At Home in the Kitchen: Simple Recipes from a Chef's Night Off [A Cookbook]

David Kinch's first cookbook, was about his restaurant which went on to earn three Michelin stars, and predictably most of the recipes and techniques in it weren't realistic for home cooking. Now, years later, I received a free copy from Ten Speed Press in exchange for a free and unbiased review; and I've discovered Chef Kinch's follow-up book is a total departure from what was expected. While the flavor profiles, of bright, fresh, California-inspired, seafood- and vegetable- focused clean-eating dishes are still omnipresent, these dishes presented in this cookbook can be executed by anyone. David simply asks the reader to put their trust in his knowledge and experience. Though each recipe still includes a blurb and backstory, there are no lengthy explanations detailing why dishes work or history behind their lineage in fine dining kitchen. Instead, there are many recipes that use only a handful of ingredients, and often quick- or easy- preparation instructions to create dishes to wow guests at any type of dinner party. The premise of the book's theme, that the Chef has weekly get-together dinner's at his home, and that it recommends song pairings rather than beverages, are a fun and unique idea that make this book even more interesting and a great resource for cooks looking to branch out their skills from classic tailgate-style party dishes.