From behind the line to the library, Boston chefs have been busy with upcoming cookbooks. In their spare time (as if there is such a thing), they’ve been simmering ideas, testing recipes and putting the pen to the page. Get your bookshelf wish list handy and whet your appetite with these crave-worthy reads.
October 2016
Chefs Ana Sortun and Maura Kilpatrick have proven the power of their culinary collaboration at their eateries, Oleana and Sofra, so readers can expect delicious things from their first joint cookbook, Soframiz. Inspired by the Middle Eastern specialties at Sofra, the pair has put down in words some of the café and bakery’s top recipes for the at-home cook. The book, from Ten Speed Press, includes a primer on exotic ingredients and techniques, plus instruction on dishes for everyday eating and entertaining in Sofra style.
November 2016
Mollusk-lovers rejoice! Chef Jeremy Sewall and Marion Lear Swaybill dive in to the depths for an expansive exploration of the beloved bivalve. The Island Creek Oyster Bar restaurateur contributes personal oyster insights to the comprehensive tome, which covers everything from oysters in the arts to mollusk myths and metaphors. Portraits of over 50 North American varietals, plus flavor profiles, an introduction to American oystermen and women and a reference glossary complete the sea-worthy guide, available from Abbeville Press.
March 2017
Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em—chef Andy Husbands and Chris Hart lend their pitmaster prowess to the home cook with a fired-up BBQ guide. The iQUE team members, winners of the Jack Daniels World Championship, present an introduction to the techniques and tastes of barbecue in their latest book. With insights from guest pitmasters, smoker tutorials, cocktails, regional side dishes and more, Pitmaster primes the first-time tailgater and seasoned backyard cook for bigger and better BBQ.
Out of Line: The Unlikely Education of an Improbable Chef
April 2017
Chef Barbara Lynch has shown she’s an unstoppable culinary force but the born-and-bred Bostonian slows down (somewhat) for a look back at her journey in Out of Line. The forthcoming memoir follows Lynch from a hardscrabble youth in South Boston housing projects to her place at the helm of an award-winning restaurant group, leading readers through her process of self-invention and the development of her signature culinary style.
Myers + Chang at Home (tentative title)
September 2017
Chefs Joanne Chang and Karen Akunowicz are bringing the best of Myers + Chang home—to your home, that is—with their first collaborative cookbook. Together with restaurateur Christopher Myers, the culinary duo is gathering a greatest hits list of recipes to share, or, as Chang puts it, “every single amazing dish we could think of that we’ve made at M+C that works for home cooks.” Some highlights? Tea-smoked ribs, Chinese Caesar salad, Nirvana Chicken Congee and then some. The book release will coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Myers + Chang, making it a well-timed (and tasty) tribute. See a cookbook Q+A with Chang herself here.
Matt Jennings Cookbook (title TBD)
October 2017
Chef Matt Jennings’ love affair with New England continues, this time on the page rather than the plate. The James Beard Award-nominated chef will pair up with food writer Jessica Battilana to pay homage to local ingredients with recipes suited for every season. Featuring dishes from Boston’s Townsman and Providence’s Farmstead, as well as plates from Jennings’ home recipe repertoire, the book will showcase the beauty of New England bounty (captured by photographer Hugh Galdones). Keep an eye out for details as they unfold.
Hungry for more reading material? Take a look at 30+ cookbooks from the Boston-area chefs behind your favorite local eateries.
