when eating noodle soup, and a short history on the subject. The author also goes into all the different tools you will need to make your noodles, and some helpful tips for using different things. (So there is another use for that coffee grinder!)

There are recipes for any type of stock you (or at least I) could think of. I love that this book is about spending the time and making your noodles from scratch, and really getting into the essence of noodle soup. That being said I love that the author does give some praise to the almighty dried pasta, and states that it is suitable for all the recipes in the book.

Now for the good stuff!! The is just so much information! It would be impossible to go into too much detail. Some of my favorite things were the idea of dehydrating favorite salad ingredients and making a beautiful, colorful pasta. I can't wait to have some of this sitting outside on a summer evening! There was even a noodle soup recipe that makes noodles out of one of my all time favorite snack foods (SPOILER: Flamin' Hot Cheetos!) The garnishes and seasonings are endless. This book describes some of the typical garnishes/seasonings. How different cultures use them. What is a Tare? Do I want to use it in different soups? There really is just so much. This book has recipes for noodle soup that span the globe. This is NOT a ramen cookbook. I tried the Lasagna Noodle Soup (and for time purposes, I used dry pasta). The instructions were easy to follow and the result was delicious. I liked that there were variations and additions offered, so everyone can really make it their own.

I found this title to be very informative, and full of beautiful photos. Who knew that a humble noodle soup could really be so complex. This is a great title to give you the information and inspiration to start!

Thanks NetGalley for this opportunity to read and review this book.

I was given this book for free for an honest review.

If you are looking for a book that really goes into depth on technique and reasoning behind making a large variety of noodle soups this is your book. I plan to try some of these techniques in the near future

I would have loved to have been able to read this, but unfortunately (due to my phone playing up and the apps refusing to download and then subsequently crashing my phone) I have not been able to read this, I however did read the excerpt and thought it was delightful and it's a shame I can't read the whole thing.

cannot submit a review - cannot read protected pdf format

This is a compendium of one persons quest for noodle soup. It is not a recipe book. You know those people who have, like, a hundred recipe books and can sit for an evening reading them? Well, this is for those people - everything that could possibly go in to noodle soup is discussed in passionate detail. This book will provoke and inspire cooks for noodle soup, and also cause people to think about ingredients for other recipes in a whole load of other ways. A great gift for a passionate cook.

This is absolutely the quintesential book of noodles; the everything you always wanted to know about every kind of noodle ever made and then some. I found this to be the most fascinating book, with the most wonderful and delicious recipes to make noodles and noodle soup. Being my most favorite food in the world, noodles remain at the top! A wonderfully well written book and an absolute read for everyone who likes to make that comforting noodle soup. A must read! Thank you to Netgalley and the University of Illinois Press for the perusal...this is a treasure!

Opening line:
"Before you embark on noodle soup making, I offer a philosophical discourse on the beauty of the soup bowl and its associated utensils."

I LOVE noodles! I thought this would be a good read for me but there is more technique than I anticipated. It's not a bad thing, especially if you want to know EVERYTHING that goes into making a good bowl of noodles. But it just wasn't for me.

Thanks to netgalley for the yummy read!

For the sake of SEO and other out-of-the context considerations, I will add the label 'cookbook' to this book. In fact though, it is more than a simple collection of recipes, but an anthopological journey of noodles, their meanings and local translations.
'An epistemology of the noodle soup' - with a continual presence starting from the Bronze Age on the territory on what is today's China - may include the answer to the question: 'How do we know what counts as noodle soup?'. But happily, this book touches upon the limits of other issues associated with them. For instance, the bowl soup, to whose beauty a couple of paragraphs are dedicated. Obviously, 'not every bowl is intended for noodle soup', but there are more subtle observations as well: 'If you want to see through a clear soup, make sure it's a white bowl, either porcelain or made with a white slip'. The author, which for 2 and half years practiced noodle soups every morning for at least 15 minutes, makes bowls too, so the experience talks here too, it seems. Last but not least, keep in mind that chopsticks are 'crucial in constructing the entire noodle soup aesthetic'. In fact, every stage of preparing the noodles and the bowls as such are part of a larger existential exercise. Did you ever think that 'cutting soba by hand is a meditative practice'?
'There is no denying that dried pasta is just about the most convenient food product imaginable; it's easy to cook, virtually indestructible and can be kept in your cabinet just for those occasions when you don't have a lot of time to fuss'. However, if you read this book seriously - with side notes and specific adnotations - you will realize that you can do your own noodles, but in fact it is not as easy as it sounds. It requires not only practice, but a rich imagination. Otherwise, how someone can figure out how to prepare a reconstructed - noodle soup - dish of a Reuben sandwich, or Baba ganoush?
As for me, I would rather keep reading this book, couple of minutes the day, for getting the right practices as much as my cooking abilities allows, in terms of matching stocks, types of noodles and, why not, bowls too.

Big thumbs up for these delicious and easy to follow recipes with beautiful photography