A Common Table: 80 Recipes and Stories from My Shared Cultures

Cynthia Chen McTernan, blogger behind Two Red Bowls, shares 80 Asian-inspired, modern recipes that marry her southern upbringing, her Chinese roots, and her Korean mother-in-law’s table.

These days, there’s such a commonality in our food- what we make is rarely the product of one culture, and recipes that may seem culturally dissimilar are actually richly woven together. That’s the concept behind A Common Table, written by the hugely popular TwoRedBowls.com creator, photographer, and food stylist Cynthia Chen McTernan. Her recipes are made for the home cook who wants to incorporate those flavors without following long, daunting directions. Her style is a mishmash fusion that marries traditions from the South, China, and Korea to create dishes that are inspired and unique.

This book also chronicles the story of Cynthia’s family-from when she met her husband to when she moved from New York to Los Angeles to start a family. As her life has changed, her cooking style has become more and more diverse. Cynthia’s kitchen has many influences and will inspire readers to step out of their culinary comfort zones.