S.B.'s Reviews

World-renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés brings his boundless energy and curiosity to vegetables in his new book. Vegetables Unleashed is packed with vibrant, robust recipes—including Vegetable Paella and Catalan-Style Spinach—that will wake up your taste buds and make them sing. Andrés’s passion for produce is contagious and his inventive recipes will embolden any cook who feels stuck in a rut or is looking for adventure. - S.B.

Christiaan Röllich is the celebrated mixologist at Suzanne Goin and Carolyn Stine’s Los Angeles restaurants, so I anticipated a fantastic book even before I opened its pages. (I am the tiniest bit obsessed with Goin’s Sunday Suppers at Lucques.) Bar Chef does not disappoint. Röllich is as inspired by great ingredients as chefs are, and fresh, seasonal fruit and artisanal spirits abound in the drinks. I’ll just go ahead and say that this book is not for beginners, and it will likely require hunting down ingredients, but goodness, are the cocktails worth it! - S.B.

I have rarely met a cookbook written by a farmer that I haven’t liked (and frequently loved— hello, Ian Knauer’s The Farm). Abra Berens’s Ruffage continues that wonderful streak. People who actually grow food seem to have an understanding of, and reverence for, produce that is hard to match. Berens channels that passion into her fantastic book, which is organized by vegetable. Her recipes and advice (selecting, storing) manage to be inspiring and practical at the same time. I love her Midwestern charm and sensibility, and her recipes (with their many variations) are spot-on delicious. - S.B.

I have all of Edna Lewis’s books and cannot recommend them highly enough. In Pursuit of Flavor, her third title, is a celebration of the seasonal cooking she grew up with in the farming community of Freetown, Virginia. With chapters such as From the Gardens and Orchards, For the Cupboard, and The Taste of Old-Fashioned Desserts, Miss Lewis shares memories, timeless recipes, and great tips for getting the most flavor out of food. This new edition features a foreword by acclaimed Savannah chef Mashama Bailey, who used In Pursuit of Flavor as the inspiration for her menu at The Grey. - S.B.

This gorgeous cookbook by Gabriela Cámara, the acclaimed owner/chef of Contramar in Mexico City and Cala in San Francisco, includes recipes served at her restaurants, but it is essentially a collection of the dishes that she serves her family and friends. From tortillas to tortas, tamales to flan, Cámara (who has a self-described “fanaticism for freshness”) shares recipes that are traditional and also inspired by seasonal ingredients. I love her voice throughout the book (including in her essays on sustainable seafood and her friendship with Diana Kennedy) and anticipate cooking her lush, delicious recipes for years to come. - S.B.

In this thoroughly engaging and delightful memoir, best-selling food writer Ruth Reichl (Tender at the Bone, Comfort Me with Apples), recounts her unexpected tenure as editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine during the last decade of its existence. I love the ease of Reichl’s writing and her great storytelling skills, whether she is recounting mouthwatering meals, the quirkiness of staff members, or the heaviness of feeding firefighters in the aftermath of 9/11. More than a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of an iconic magazine, this is an endearing and thoughtful exploration of the ways food can bring people together. - S.B.

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This gorgeous book is a bounty of creativity and information on planting and maintaining a beautiful and productive edible garden. Lauri Kranz, founder of Edible Gardens LA, has a bit of magic about her, which is clear from the testimonials of her clients (celebrities among them) who give her credit for creating gardens that have changed their lives. Even as an experienced gardener myself, I must say that I fell under her spell while picking up great tips, advice, and inspiration. - S.B.

Twenty years after it was first published, this classic gardening guide has been updated. I have long loved Roach’s writing (which I first found in Martha Stewart Living) for the way she conveys so much knowledge and expertise in an approachable, encouraging, and personal way. Wise and funny, inspirational and practical, A Way to Garden is the perfect book to sit down and read for pleasure as well as put to good use in the garden. - S.B. 

Inspirational books are great, but sometimes a step-by-step guide is needed to get tasks accomplished in the garden. Whether you need help with pruning, planting, watering, or controlling pests, the American Horticultural Society will show you the way with their latest book, The AHS Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques. This great collection of text, photographs, and illustrations covers everything from how to train a vine to how deep to plant potatoes. - S.B.