Alice Waters
Chef, Author, Proprietor of Chez Panisse
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Alice Waters
“Part cookbook, part memoir, Alon Shaya writes of identity, memory, and the power that food holds in our lives. This is a beautiful cookbook, rich with emotion and recipes filled with spices and herbs and all of the vegetables I am drawn toward.” (from Amazon)
An exciting debut cookbook that confirms the arrival of a new guru chef . . . A moving, deeply personal journey of survival and discovery that tells of the evolution of a cuisine and of the transformative power and magic of food and cooking. From the two-time James Beard Award-winning chef whose celebrated New Orleans restaurants have been hailed as the country's most innovative and best by Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Saveur, GQ, and Esquire. "Alon's journey is as gripping and as seductive as his cooking . . . Lovely stories, terrific food."--Yotam Ottolenghi, author of Jerusalem: A Cookbook "Breathtaking. Bravo." --Joan Nathan, author of King Solomon's Table Alon Shaya's is no ordinary cookbook. It is a memoir of a culinary sensibility that begins in Israel and wends its way from the U.S.A. (Philadelphia) to Italy (Milan and Bergamo), back to Israel (Jerusalem) and comes together in the American South, in the heart of New Orleans. It's a book that tells of how food saved the author's life and how, through a circuitous path of (cooking) twists and (life-affirming) turns the author's celebrated cuisine--food of his native Israel with a creole New Orleans kick came to be, along with his award-winning New Orleans restaurants: Shaya, Domenica, and Pizza Domenica, ranked by Esquire, Bon Appétit, and others as the best new restaurants in the United States. These are stories of place, of people, and of the food that connects them, a memoir of one man's culinary sensibility, with food as the continuum throughout his journey--guiding his personal and professional decisions, punctuating every memory, choice, every turning point in his life. Interspersed with glorious full-color photographs and illustrations that follow the course of all the flavors Shaya has tried, places he's traveled, things he's experienced, lessons he's learned--more than one hundred recipes--from Roasted Chicken with Harissa to Speckled Trout with Tahini and Pine Nuts; Crab Cakes with Preserved Lemon Aioli; Roasted Cast-Iron Ribeye; Marinated Soft Cheese with Herbs and Spices; Buttermilk Biscuits; and Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Whipped Feta.
Recommended by Alice Waters
“Joshua McFadden has the soul of a farmer, and his recipes are beautifully in tune with the seasons and the land.” (from Amazon)
by Joshua McFadden, Martha Holmberg·You?
by Joshua McFadden, Martha Holmberg·You?
Winner, James Beard Award for Best Book in Vegetable-Focused Cooking Named a Best Cookbook of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Bon Appétit, Food Network Magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, USA Today, Seattle Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Library Journal, Eater, and more Featured in The Strategist ’s Nonobvious Wedding Gift Guide “Of the many vegetable-focused cookbooks on the market, few espouse the dual goals of starting from square one and of deploying minimal ingredients for maximum enjoyment. Joshua McFadden’s guide excels at both. These are recipes that every last relative around your holiday table would use because they’re umami-rich and can be made on a weeknight.” —USA Today, 8 Cookbooks for People Who Don’t Know How to Cook “If you’re finding pantry cooking to mean too many uninspired pots of beans, might I suggest Six Seasons? [It] both highlights a perfectly ripe plant . . . and shows you how to transform slightly less peak-season produce (yes, the cabbage lurking in the back of your fridge right now counts) with heat, spice, acid, and fat.” —Epicurious “Never before have I seen so many fascinating, delicious, easy recipes in one book. . . . [Six Seasons is] about as close to a perfect cookbook as I have seen . . . a book beginner and seasoned cooks alike will reach for repeatedly.” —Lucky Peach Joshua McFadden, chef and owner of renowned trattoria Ava Gene’s in Portland, Oregon, is a vegetable whisperer. After years racking up culinary cred at New York City restaurants like Lupa, Momofuku, and Blue Hill, he managed the trailblazing Four Season Farm in coastal Maine, where he developed an appreciation for every part of the plant and learned to coax the best from vegetables at each stage of their lives. In Six Seasons, his first book, McFadden channels both farmer and chef, highlighting the evolving attributes of vegetables throughout their growing seasons—an arc from spring to early summer to midsummer to the bursting harvest of late summer, then ebbing into autumn and, finally, the earthy, mellow sweetness of winter. Each chapter begins with recipes featuring raw vegetables at the start of their season. As weeks progress, McFadden turns up the heat—grilling and steaming, then moving on to sautés, pan roasts, braises, and stews. His ingenuity is on display in 225 revelatory recipes that celebrate flavor at its peak.
Recommended by Alice Waters
“In many ways, the good bread we have now in the United States exists thanks to Poilâne. Poilâne bakery and the Poilâne family have revolutionized the way we think about bread, and it is deeply important that we preserve and learn from their legacy.” (from Amazon)
by Apollonia Poilâne·You?
by Apollonia Poilâne·You?
Epicurious' "New Fall 2019 Cookbooks We Can't Wait to Cook From" Food & Wine 18 Essential New Cookbooks for Fall Amazon's pick for Biggest Cookbooks of Fall Chowhound's Best New Cookbooks and Best New Baking Cookbooks for Fall 2019 "In many ways, the good bread we have now in the United States exists thanks to Poilâne. Poilâne bakery and the Poilâne family have revolutionized the way we think about bread, and it is deeply important that we preserve and learn from their legacy." —Alice Waters, from the foreword To food lovers the world over, a trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to Poilâne. Ina Garten raves about the bread’s “extraordinary quality.” Martha Stewart says the P in Poilâne stands for “perfect.” For the first time, Poilâne provides detailed instructions so bakers can reproduce its unique “hug-sized” sourdough loaves at home, as well as the bakery’s other much-loved breads and pastries. It tells the story of how Apollonia Poilâne, the third-generation baker and owner, took over the global business at age eighteen and steered it into the future as a Harvard University freshman after her parents were killed in a helicopter crash. Beyond bread, Apollonia includes recipes for pastries such as the bakery’s exquisite but unfussy tarts and butter cookies. In recipes that use bread as an ingredient, she shows how to make the most from a loaf, from crust to crumb. In still other dishes, she explores the world of grains: rice, corn, barley, oats, and millet. From sunup to sundown, Poilâne traces the hours in a baker’s day, blending narrative, recipes, and Apollonia’s philosophy of bread.
Recommended by Alice Waters
“Charles Phan’s Vietnamese Home Cooking captures the very heart of Vietnamese food: fresh, pure, full of life, and vibrant with flavor. His beautiful pictures, stories, and recipes make it completely irresistible.” (from Amazon)
by Charles Phan·You?
by Charles Phan·You?
In his eagerly awaited first cookbook, award-winning chef Charles Phan from San Francisco's Slanted Door restaurant introduces traditional Vietnamese cooking to home cooks by focusing on fundamental techniques and ingredients. When Charles Phan opened his now-legendary restaurant, The Slanted Door, in 1995, he introduced American diners to a new world of Vietnamese food: robustly flavored, subtly nuanced, authentic yet influenced by local ingredients, and, ultimately, entirely approachable. In this same spirit of tradition and innovation, Phan presents a landmark collection based on the premise that with an understanding of its central techniques and fundamental ingredients, Vietnamese home cooking can be as attainable and understandable as American, French, or Italian. With solid instruction and encouraging guidance, perfectly crispy imperial rolls, tender steamed dumplings, delicately flavored whole fish, and meaty lemongrass beef stew are all deliciously close at hand. Abundant photography detailing techniques and equipment, and vibrant shots taken on location in Vietnam, make for equal parts elucidation and inspiration. And with master recipes for stocks and sauces, a photographic guide to ingredients, and tips on choosing a wok and seasoning a clay pot, this definitive reference will finally secure Vietnamese food in the home cook’s repertoire. Infused with the author’s stories and experiences, from his early days as a refugee to his current culinary success, Vietnamese Home Cooking is a personal and accessible guide to real Vietnamese cuisine from one of its leading voices.
Recommended by Alice Waters
“I applaud Barbara Massaad’s vital work in preserving Lebanese culture and its unique culinary traditions. Her inspiring new cookbook, Forever Beirut, offers a multilayered vision of a city, its people, and its cuisine with recipes, stories, and photography that truly and effectively honors the spirit of Beirut. I will cherish this book.” (from Amazon)
by Barbara Abdeni Massaad, Chef José Andrés·You?
by Barbara Abdeni Massaad, Chef José Andrés·You?
A new cookbook from the bestselling author of Soup for Syria to support the Lebanese Food Bank and help families in dire need of food after the devastating blast and ensuing economic collapse Beirut, nicknamed “Paris of the East,” is the capital of Lebanon. It is the culinary capital of the Arab world, with an unmatched cuisine that has ancient roots and is influenced by a number of civilizations and cooking styles, including Arab, Turkish, and French. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the most cosmopolitan and religiously diverse in the region. Situated on the Mediterranean coast and flanked by the majestic Mount Lebanon, it boasts an abundance of flavorful ingredients and spices, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and seafood. Written by renowned Lebanese chef and award-winning cookbook writer Barbara Abdeni Massaad, Forever Beirut is a collection of 100 easy-to-prepare recipes that celebrate Beirut’s rich culinary heritage, its resilience, and healing power. It is Barbara’s way of honoring the city of her childhood, her dreams, her Lebanese family kitchen, and the food that roots her. It is filled with stories and anecdotes about the customs, food, people, and traditions, with sections for soups, salads, breads and savory pastries, mezze, kibbeh, grilling, main dishes, pickles and preserves, and sweets. With beautiful food and location photography, Forever Beirut is a must-have for cooks who love healthful and delicious Middle Eastern food.
Recommended by Alice Waters
“Divine cookbook...stunningly beautiful...” (from Amazon)
by Najmieh Batmanglij·You?
by Najmieh Batmanglij·You?
The 40th Anniversary Edition of Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies by Najmieh Batmanglij contains more recipes and more photos. Each recipe has been restructured for more clarity, including tips and suggestions from her fans over the past 40 years. Food of Life provides 400+ authentic Iranian recipes as well as an introduction to Persian art, history, and culture. The book’s hundreds of full color photographs are intertwined with descriptions of ancient and modern Persian ceremonies, poetry, folktales, travelogue excerpts and anecdotes. This book is a labour of love that began in exile, after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, as a love letter to Najmieh’s children. It is the result of 40 years of collecting, testing and adapting Persian recipes for today’s kitchen. All the ingredients for cooking Persian food are now readily available throughout the U.S. enabling anyone from a master chef to a novice to reproduce the refined tastes, textures, and beauty of Persian cuisine. Food-related pieces from the 10th century Book of Kings, and 1,001 Nights to the classics of Persian poetry, the humor of Mulla Nasruddin, as well as Persian miniatures are all included.Each recipe is presented with steps that are logical and easy to follow. Readers learn how to simply yet deliciously cook rice with its golden crust tahdig, the jewel of Persian cooking, which, when combined with a little meat, fowl, or fish, vegetables, fruits, and herbs, provides the perfect balanced diet.Najmieh Batmanglij, is an acclaimed chef, best-selling cookbook author, and cooking instructor. She is also the co-founder and executive chef of the award winning Persian restaurant Joon, in Vienna Virginia. Najmieh was hailed as “one of seven immigrant women who changed the way americans eat” by The New York Times, and The Grande Dame of Iranian Cooking by Mayukh Sen in The Washington Post. Her latest book Cooking in Iran: Regional Recipes & Kitchen Secrets, was the culmination of tens of thousands of miles of travel through Iran. It was chosen as one of the best cookbooks of 2018, and called “magisterial” by The New York Times.Batmanglij views preparing a meal not only as a culinary experience, but also as a means to bring family and friends together. She encourages her readers to use her books as she was taught in Iran, to cook, to laugh, to tell jokes and stories, to recite poetry, and to enjoy the meal. Over the past 40 years, Batmanglij’s books have acted as a both a beacon and a bible to Iranian-American and mixed-ethnicity families in the English-speaking world. Her life and her work meet at the vortex of feminism, tradition, ceremony, and the nourishment of body and mind, proving that none of these concepts need be foreign to one another.
Recommended by Alice Waters
“Tartine Bakery opened in 2002, and in the intervening years, it has become an anchor for the neighborhood, a defining institution for the city of San Francisco, and a beacon of taste and flavor for people the whole country over. In short, Tartine is about as authentic—and indispensable—as a bakery can get. No wonder people are still lining up.” (from Amazon)
by Elisabeth Prueitt, Chad Robertson, Gentyl & Hyers, Alice Waters·You?
by Elisabeth Prueitt, Chad Robertson, Gentyl & Hyers, Alice Waters·You?
This brilliantly revisited and beautifully re-photographed baking book is a totally updated edition of a go-to classic for home and professional bakers—from San Francisco's legendary Tartine Bakery. Winner of the 2020 IACP Award for Best Cookbook, Food Photography & Styling The New York Times Best Cookbooks of Fall 2019 "Liz and Chad created much more than a bakery. They tapped into a next-level frequency and, thankfully, we can all tune in. The breadcrumb trail comes full circle with this revisit to the original Tartine classic. I am inspired by where they've been, love where they are, and I'm excited to see where they take us next."—Chris Bianco, author of Bianco: Pizza, Pasta, and Other Food I Like Tartine is one of the most acclaimed and inspiring bakeries in the world. Here is co-owners Elisabeth Pruiett and Chad Robertson's first, classic Tartine cookbook, fully updated with 68 all-new recipes and 55 refreshed favorites. These recipes capture the invention and, above all, deliciousness that Tartine is known for—including their most requested recipe, the Morning Bun. Favorites from the original recipe book are revamped to speak to our tastes today and to include whole-grain and/or gluten-free variations, as well as intriguing new ingredients and global techniques. More than 150 drop-dead gorgeous photographs from acclaimed team Gentl + Hyers make this baking and pastry book a true collectible compendium and must-have for bakers of all skill levels. THE BREAD BOOK THAT SAVED LOCKDOWN: When the world turned inward and reached for the comfort of bread making, Tartine Bread is the bread baking book they relied on. This, their original cookbook, is the perfect companion volume for any home baker ready to venture beyond artisan sourdough to create such irresistible treats as Fruit Galettes, Honey Spice Cake, Pecan Diamonds, Matcha-Glazed Croissants, Savory Scones, and Millionaire's Chocolate Caramel Tart. MODERNIST CUISINE MADE ACCESSIBLE: As pastry chef David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and Drinking French, notes, "The original Tartine cookbook took us into their kitchen, and Elisabeth and Chad's exciting update adds all-new recipes, gluten-free versions, and gorgeous photos to their classic baking book. If you can't make it to the bakery (but even if you can), you'll want to add Tartine: A Classic Revisited to your collection!" FOR THE DISCERNING COOKBOOK COLLECTOR: If you liked Tartine All Day by Elisabeth Prueitt, Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish, or Giuseppe's Italian Bakes, you'll love Tartine: A Classic Revisited! Perfect for: Devotees of Tartine Bakery and the San Francisco food scene Home cooks seeking easy-to-achieve baking recipes Beginner and advanced bread bakers Birthday, housewarming, or holiday gift