Synopses & Reviews
In this age of celebrity chefs and rarefied ingredients, it is a great pleasure to publish this creative and wholesome collection of recipes,
The Vineyard Kitchen, by Maria Helm Sinskey. In her debut book, Maria shares the homey yet sophisticated recipes that have made her one of America's most celebrated chefs and a culinary star. Though Maria lives in the Napa Valley, she was born and raised in the Northeast, and her recipes capture seasonal availability and flavors, no matter where you are cooking.
Maria offers 40 menus, 10 per season, with more than 180 recipes to enjoy all year round. From her kitchen in Napa, where she runs a vineyard with her husband and raises her two young daughters, Maria looks out onto a landscape whose seasonal bounty is reflected in each recipe. Emphasizing quality ingredients, her dishes are simple and pure, focusing on the freshness and flavor of each element, rather than on fussy or complicated preparations. These are dishes that celebrate the unique offerings of each season and that perfectly suit our shifting appetites as the days go from short to long and as our dining table moves from fireside to patio.
Delight in summer with the annual ritual of shucking fresh corn, and transform the harvest into a velvety Sweet Corn Soup with Rosemary; savor the summer-only treat of White Peaches Poached in Vin Gris with Raspberries. When the weather turns wintry, you won't feel deprived with Maria's soothing Nutmeg Custard or with a stunning meal of Parsnip Soup followed by Duck Confit with French Green Lentils. Complete with wine pairings and seasonal shopping tips, The Vineyard Kitchen is a friendly, comprehensive guide that will help you create distinctive, tempting dishes throughout the year.
Synopsis
For Maria Helm Sinskey, award-winning California chef and culinary director of Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley, each season offers a new opportunity to create exciting seasonal meals with fresh local ingredients and great wines. In this new book, Sinskey offers home cooks the secrets to her earthy, sophisticated food, along with 40 delicious menus and 145 recipes. The menus are illustrated with 24 black-and-white photographs by Maria's husband, widely published photographer and organic vintner Robert Sinskey, which capture the personalities and natural beauty of the Napa region. Organized by season, each complete menu includes a starter, main course, a side or two, and dessert, as well as helpful wine suggestions. From Roasted Halibut with Sweet Corn and Chanterelles, to Slow-Roasted Pork with White Beans and Artichokes, to Caramelized Banana Bread Pudding, each recipe is easy enough for a weekday dinner, yet elegant enough for entertaining. No matter what your level of cooking experience or where in the world you are cooking, The Vineyard Kitchen will help you create distinctive, tempting dishes all year round.
About the Author
Named one of the "Best New Chefs in America" by Food & Wine magazine, Maria Helm Sinskey is one of California's most renowned young chefs. Formerly the executive chef of PlumpJack Café in San Francisco, she now provides culinary direction and cooking classes at Robert Sinskey Vineyards, the Napa Valley winery she owns with her husband.