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Cal Peternell, Twelve Recipes

Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 7:00pm

When his oldest son was leaving for college, Cal Peternell, the chef of Berkeley’s legendary Chez Panisse, realized that, although he regularly made dinners for his family, he’d never taught them the basics of cooking. Twelve Recipes is the ultimate introduction to the kitchen based on the course of instruction he prepared and honed through many phone calls and conversations with his son. The recipes construct a home cook’s arsenal, each building skill upon skill—from toast, eggs, and beans to vinaigrettes, pasta with tomato, and rice, to vegetables, soup, meats, and cake. Twelve Recipes provides a set of basic techniques and essential recipes that will transform anyone into a confident home cook.

Chez Panisse, helmed by Alice Waters, is at the forefront of simple, elegant farm-to-table cuisine with seasonal focus. Peternell grew up on a small farm where family meals were a way of life. The advice and recipes he shares in this book draw from his knowledge in the professional kitchen, and are inspired by his own family dinners. Each chapter gives the "recipe for success” with a particular food. As readers learn the specifics of making Pasta Puttanesca, for example, they will gain a deep understanding of the mysteries and charms of pasta with tomato sauce in all its beautiful variations: a simple Summer Marinara can be transformed into the traditional alla Norma dish by adding roasted eggplant.

Featuring gorgeous color photos and inset illustrations by Peternell's wife and sons (all artists), forewards by Alice Waters and Michael Pollan, Twelve Recipes is a must-have cookbook for the holiday season and everyday life.

Join us for a reading and signing—plus sample recipes from Cal Peternell’s book at this event!

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Twelve Recipes By Cal Peternell Cover Image
$29.99
ISBN: 9780062270306
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: William Morrow Cookbooks - October 21st, 2014