Key Takeaways
- Lotus Foods introduces “Rice Is Life,” its first cookbook celebrating rice through 65 recipes and essays on sustainable rice agriculture.
- Co-founders Caryl Levine and Ken Lee aim to demystify rice cooking, offering easy recipes and cultural insights into popular rice-based dishes.
- The book explores global rice culture, featuring dishes like Arroz Con Pollo, Ramen “Carbonara,” and Soba Noodles, focusing on gluten-free pantry staples.
Lotus Foods Launches “Rice Is Life” Cookbook
Richmond, CA–Lotus Foods announced in a news release the launch of Rice Is Life, the first cookbook from company founders Caryl Levine and Ken Lee.
The book is written by cookbook author Kristin Donnelly and published by Chronicle Books to celebrate several staple foods found worldwide — all through the essence of 65 recipes.
At the heart of this cookbook are essays on rice culture showing how important sustainable rice agriculture is.
“This book was more than 25 years in the making, a love story of sorts about the incredible diversity of a common grain that sustains half the world’s people,” said Caryl Levine and Ken Lee, Lotus Foods Co-Founders/Co-CEOs, in a news release.
“We often hear that people are intimidated to cook rice. One of our objectives for Rice Is Life is to help people become comfortable with cooking rice and rice noodles and to provide them with easy, inspiring recipes,” the founders added in the release.
Global Culinary Exploration
Recipes in the newly-launched book draw inspiration from the rice-growing world and explore the cultural inspirations behind popular rice-based dishes, such as Arroz Con Pollo, Hainanese-Inspired Chicken and Rice, Ramen “Carbonara” and Soba Noodles with Green Tea Broth, and Smoked Salmon. The book looks at the diversity of flavors, focusing on simple, gluten-free pantry staples.
“Caryl and Ken bring a unique perspective drawn from their deep knowledge of rice and rice cookery over the past two decades,” said Sarah Billingsley, Editorial Director of Food & Lifestyle at Chronicle Books, in the news release. “Rice is Life is a beautiful exploration of the diversity and versatility of rice with recipes emphasizing easy, weeknight cooking and embracing a myriad of culinary traditions and new trends.”
Rice Is Life is available on Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Amazon, and Bookshop.org.
What We Think
“Rice Is Life” from Lotus Foods embraces the rich cultural tapestry woven around this staple grain, offering a culinary journey through diverse global flavors.
Beyond a cookbook, it serves as a tribute to sustainable rice farming and aims to make rice cooking accessible to all. With its emphasis on simple, gluten-free recipes and cultural insights, this book not only celebrates rice but also educates and inspires home cooks.
It’s a beautiful blend of tradition and innovation, inviting readers to explore the world through the lens of a single, essential grain.
See more details in this news release.
