The Niman Ranch Cookbook: From Farm to Table with America's Finest Meat

Most of the text of this book explains the origins and growth of Niman Ranch meats--describing the methods used by the small farms and farmers who raise their meat to be sold under the Niman Ranch label. The book mostly stays away from preachiness, giving well-thought-out descriptions and surprising sidebars (i.e., a discussion of nitrates and their presence in the atmosphere--where most of the nitrates we consume originate). A lot of the text is outright advertising for the Niman brand, but the most interesting parts concern the lives and methods of the small farmers. A small section at the end contains very creative recipes from restaurant customers of Niman Ranch products--mostly from both coasts (inexplicably including a not-very-exciting recipe from "Chipotle"--owned by McDonald's--a chain which I tend to doubt actually uses Niman products). If you can find it, however, Niman Ranch pork is outstanding.