Marcus Samuelsson

New York Times bestselling author of THE RISE and YES, CHEF

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Book Recommendations:

Recommended by Marcus Samuelsson

Not only has Rodney Scott taken on the family tradition of BBQ, he’s shared it from Charleston to the world. BBQ has such an incredible and complexly layered history, and the fact that Rodney is one of the best—not only in the country, but in the world—is a sign of his expert craftsmanship. We are all going to benefit from this book and learn from his traditions, the way he cooks, and his philosophy. I cannot wait to reread it and, more than anything, cook and enjoy it with my family. Congrats to you, Rodney. (from Amazon)

IACP COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER • In the first cookbook by a Black pitmaster, James Beard Award–winning chef Rodney Scott celebrates an incredible culinary legacy through his life story, family traditions, and unmatched dedication to his craft. “BBQ is such an important part of African American history, and no one is better at BBQ than Rodney.”—Marcus Samuelsson, chef and restaurateur ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Out, Food52, Taste of Home, Garden & Gun, Epicurious, Vice, Salon, Southern Living, Wired, Library Journal Rodney Scott was born with barbecue in his blood. He cooked his first whole hog, a specialty of South Carolina barbecue, when he was just eleven years old. At the time, he was cooking at Scott's Bar-B-Q, his family's barbecue spot in Hemingway, South Carolina. Now, four decades later, he owns one of the country's most awarded and talked-about barbecue joints, Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ in Charleston. In this cookbook, co-written by award-winning writer Lolis Eric Elie, Rodney spills what makes his pit-smoked turkey, barbecued spare ribs, smoked chicken wings, hush puppies, Ella's Banana Puddin', and award-winning whole hog so special. Moreover, his recipes make it possible to achieve these special flavors yourself, whether you're a barbecue pro or a novice. From the ins and outs of building your own pit to poignant essays on South Carolinian foodways and traditions, this stunningly photographed cookbook is the ultimate barbecue reference. It is also a powerful work of storytelling. In this modern American success story, Rodney details how he made his way from the small town where he worked for his father in the tobacco fields and in the smokehouse, to the sacrifices he made to grow his family's business, and the tough decisions he made to venture out on his own in Charleston. Rodney Scott's World of BBQ is an uplifting story that speaks to how hope, hard work, and a whole lot of optimism built a rich celebration of his heritage—and of unforgettable barbecue.

Recommended by Marcus Samuelsson

I’m honored to celebrate this new work that explores how simple it is to incorporate West African flavors into everyday home cooking as many of these components have influenced global cuisines. (from Amazon)

Experience the vibrant cuisines of West Africa any night of the week with 80 easy, accessible recipes from a James Beard Award–winning chef. “Chef Pierre Thiam offers an entry point into the cooking of a region that has been ignored by the mainstream food culture for way too long.”—Jessica B. Harris, culinary historian and author of High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America A BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Times, Food Network, San Francisco Chronicle, Epicurious, Smithsonian, Vice This is West African food for every kitchen, a generous, warm welcome to its delicious, irresistible culinary mainstays and rhythms. If you already cook with ingredients like hearty greens, yams, black-eyed peas, and okra, or have enjoyed Southern staples like jambalaya and gumbo, you have tasted the deep culinary influences of this interconnected region that spans Senegal, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Nigeria, and more. Now, in Simply West African, celebrated chef and West African cooking authority Pierre Thiam unlocks the region’s essential tastes for the everyday home cook. With helpful tips and tricks that teach readers the basics of the cuisine, Pierre shows how seamlessly these flavorful, easy-to-execute dishes can become weeknight staples or the star of your table for weekend gatherings. Introduce family and friends to: · Familiar dishes with a distinctly West African vibe: Chicken Yassa Tacos; Saucy Shrimp and Fonio Grits; Maman’s Crispy Herb-Crusted Chicken; Blackened Salmon with Moyo Sauce · One-pot crowd pleasers: Root Vegetable Mafe; Chicken Stew with Eggplant; Tomato, and Ginger; Braised Beef and Collard Greens · Hearty vegetables and starchy soak-em-ups: Roasted Eggplant in Peanut Sauce; Double Coconut Rice and Peas; Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Mash With this book, you too will fill your kitchen with the comforting, irresistible flavors and beautiful spirit of West Africa.

Recommended by Marcus Samuelsson

Bill’s ability to fully immerse himself in a foreign place, seemingly at the drop of a dime, is always a sight to behold. With Dirt, Bill dives deep into the unforgiving kitchen culture of Lyon and expresses what it’s truly like to be a cook in this legendary food city. (from Amazon)

“You can almost taste the food in Bill Buford’s Dirt, an engrossing, beautifully written memoir about his life as a cook in France.” —The Wall Street Journal What does it take to master French cooking? This is the question that drives Bill Buford to abandon his perfectly happy life in New York City and pack up and (with a wife and three-year-old twin sons in tow) move to Lyon, the so-called gastronomic capital of France. But what was meant to be six months in a new and very foreign city turns into a wild five-year digression from normal life, as Buford apprentices at Lyon’s best boulangerie, studies at a legendary culinary school, and cooks at a storied Michelin-starred restaurant, where he discovers the exacting (and incomprehensibly punishing) rigueur of the professional kitchen. With his signature humor, sense of adventure, and masterful ability to bring an exotic and unknown world to life, Buford has written the definitive insider story of a city and its great culinary culture.

Recommended by Marcus Samuelsson

This book is amazing because it makes one of the most delicious cuisines in the world accessible, thanks to Jet. (from Amazon)

The Gold Standard for Authentic Thai Cuisine In this showstopping collection of must-try Thai dishes, culinary mastermind and bestselling author Jet Tila opens up the world of his Thai heritage for today’s home cooks with recipes that are authentic, accessible and ultra-craveable. Jet partners up with Tad Weyland Fukumoto, longtime friend and fellow chef, to channel their years of Southeast Asian culinary prowess into mouthwatering recipes, such as Street-Style Basil Pork, Glass Noodle Stir-Fry, Hung Lay Northern Pork Curry, New Thai BBQ Chicken, Fried Tilapia with Three-Flavor Sauce and so many more. They’ve tirelessly perfected these recipes to ensure that their flavors, techniques and quality rank number one across the board―the true gold standard. With dishes ranging from tantalizing classics and popular street foods to unsung heroes spanning the regions, this cookbook is your one-stop guide to the rich culinary traditions of Thailand. Jet also presents an exciting collection of plant-based takes on popular dishes to welcome everyone to the table and show the range of possibilities in the modern Thai kitchen. Fire up your wok and get hungry for 101 of the best damn Thai dishes you’ll ever have. Review “There’s nothing better than when a born teacher teaches the cuisine he was born to cook. Jet Tila is that teacher and Thai is that cuisine.” ―Alton Brown “This book is amazing because it makes one of the most delicious cuisines in the world accessible, thanks to Jet.” ―Marcus Samuelsson “Jet cooks with the same passion, heart and verve that he lives by. You’ll get a glimpse of the soul he puts into his cooking when you read this book, and you’ll get a mouthful of it when you try these recipes.” ―Duff Goldman About the Author Jet Tila is a James Beard–nominated chef. He’s made appearances as a celebrity chef on Iron Chef America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Cutthroat Kitchen and more. Jet is culinary VP of the Pei-Wei Restaurant Group and co-owns Dragon Tiger Noodle Co. in Las Vegas. Jet grew up helping at his family’s famed Bangkok Market―the first Thai market in the United States. He is also the Culinary Ambassador of Thai Cuisine. He lives in Los Angeles.

Recommended by Marcus Samuelsson

Scott Conant is such an incredible chef and someone I’m lucky to call a dear friend. His love for cucina rustica and Turkish home cooking shines through in these recipes and offers a window into his world. I am constantly inspired by his ability to elevate simple ingredients and coax out their nuanced flavors. These are dishes you'll want to savor again and again with your closest friends and family. (from Amazon)

From award-winning chef and Food Network personality Scott Conant, Peace, Love, and Pasta is a cookbook of restaurant-quality Italian meals that you can make easily in your home kitchen. “Behind his universally loved charisma, Scott Conant is one of the best cooks I know. His gutsy, Italian-inspired recipes on these pages will make any home cook’s mouth water.”—Bobby Flay Thirty-five years into an illustrious career of restaurant openings across the country, widespread acclaim, and frequent appearances on the Food Network’s Chopped and many other shows, Scott Conant has returned home to create his most personal cookbook yet. Meals cooked from simple, fresh ingredients were staples of Conant’s childhood in a New England family with roots in Southern Italy. From his grandparents’ garden to the dinner table, Conant’s recipes appreciate the nuances of different flavors and ingredients, and the strong connection between food and family: Braised Short Rib Risotto with Caramelized Onions Spinach and Ricotta Gnudi Tuna Crudo with Lemon and Pickled Fresnos New England-Style Lobster Rolls Bolognese with Parmigiano-Reggiano Fonduta Focusing on these foods Conant grew up with and the ones he makes for his loved ones today, Peace, Love, and Pasta compiles simple, fresh, and flavorful Italian recipes for the home cook to bring to their own family’s table. These recipes are built on the art of cooking for love, fascination with flavors and ingredients, and the simple pleasures of taste and conviviality. Includes Color Photographs