Book Review: Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir

Eddie Huang is the brash young chef responsible for Baohaus, the East Village hot spot with Asian street food. He also has a TV show, where a lot of what he says is bleeped.

The book is the same way. But if you’re put off by the language, or don’t necessarily get all the Wu Tang Clan references, keep reading.

It’s an account of growing up in suburban Florida with strict Chinese immigrants for parents. Huang turned to hip hop music, a life of trouble, and finally, to food in order to make peace with his roots and his identity.

Scenes in the book are raw and moving at times, kind of a Catcher in the Rye for those who love steam buns.