Hi there,
I recently received a galley copy of “Family Style” by Peter Som and asked to write a review.
I have been a long-time follower of Peter Som and was pleased to have this opportunity. This quote from Peter explains it all: “I believe in the magic of the everyday.” Peter’s sophisticated simplicity and love of family shine through everything he creates.
In his cookbook, “Family Style,” Peter Som beautifully intertwines the nostalgic warmth of family traditions with contemporary cooking. This cookbook is not merely a collection of recipes; it is a heartfelt tribute to Som’s rich heritage and his cherished bond with his beloved grandmother. Through his pages, readers are invited to experience the flavors and stories that shaped his culinary journey, making it a delightful read.
Peter can breathe new life into family recipes passed down through generations. He honors the time-tested dishes that likely graced his grandmother’s table yet skillfully reimagines them for the modern sensibility.
Som’s narrative is rich with personal stories that illustrate his grandmother’s influence on his life and cooking. Readers can sense his love and respect for her as he recounts lessons learned in the kitchen, along with heartfelt memories that add an emotional depth to the cookbook. His affection for family shines through every recipe, reminding us that food is not only about nourishment but also about connection, love, and shared experiences.
“Family Style” by Peter Som is more than just a cookbook; it celebrates family, heritage, and the joy of cooking. It is filled with beautiful photographs and very easy-to-recreate recipes. What follows is an example of one of Peter’s recipes (not included in the book). This recipe illustrates how he blends sophisticated presentation with easy-to-find and prepare ingredients.
Retro Shrimp Pâté


Peter Som transformed the pink, jiggly ’70s mainstay into an elegant spread fit for easy entertaining.
“Welcome to Grandma’s Notebook, a series unearthing the hand-written recipes of Mary Woo, the late grandmother of fashion designer Peter Som. Follow along as we dive into 20 years of recipes that trace her Chinese American immigrant experience. Along the way, we’ll discover hidden family secrets, new and enticing flavors, and priceless hand-me-down dishes that deserve a second life in your kitchen.”
“This easy shrimp pâté recipe comes from the crinkled kitchen notebook of Peter Som’s grandmother, who made a ‘70s rendition of the dish regularly. Here, Som brings us a fresher, zestier, and less wobbly take on the original that calls for extra citrus and pan-roasted cherry tomatoes (begone, Campbell’s soup!). “


Ingredients
1 lb. peeled cooked medium shrimp
2 cups cherry tomatoes nm m
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 tsp. olive oil
1 large shallot, finely chopped (¼ cup)
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1½ tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup finely chopped parsley leaves, plus more for garnish
¼ cup thinly sliced scallions, plus more for garnish
1 tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp. dry mustard powder
Baguette slices or crackers, for serving
Instructions
STEP 1
To a medium skillet set over medium heat, add the olive oil and tomatoes. Cover and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until they burst and begin to brown, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl, wipe out the skillet, and return it to the stove.
STEP 2
In the empty pan set over medium heat, melt the butter and cook the shallots, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it sizzles, about 1 minute more. Transfer to the bowl with the tomatoes.
STEP 3
In a food processor, pulse the shrimp to a coarse paste, then transfer to a large bowl. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, mayonnaise, parsley, scallions, salt, black pepper, mustard powder, and reserved tomatoes and shallots. Using a silicone spatula, mix gently to combine.
STEP 4
Scrape into two 1-pint Mason jars, or transfer to a large ramekin, flattening the top. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, pressing on the spread to remove any air bubbles, and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours. Garnish with additional parsley and scallions and serve chilled with baguette slices for spreading. (Refrigerated, the pâté will keep for up to 5 days.)
By PETER SOM
Published on January 24, 2023
As featured in “Peter Som’s Retro Shrimp Pâté Is Primo Finger Food.”
I am so pleased to introduce “Family Style” to you. I think anyone who wants to bring magic to the everyday will enjoy owning it.

I love a good cookbook! Most of the time there are a handful or recipes I cannot wait to try. Well, this is a GREAT cookbook! Every page I turned was another delicious looking recipe! I immediately went to my pantry to see what I already had on hand to start cooking! The layout of the book is filled with beautiful pictures and charming stories. The recipes are very easy to follow and I really only need to purchase a few items (all easily found at my local market). In the last week I have attempted at least a dozen recipes and all were well liked by family (3 young kids included) and friends they were shared with. Favorites were the Crispy Deviled Tea Eggs, Fancy Mushrooms and Creamy Beans with Citrus Brown Butter and the Brown Butter Miso Mochi Blondies. The Lemon Miso Shrimp were so good they will be making an appearance in our regular menu rotation! Overall, this is a beautiful book with recipes that blend simple ingredients in unique ways that would be at home on the weeknight dinner table or served at a nice dinner party.

Peter Som’s *Family Style* is a joyful celebration of food and connection. The recipes feel both approachable and creative, blending comfort with sophistication in a way that makes every dish exciting to try. Peter’s unique flavor combinations and heartfelt approach make this book a beautiful invitation to gather, share, and savor life around the table.

Peter Som’s Family Style resonates with me as food played and continues to play an important part of family celebrations. It’s a way to show love. The recipes in Family Style are a modern approach to Asian cuisine, both creative and inviting. I will be shopping for Brussels sprouts and carrots to make the roasted Brussels Sprouts with grapefruit and the charred carrots with Gochujang honey butter. Both would be fantastic accompaniments to Peter’s hoisin honey roast chicken. I am looking forward to cooking from Family Style. Thank you Netgalley and publisher William Morrow for an ARC!

Absolutely loving this cookbook. The best part was the varieties of different cuisines throughout the book. With a lot of Asian flavors sprinkling among other cuisines, this was so fun to explore. I bookmarked plenty of dishes and very much wanting to make almost every single thing here. The pictures were eye catching and I know this might seem weird, but the font choice was a smart move. Everything in this was brilliantly planned out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this great cookbook. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed “Family Style” by Peter Som and highly recommend it! This cookbook beautifully blends bold, exciting flavors with comforting dishes, all inspired by Peter’s heritage. With over 100 recipes that are both easy to prepare and elegant, it’s perfect for everything from quick weeknight meals to impressive dishes for special occasions. The pantry list is especially helpful, making it easy to stock up on essentials and feel confident in the kitchen.

The recipes draw from a range of culinary traditions, from his grandmother’s Cantonese flavors to his mom’s French-inspired dishes. They’re creative, personal, and straightforward, making it easy for cooks of all skill levels to try something new and delicious. This book is a must-have for any kitchen, packed with vibrant flavors and unique twists that will inspire you to cook and impress your guests!

A big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to experience this ARC!

This is a fun cookbook with lots of recipes that look delicious. There are photos for about half of the recipes, maybe a little less. There are lots of creative fusion type recipes that take on Italian classics with an Asian spin, for instance. There is no nutritional information for the recipes. I enjoyed the story and information that preceded each recipe. The recipes are relatively simple but use whole foods and interesting flavors.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

Family Style has over 100 recipes inspired by Peter Som's identity and heritage. The cookbook begins with an introduction and pantry list, which is useful. Next are the recipes for this and that (eggs, bread, snacks, and soups), vegetables, rice bowls, noodles, mains, and sweets. Each recipe has an introduction, ingredient list, directions, and a photo. I appreciate that the recipes include a photo because you can see what the dish looks like and it can help you decide if you would like to make it. Some recipes I would like to try are the Hong Kong French Toast Grilled Cheese, One-Pot Creamy Kimchi Risotto, Mapo Eggplant, and the Apple Cake with Salted Maple Caramel. I do wish the recipes listed the prep/cook times at the beginning though so you do not have to read through the directions to see if it takes 20 minutes or over an hour to make. That said, the recipes look delicious, and the cookbook would be better for those more confident in the kitchen.

This book was part cookbook and part family nostalgia. It was really well done. It had a good intro section including what staples you should have in your pantry. Though the recipes were a bit challenging, I love how unique they are. This is not just a book of recipes you could find anywhere. These recipes are thoughtful well executed recipes. I liked that many of the recipes blended different culture’s recipes in a thoughtful way. The photographs were beautiful and did a great job highlighting the recipes. I really appreciated all of the tips throughout. I think this book would appeal to a lot of people and I highly recommend it.