Acclaimed chef Angelo Sosa is obsessed with flavors. He was seduced by spices, herbs and ingredients while traveling through Asia. He fantasizes about how coriander will pair with lemongrass. The smells of cumin and cilantro transport him back to his Aunt Carmen's kitchen in Queens and the taste of salt reminds him of a certain “Judges' Table” on “Top Chef.” Combining his years as a chef with his innate understanding of how thoughtful food can change our lives, Angelo is uniquely able to reach out and inspire virtually anyone. In FLAVOR EXPOSED, he not only aims to teach the reader to identify and cook with nine flavor profiles, but he explains the concept behind a “flavor trinity”―the base of each of his recipes. His stories of life as a “Top Chef” contestant, in the kitchens of four-star restaurants, and as a culinary student desperate to surpass all expectations, will also enchant everyone interested in what it takes to become a chef of his caliber. And Angelo's recipes―simple, innovative, and unbelievably accessible to the home cook―will amaze with their myriad of flavors and exotic influences. Who else could conceive of a Sweet Tomato Soup with Curried Whipped Cream? A dish that immediately sparks childhood memories, yet is also layered with such sophistication as to make it simultaneously familiar and unexpected. Whether it's his elegant Soy-Steeped Chicken with Tea Leaves, his signature Saigon Burger with Ginger Glaze and Thai Basil Mayo, or his utterly delightful Sunny Side-Up Egg with Chinese Sausage and “Takeout” Fried Rice, Angelo's recipes will tantalize the taste buds of anyone who likes to cook (or eat for that matter). From the millions of fans who rooted for him on “Top Chef,” to the diehard foodies who have long coveted his secrets to creating some of the most interesting and arousing food being made today, FLAVOR EXPOSED will undoubtedly fill the need. “Coupled with his elegant approach, Angelo’s cuisine is utterly unique. One can feel his passion for Asian flavors, his talent for combining them harmoniously, and his uninhibited creativity in each and every of his recipes. They all tell a story—the story of a chef who lives for cooking.”—Alain Ducasse, from the Foreword "Angelo Sosa is a perfectionist, and one of the most committed and principled chefs I know. Throw in his penchant for global cooking and his expansive culinary skill set and you have the perfect recipe for a great cookbook author. His first effort is thrilling, reliable and insanely sexy...but most importantly the food is as delicious and sensible."—Andrew Zimmern "Angelo is a fantastic chef. Flavor Exposed is a great way for home cooks to learn about his wonderful Asian-influenced cuisine in a very organized and east to understand way." - Masaharu Morimoto "This book, with its well-designed flavor map and recipes divided according to nine major flavor profiles, demonstrates a keen understanding of the complexity through simplicity concept. His unique recipes feature clever and often surprising ingredient combinations, designed in a way that allow for contrasting tastes to complement and enhance one another, creating a layered explosion of flavor with each and every bite... Angelo Sosa has conquered the art of the unexpected with Flavor Exposed." - Jean-Georges Vongerichten "Angelo Sosa has a true talent for presenting both old and new flavors together like few other young chefs can - at once elegant, approachable and thoroughly unique (this in itself is a rare culinary trinity!). His book will serve as both inspiration and guide to many meals in my home for years to come." - Gail Simmons “Sosa believes in the science of flavor and the art of cooking. He categorizes recipes by the primary tastesthe tongue physically senses: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. To those fundamentals he adds spicy,earthy, and nutty. Out of this palette of flavors he creates unique recipes that harmonize these attributes.Scallop and banana tartare offers a basic sweetness, which is underscored by dressing it with jalapeñovinaigrette for contrasting acidity and spiciness. Salty flavor dominates in Sosa's remarkable riff onChinese takeout standard General Tso's chicken reimagined with sweetbreads. Even more startling, sloppyHo Chi Minh revolutionizes an American classic with Vietnamese flavors.”―Booklist “Chef Angelo Sosa combines flavors in surprisingly delicious ways. His unique cooking style comes from many influences: his Dominican-Italian heritage, French culinary training, time spent working with chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, competing on Top Chef, and traveling in Asia. He brings these experiences to bear in this inviting cookbook, sharing 100 exciting, globally inspired recipes. Some are jazzed-up versions of familiar fare: Mustard Seed Potato Salad, for example, or Sloppy Ho Chi Minh, an exotic riff on the classic Sloppy Joe. Others are wildly original, like Curried Pots de Crème and Grilled Watermelon with Chinese A-1 Sauce