Synopses & Reviews
Mark Bittman is famous for his simple, down-to-earth approach to cooking from his bestselling How to Cook Everything® cookbooks. Now, in this companion to the public television series How to Cook Everything: Bittman Takes on America's Chefs, he pits his relaxed cooking style against the sophisticated creations of thirteen A-list celebrity chefs, from Daniel Boulud, Gary Danko, and Suzanne Goin to Michel Richard, Chris Schlesinger, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Bittman's challenge is brash but irresistiblethat simple food cooked at home can taste as good as four-star restaurant cooking. He packs his refreshingly open-minded approach to food and his straight-shooting personality ("I come from a long line of wise guys," he says happily) and takes them on the road to the chefs' home turf in kitchens around the country. The battle plays out in 120 recipes that he and the chefs create together, each helping but also ribbing the other along the way.
Every recipe challenge presents a chef's special dish followed by Bittman's more accessible interpretation. Daniel Boulud's Lamb Extravaganza vs. Bittman's "Too-Simple" Stuffed Lamb Shoulder, Charles Phan's Wok-Cooked Chicken with Nuts and Fruits vs. Bittman's Stir-Fried Chicken with Broccoli and Walnuts, Michel Richard's Layered Vitello Tonnato vs. Bittman's Turkey (Tonnato) Sandwiches, Kerry Simon's Banana Bread and Tempura Bananas vs. Bittman's Frozen Chocolate Banana on a Stick...which will you like best? You may find it hard to choose. No matter. Whether you're in the mood to keep things simple or to take on a culinary challenge, you'll find plenty of terrific opportunities here. And since recipes are grouped into chapters covering starters, main dishes, and desserts, it's easy to find inspiration.
Throughout, the book captures the lighthearted competition and shares the expert cooking revelations that make the television series so engaging. Excerpts from the banter between Bittman and the chefs let you in on what the pros think about their trade, while photographs of finished dishes and still shots from the shows take you close to the action.
You'll find practical cooking advice, too, plus Bittman's often witty and always insightful behind-the-scenes observations. Whether it's Gabrielle Hamilton's opinion about deveining shrimp or Suvir Saran's advice on grinding and browning spices, Michel Richard's thoughts on the chef as artist or Gary Danko's musings on multi-tasking in the kitchen, these pages are filled with inside information on ingredients, techniques, cooking philosophies, and, of course, the chefs themselves.
During this series of mano a mano cooking challenges, says Bittman, "even I learned something new every time I stepped up to the stove." As for the final result, the food is a real knockoutwith a winner on every page.
Synopsis
With make-ahead recipes and simple specialty dishes to share with family and friends, weekend cooking has never been more satisfying. Includes 90 easy-to-follow recipes, ranging from Cinnamon Rolls to Chicken in Red Wine Sauce to Lemon Cheesecake.
Mark Bittman (CT) is a columnist for the New York Times and the acclaimed author of How to Cook Everything, The Minimalist Cooks at Home, The Minimalist Cooks Dinner, Fish, and other books. He has been featured in national and regional print and broadcast media, including television shows such as the Today show and Martha Stewart Living.
" I read his recipes and my mouth waters. I read his directions and head for the kitchen." Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of the international public radio show The Splendid Table
" Mark Bittman is the best home cook I know, and How to Cook Everything is the best basic cookbook I ve seen." Jean-Georges Vongerichten, award-winning chef/owner of Jean-Georges
Synopsis
It s a battle of restaurant style vs. homestyle as Mark Bittman takes on the nation s top chefs with accessible versions of some of their favorite dishes
Mark Bittman is famous for the simple, down-to-earth approach to cooking that hundreds of thousands of home cooks know and love from his bestselling How to Cook Everything cookbooks. Now, in this companion to the public television series, he pits his relaxed cooking style against the sophisticated creations of 13 A-list celebrity chefs, such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten in New York, Chris Schlesinger in Boston, and Suzanne Goin in Los Angeles.
The TV series and book offer tantalizing recipes for home cooks who like to keep things simple or take on a culinary challenge. Readers may find it hard to choose. The battle plays out in the 120 recipes Mark and the chefs created together, each helping but also ribbing the other along the way. In the book, the recipes are grouped in chapters ranging from salads to main dishes to desserts. Each recipe challenge presents a chef s special dish followed by Bittman s simpler interpretation, including Daniel Boulud s Lamb, Four Ways vs. Bittman s Simple Lamb Roast and Jean-Georges Vongerichten s Apple Tart Tartin with Tart Apple Ice Cream vs. Bittman s Skillet Tart Tartin. To capture the lighthearted competition and expert cooking revelations that make the TV series so engaging, the book offers Bittman s behind-the-scenes observations and practical cooking tips for each recipe. During this cooking odyssey, " even I learned something, " Bittman says. Rounding out the package are beautiful full-color photographs of finished dishes and action shots from the show.
Mark Bittman (Los Angeles, CA) writes the weekly " Minimalist" column and other features for the New York Times dining section, and is the acclaimed author of the bestselling How to Cook Everything, as well as The Minimalist Cooks at Home, The Minimalist Cooks Dinner, Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking, and other books. He has been widely featured in national and regional print and broadcast media, and has made regular appearances on the Today show and NPR s All Things Considered
Synopsis
Join Mark Bittman as he takes on the nation's top chefs in a culinary battle of home-style vs. restaurant style!
"Mark knows food. Mark knows chefs. Chefs know Mark.You know this has gotta be a great cookbook!"
—Al Roker, Host, NBC's Today show
The Chefs Who Took the Challenge
- JOSÉ ANDRÉS, Zaytinya/Washington, D.C.
- DANIEL BOULUD, Daniel/New York
- JAMES BOYCE, Studio/Laguna Beach
- GARY DANKO, Restaurant Gary Danko/San Francisco
- SUZANNE GOIN, Lucques and A.O.C./Los Angeles
- GABRIELLE HAMILTON, Prune/New York
- ANNA KLINGER, Al di Là/New York
- CHARLES PHAN, The Slanted Door/San Francisco
- MICHEL RICHARD, Citronelle/Washington, D.C.
- SUVIR SARAN, Devi/New York
- CHRIS SCHLESINGER, East Coast Grill & Raw Bar/Boston-Cambridge
- KERRY SIMON, Simon Kitchen & Bar/Las Vegas
- JEAN-GEORGES VONGERICHTEN, Jean-Georges/New York
About the Author
MARK BITTMAN writes the weekly "Minimalist" column and other features for the New York Times dining section and is the acclaimed author of the bestselling How to Cook Everything, as well as The Minimalist Cooks at Home; The Minimalist Cooks Dinner; Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking, and other books. He has been widely featured in national and regional print and broadcast media, and makes regular appearances on the Today show and NPR's All Things Considered. The How to Cook Everything: Bittman Takes on America's Chefs public television series is broadcast nationwide.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
The Chefs and the Dishes.
Starters.
Fish.
Poultry and Eggs.
Meat.
Pasta, Rice, and Vegetables.
Desserts.
Sauces, Condiments, and Other Basics.
Index.