S.B.'s Reviews

You can't go wrong with any of award-winning author Andrea Nguyen's outstanding cookbooks which are often a deep dive into a particular dish or ingredient (tofu, pho, bahn mi, dumplings). Nguyen is a fantastic teacher who makes even the most detailed recipes doable, but Vietnamese Food Any Day is perhaps her most accessible yet. (My 12-year-old daughter is even cooking from it!) By using ingredients that are commonly found at local grocery stores, Nguyen makes it easy to incorporate delicious Vietnamese food into busy weeknight cooking. From Shaking Beef to Rice Paper Rolls to Shrimp in Coconut Caramel Sauce, Nguyen shares quick dishes that don't compromise on flavor. This cookbook is a game-changer at our house, and will likely be at yours, too. - S.B.

Viewers of her nightly show already know that Rachel Maddow is both wicked smart and a great storyteller. She excels at tackling complex political situations and making them digestible for all of us who aren’t Rhodes scholars (like she was). In Blowout, Maddow takes readers on a global journey of the tremendous greed, corruption, and incompetence of Big Oil and Gas, which has led to weakened democracies, environmental disasters, and the Russian government hacking of our 2016 election. Filled with high stakes, intriguing characters, and just enough dark humor to make you not (entirely) lose hope, Blowout is required reading. As Maddow writes, “Democracy either wins this one or disappears.” - S.B.

Orin Martin, who has been the manager of UC Santa Cruz’s renowned Alan Chadwick Garden for decades, shares his wisdom about growing healthy, organic fruit trees in his excellent new book. Covering apples to peaches, citrus to figs, Martin advises on the selection, planting, feeding, and pruning of trees to produce a bountiful harvest. With stellar instructions, a foreword by Alice Waters, and Stephanie Martin’s lovely illustrations, Fruit Trees for Every Garden is an indispensable book that every gardener should own. - S.B.

Dazzling, lush, and vibrant, Flora Magnifica is the result of a collaboration between floral artist Makoto Azuma and botanical photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki. Often evoking the opulence of a Dutch still-life floral but still clearly contemporary, these images are organized thematically by season. You will happily get lost in the layers of petals, unfurling fern fronds, and riots of color. - S.B.

Secondhand. Salvaged. Scrap. Reclaimed wood once went by many different names and was used out of necessity; now it is extolled for its beauty and for the character and history it can bring to any space. This gorgeous new book about reclaimed wood covers everything from the history of wood in America to sourcing and design. Packed with inspirational photos of homes, furniture, and artwork that use repurposed lumber, it would make a great gift for any woodworker, builder, or designer, or anyone who appreciates natural beauty. - S.B.

Down to Earth features houses that are relaxed, effortless, and celebrate a connection with nature. Designer Lauren Liess draws upon her fondest memories outdoors to inspire her interiors, creating homes that have a simple and natural vibe and are meant to be enjoyed rather than designed to impress. With her use of durable textiles, rustic beams, and great tiles, Liess’s style reminds me of a cross between Justina Blakeney (The New Bohemians) and Joanna Gaines (Fixer Upper), and no doubt fans of either would be delighted with this book. - S.B.

This seminal book started a gardening revolution, the New Perennial movement, when it was first published in 2003. Dutch designer Piet Oudolf (the High Line, Battery Park) champions a naturalistic approach to home and public garden design, emphasizing the use of hardy perennials and grasses that produce landscapes that look natural and organic no matter the season. This revised edition includes beautiful new photography and updated plant lists, making it more valuable and inspirational than ever. - S.B.

This showcase of 400 artists from 50 countries of the past 500 years, the latest book in Phaidon’s Art Book series, is a stunner. From familiar names like Frida Kahlo, Mary Cassatt, and Georgia O’Keeffe, to lesser-known artists, each painter, sculptor, photographer, and performance artist is celebrated with an image of their key artwork and a short essay. Even as an art major myself, I was excited to discover artists I hadn’t known before as well as to revisit old favorites. Any art lover will enjoy this beautiful book. - S.B.

Every year there is (at least) one new cookbook that both makes me really excited to cook and grabs a piece of my heart. This year South is that book. Chef Sean Brock is a champion of Southern food and makes a compelling case for why it should be considered one of the most important cuisines in the world. Highlighting the many regional differences of the South, he shares variations on recipes for classics, including cornbread, shrimp and grits, and fried chicken. Seasonal, accessible, and mouthwatering, South is a passionate collection of fantastic dishes that Frank Stitt calls “one of the most beautiful and powerful books on Southern food ever written.” - S.B.

Don't miss our event with Sean Brock for South on November 11th, 2019!

I have been eagerly awaiting this new book from the women behind Canal House. They love the everyday practice of simple, seasonal cooking. Cook Something features 300 unfussy recipes (including French Onion Soup, Classic Italian Meatballs, and Carrots Glazed with Butter) that are delicious and includes tips that will make you a better cook. I am always inspired by the ease and appeal of Canal House food, and know that this is a cookbook that I, and countless home cooks, will reach for again and again. - S.B.