Since late last year, I’ve been working with my publisher, Ten Speed Press, on an electronic version of Asian Dumplings. Today, I’m happy to say that it’s now available at a virtual bookstore near you!
Initially we thought of presenting a straight-ahead digital conversion of the print book but I suggested that we also incorporate audio and video for what’s called an “enhanced” ebook. No, we did not inflate the stuffed buns to be ginormous.
What we did was add new digital content to further help cooks master key techniques, namely rolling out dumpling wrappers and making the various shapes. A video on wiping the dough for spring roll skins is included too.
When Asian Dumplings was released in 2009, I began posting homemade YouTube videos of some techniques and also filmed a few with CHOW.com. They’re posted at the book's companion site, Asiandumplingtips.com, but are not handily accessible as a collective group. They are also not as polished as they ought to be.
Additionally, whenever I taught a dumpling class or did a demonstration, what people were super interested in was learning the hand movements. As much as I wordsmith phrases for visual and tactile cues, sometimes people need to observe too. All of those factors made me realize that a digital version of the book should include video.
Enhanced Asian Dumplings features a dozen film clips, one introduction and eleven (11) key techniques. They are placed and linked in the book for you to instantly get dumpling making guidance – maybe even some entertainment too. “Mr. Hands” and I are at your beck and call whenever and wherever you need us. At parties, smackdowns, or in the kitchen with the kids, we’re there.
The enhanced version of Asian Dumplings is like an on-demand mini dumpling class. I unfortunately don’t have enough time to teach classes so the ebook is a nifty workaround. It's the perfect bridge for folks who want a hands-on cooking class experience. And the extra cool thing is that you can replay!
What was involved in making the videos?
Lots of planning by "Team Dumplings", which was made up of people at Ten Speed Press, including my fabulous editor Melissa Moore, who has worked on many acclaimed cookbooks, including Peter Reinhart's Artisan Breads Every Day, Mark Bitterman's Salted, and Fanny Gerson's My Sweet Mexico. (Salted and My Sweet Mexico are up for IACP and Beard awards this year! Go Melissa!)
To complete the team, Creative Director Nancy Austin brought on video director Eric Slatkin, with whom I’d worked with on CHOW.com pieces and my soon-to-be released iPhone app! (More on the app soon.) I brought on stylist Fanny Pan to help with the shoot as I know my limits with getting things on set and looking neat.
Melissa and Eric worked with me to refine the script and storyboard that I had proposed. We did a read-through to warm up a few days before the shoot. Nancy and I scouted kitchen spaces belonging to generous friends and colleagues and settled on the loft space that you see in the videos. We shot in one long day, and to get twelve videos done required a tremendous amount of coordination.
Print vs. Digital Books
I love books for their physicality – the paper, sewn binding that make the pages fall open just so, compelling photography that matches the honed text. I love all the bookcases we have in the house filled with new and old publications. When I need to research something, it’s great to pull out a volume and flip the pages.
But digital offers portability and the opportunity to provide new content -- audio, video, and slide shows to further enliven the text and empower cooks to dive into the recipes. It’s not a zero sum game as ebooks can supplement and complement their printed kin. For those who are on the go or have limited space to store printed works, ebooks are a great alternative.
For more details on the video shoot, a sneak peek at the ebook, and the low down on how this project came together with Ten Speed Press, check the Q&A I did with The Recipe Club.
[4/20/11 Update: For in industry perspective on converting print cookbooks into ebooks, take a read of Publisher's Weekly 4/18/11 article, "E-Bells and E-Whistles for Silver Palate and Asian Dumplings". I must say that it's great to be mentioned in a story alongside a classic such as Silver Palate.]
Options for eDumplings
When you go to look for the ebook, you'll see that there’s the regular e-version of Asian Dumplings and the enhanced edition with the audio and video. The enhanced version is available for use on the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Kindle app that goes with those devices. Nook Color will now work for the enhanced.
[August 2012 update: This is now updated and hopefully more clear for your purchasing needs. Thanks Yuki for helping out!]
- iTunes: regular and the enhanced edition (if you have an iOS device, it's worth it to spend the extra $2 for the enhanced)
- Amazon: regular and enhanced (Amazon's enhanced version can be downloaded to an Apple device)
- Barnes & Noble: regular and enhanced (for Nook Color)
- Google eBookstore: regular only
- Kobo: regular only
There are other places for buying ebooks and I've listed the major ones. I realize that it's confusing. If you want the enhanced ebook, make sure that the image cover on the page that you're buying from has a yellow border that says "Enhanced Edition."
Hopefully some day there wil be one platform for all ebooks. Check it out and if digital Asian Dumplings becomes part of your kitchen, let me know your thoughts!
For information on buying the Asian Tofu ebook (released on February 28, 2012), see this page. Into the Vietnamese Kitchen is only sold as a regular ebook.
Thanks for your interest in the frontiers of publishing!
Dave T
Awesome! I already bought the print version of this book but I think I will replace it with the digital version. I am glad that cook books are finally making their way to the digital content world, and I love the idea of having videos delivered with the text and pictures.
Andrea Nguyen
Whoa Dave! So glad that you have the printed edition and are getting the digital one too. The ebook is well priced.
Cookbooks are technically called "illustrated books" so digital is a nifty way to add extra content for readers. You're absolutely right that it's time for cookbooks to migrate toward digital. Some people love print, some love digital, while others love both!
Mary
You know, I've never much been interested in e-books (though every summer as I lug piles of paperbacks and a few cookbooks on vacation I re-think that). But for cook books and other how-to books, it makes so much sense. An e-book version of Into the Vietnamese kitchen sure would have been a huge help the first time I made banh chung!
Andrea Nguyen
It does make sense for cookbooks and how-to books to have that video/audio component. Some of the stuff involved can be hard to communicate in words alone!
The e-version of Into the Vietnamese Kitchen is a straight conversion so it's not an enhanced edition. But you did make the banh chung on your own. That's a MAJOR accomplishment.
Sylvia
This sounds great ... but how does it work on the Kindle? I get the print version on it and access to the videos on my desktop?
Andrea Nguyen
Hi Sylvia, Good question. The enhanced version wouldn't work on your desktop Kindle. You would use the Kindle app to view the enhanced book on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch.
I wish that the enhanced book was available on all format but there's no consistent platform. So, we have to impatiently wait on this frontier of new digital media. Thanks for your interest!
Nancie McDermott
What great news. Thanks for putting the process out there, of how this enhanced-content worked. I had so many questions reading this post, and as if by magic, you answered them one by one. My sister will gladly share her i-pad in exchange for the dumplings I'll make thanks to your visual inspiration.
Andrea Nguyen
Nancie: We're all pondering how and where this new technology will lead us in the world of publishing and cookbook writing. It's very exciting. Glad I was able to shed a little more light!
Mai Nguyen
I just bought the e-book from Amazon and I must I was impressed by how thorough and well written the recipe and instructions are. Just a note though, I usually read my e-books on the Kindle app on my Android phone and the videos won't play on it. But that's OK they play beautifully on my iPod Touch.
Thank you for writing and compiling so many delicious dumpling recipes. I can't wait to try them all, just have to decide which ones I want to start with.
Caprice
I am very interested in your eBooks. I have a kindle, and the kindle app on my laptop. But no iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone. Will your eBooks display in full colour and the audio/videos run on my laptop using the kindle app?
Caprice
Sorry, just realized you already said the ebook would not work on my laptop!
That leaves my kindle. But that means I can only read your ebooks in black and white... hmmmmmm
trump for president
Its very interesting book contents which you have shred with us.And i like your creativity.Nice sharing.
steve
i found some other interesting ones http://therecipegenie.blogspot.com/
Andrea Nguyen
Mai: You are such a connected gal! Thanks for the feedback on using the ebook on your mobile devices!
Mary
Andrea, I did manage the banh chung -- but only thanks to photos you posted here. Having your cookbooks available in "enhanced" ebook formats may finally convince me to get a tablet. There's a reason cooking shows are popular; it really does help to *see* new techniques (I grew up watching Julia Child, even if I was too you to actually try anything she did at home). You books are basically teaching texts in any case, so adding video is en entirely logical next step.
burkie
good luck with the new book, andrea! i'm really enjoying Asian Dumplings, so i need to good your first one, too. i'll stick to paper, though. haven't warmed up to eBooks yet 🙂
groundhog.judy
I have a kindle from Amazon and my daughter recently gave me a Nook and I am looking forward to downloading your cookbook. Being able to view a process is very helpful as I learned in Thailand recently when I took a cooking class and made spring rolls. Our teacher gave us hints and tips on wrapping which will help me when next I attempt this recipe.
Andrea Nguyen
Thanks Mary, Burkie and Groundhog.judy!
Judy: The enhanced book is currently available for the Apple devices. Nook runs on another platform. Oye.
Thanks for sharing your interest in books, whether they are ebook or printed ones!
Claudia van Veldhoven
Hello Andrea,
A while ago I bought a copy of the print version of Asian Dumplings, and would be interested in a digital version too, unless I own an Android-device. Will there be an Android version of your book soon? I would really advise you to create an Android version of Into the Vietnamese Kitchen. I would certainly buy it!
sylvia cleary
from where i can get one??i would love to get a cooking book.
TRX
Really It's amazing post,
Ebook Download Thank you so much.
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Food looks good. I am getting hungry!
Mr. Cooking Grill
it's already gorgeous looking!! Love your work (and research), you're a true food writer whom I absolutely look up to. 🙂
[email protected]
Hello,
Just purchased Asian Dumpling ebook to IPAD . Supposed to be enhanced version but don't see videos. Where are they in the book? Did not see in contents nor in index. N
Thank you
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I am looking forward to downloading your cookbook. Being able to view a process is very helpful as I learned in Thailand recently when I took a cooking class and made spring rolls. Our teacher gave us hints and tips on wrapping which will help me when next I attempt this recipe.