Two Cookbooks you need.
Coastal and The Fishwife Cookbook take two unique and successful approaches to the traditional cookbook model.
I’m not the biggest cookbook person. I cook a lot just doing what I love and know how to do and when I want inspiration I tend to just go to the Times Cooking (thanks Sam!), or I ask my friend Dawn who is a fantastic cook. I do love leafing through cookbooks though, and reading the stories, but to be honest, sometimes they sit on the shelf looking very nice and impressive all lined up there, but mostly just collecting dust. That said, there are those that are well worn and stained from use. The Joy of Cooking, The Gourmet Cookbook, Salt Fat Acid Heat, The Sofreh Cookbook, and The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, and now I have two more that I’m kind of already obsessed with. They’re not your typical books so that may be why they appeal so much.
COASTAL
The first that has just blown me away is Coastal – a cookbook-as-love-story devoted to the Central Coast of California, its stories, its craggy shores, its seafood and farmers and adventures that pull you into a long drive with not much of a goal other than the scenery and a farmstand.
It comes from a group of three different creative artists and friends – chef Scott Clark, who ran kitchens at San Francisco’s Michelin-starred kitchens Benu and Saison, and fell in love the harvest of Central California, specifically, of Half Moon Bay, where he runs Dad’s Luncheonette; the fabulous writer Betsy Andrews, a James Beard, International Association of Culinary Professionals, and Society of American Travel Writers award-winning journalist, and the acclaimed photographer Cheyenne Ellis a fourth-generation Californian who shot the most exquisite images for this book. I want to jump into the pages like some Mary Poppins wizardry.
The book is a combination of adventure travel log, celebration of California farmers, and the joy of beautiful, soulful seasonal farm-to-table cooking, a joyful, one of a kind chronicle of their road trips up and down the coast, cooking, hunting, surfing, visiting with farmers, and cooking.
The team is coming together on Friday to cook a four-course dinner with dishes from the book – Deviled Quail Eggs, Confit Tuna Salad with Sea Salt Lavash, Herby Buttermilk Ranch Dip with Seasonal Crudités, Dad's Potato Chips, Korean BBQ Pear Butter Ribs with Whole Napa Cabbage Kimchi, Shredded Potato Salad, and Dry-Fried String Beans, and signature Dad’s desserts – Earl Grey Icebox Pie and Miso, Walnut, and Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Tickets (get them here) are $195 per person and include all food, drink and gratuities, so you don't need to worry about settling a bill at the end of the night. A portion of the ticket price will go to World Central Kitchen to feed Los Angeles residents affected by the wildfires.
THE FISHWIFE COOKBOOK
The second book I’m loving is The Fishwife Cookbook, more of a guide to assembly and party-planning, which is totally my jam – how to put together all their different tinned beauties to make a meal, a soiree, a breakfast, a late-night snack.
If you love their gorgeous tinned fish, now you can have a cookbook to put all that briny smoky fiery fish to work for you. The Fishwife Cookbook is now out by founder Becca Millstein and Vilda Gonzalez (with illustrations by Danny Miller who does their packaging, and it’s full of ideas for cocktail parties, meals for one, late night snacks and dinner, along with how to assemble and make all the building blocks needed for a proper tinned fish feast.
The team is having a cookbook launch party at Margot tomorrow evening, March 27th. The party includes bites from the book and some good wine. Tickets are $75 per person via Resy and include cost of entry, all food, and a welcome drink! First 75 folks to arrive will receive free Fishwife cookbook totes. The cookbook ($30) is not included in ticket price, for sale by Archestratus. Or you can buy your own here!
Don’t forget about the first ever Strong Buzz Salon taking place on April 22nd at Cafe Spaghetti! It’s an intimate soiree with chef Sal Lambroglia and wine director and managing partner Giovanna Cucolo that I’m hosting for paid subscribers only, so sign up today!