Kim Chi Eats the World: 75 Recipes Fit for a (Drag) Queen

The vibrant debut cookbook from Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Kim Chi doubles as a culinary travelogue from her time on tour through Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The recipes often memorialize casual eats from unpretentious places, such as the cheese and onion Cornish pasties that Kim Chi enjoyed at rest stops while touring the U.K., making for some fun juxtapositions with the artist’s glam looks and larger-than-life persona. A classic poutine recipe, for example, comes complete with a campy editorial photo shoot featuring Kim Chi hamming it up with the curds and gravy. French fries make another appearance in lomo saltado, a popular Chinese-Peruvian stir-fry. Spanish paella gets a quick and simple interpretation in a rice cooker, while the Turkish döner kebab that is a staple in Berlin gets deconstructed into a platter. Fusion fare abounds, including Korean hot dogs (“the ultimate glow-up for an American corndog”), Brazilian beef stroganoff, and Japanese pasta Napolitan featuring spaghetti, sausage, and ketchup. Vivid photography, easy to follow instructions, personality filled anecdotes, and fabulous drag looks make re-creating the author’s favorite meals inviting. Infused with a gentle joie de vivre, this should appeal to foodies, globe-trotters, and drag lovers alike. (Oct.)