While much of the mainstream media seems to have contracted a seasonal flu, a growing number of journalists appear to be coming down with a mouth-watering strain of Donburi Mania.
According to The Daily Yomiuri’s Tom Baker, Donburi Mania can be traced back to the Tokyo kitchen of best-selling author Kentaro Kobayashi. Notes Baker, “Early this week, six of Kentaro‘s cookbooks were listed in the top 100 best-selling cookbooks on amazon.co.jp…Now he is going international. Donburi Mania, the first volume in his ‘Easy Japanese Cooking’ series, was recently published by Vertical, Inc.”
Across the globe in the United Kingdom the Mostly Food Journal makes a point of how easily foodies can catch this culinary fever, stating, “It couldn’t be simpler. No exotic equipment needed and more importantly…no special skills. I’ll be eating my way through each of Kentaro Kobayashi’s tempting recipes.”
Back in the U.S. a vaccine is nowhere in sight. Kobayashi’s wickedly good, simple recipes have people reconsidering going out (for dinner). About the surge of self-imposed quarantines Bookotron says, “You could easily and very cheaply cook three meals a week out of this and probably not receive any complaints. Prepare for compliments instead. In hard use, over a couple of weeks, Donburi Mania has proved to be a sturdy, excellent cookbook. It’s well worth your money and time, and I look forward to the remaining volumes in the series.”
Even the seasoned food journalists at Ochef.com agree Donburi Mania recipes may be the genesis of a new evolution in cooking instruction, “The book offers simple, fast food, with good flavor, and some personality that is lacking in more than a few of today’s cookbooks.”
As the pandemic reaches critical mass Vertical recommends picking up a volume to build up resiliency, and your pantry, for the next wave of Kentaro Kobayashi’s killer cookbooks.
