A wide-ranging cookbook and an insider's glimpse into the kitchens of Vancouver's world-class Asian restaurants.

In February 2010, Conde Nast Traveler magazine declared Metro Vancouver home to the best Chinese food in the world. While foodies flock to the city for dumplings and dim sum, they leave having discovered a wealth of world-class Asian dishes, from sushi to sambar, banh mi to bubble tea.

Almost one in five of Vancouver's two million residents is ethnically Chinese, and the city supports more than four hundred Chinese restaurants. Other Vancouverites bring with them the cuisines of their onetime homes in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam or India.

The first book of its kind, East Meets West is a celebration of the city's Asian food and a mouthwatering compilation of distinctive dishes from its most talented -- but often unheralded -- kitchens. Veteran food writer Stephanie Yuen brings together a collection of recipes showcasing both traditional Asian foods made with fresh ingredients from the Pacific Northwest Coast and modern classics inspired by Asian flavours and techniques.

With an introduction to the history of Asian food in Vancouver, and profiles of the city's most exciting eateries -- many of them hidden gems, elusive to the uninitiated -- East Meets West is a delicious glimpse into one of the most complex and fascinating culinary landscapes in the world.

Stephanie Yuen was born in Hong Kong and has lived in Vancouver for more than thirty years. She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English and worked as a journalist for Sing Tao, the Vancouver Chinese newspaper, before developing a career as a freelance food journalist. She now writes for Edible BC, EAT, Vancouver Magazine and has her own blog about Asian food: beyondchopsticks.com. Yuen co-founded the Vancouver Chinese Restaurant Awards and coordinated the visit that led Conde Nast Traveler writer Mark Schatzker to say: "I’ve eaten Chinese food all over North America and in China, and the best I’ve eaten in the world was in Vancouver. Hands down."

Stephanie Yuen's profile page