“A fast track to culinary bliss.”—Frank Bruni, New York Times • “A sort of Rachael Ray for young foodie urbanites.”—Boston Globe Self-taught chef and creator of the Amateur Gourmet website, Adam Roberts has written the ultimate “Kitchen 101” for anyone who’s ever wanted to enjoy the rewards of good eating without risking burning down the house! In this deliciously illuminating and hilarious new kitchen companion, Roberts has assembled a five-star lineup of some of the food world’s most eminent authorities. The result is a culinary education like no other. • Learn the “Ten Commandments of Dining Out” courtesy of Ruth Reichl, editor in chief of Gourmet magazine. • Discover why the New York Times’s Amanda Hesser urges you never to bring a grocery list to the market. • Get knife lessons from a top sous-chef at Manhattan’s famous Union Square Cafe, and much more. Packed with recipes, menu plans, shopping tips, and anecdotes, The Amateur Gourmet provides you with all the ingredients to savor the foodie lifestyle. All you need to add is a healthy appetite and a taste for adventure. Praise for The Amateur Gourmet “For anyone seeking to venture beyond toaster meals into the pleasurable world of sautéing and braising, Roberts is the perfect guide.”—Matt Lee and Ted Lee, authors of The Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook “A funny little guide—thanks to Roberts’ comic timing and frequent kitchen flops—to savoring life’s flavor in pursuit of good eats.”—New York Daily News “Amateurgourmet [online] is a food-world must read, offering an intelligent and witty view of food culture. . . . Now Roberts moves to the head of the table with his new book.”—Denver Post “A delightful and compelling new voice in the food world.”—Michael Ruhlman, author of Charcuterie and The Reach of a Chef

The best appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, and cocktails from America's favorite eateries. This is the first guide to focus exclusively on the more than 35 ofthe popular chains that make up the American restaurant landscape (including Chili's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, TGIFriday's, and Cracker Barrel). The restaurants are divided into categories by food type and ethnic origin, as well as food options for special-needs diners: vegetarian and vegan, low-calorie, low-salt, gluten-free, and more. Featuring reviews, interesting facts, and helpful tips to help readers get the most out of their casual dining experience, this book includes such categories as: *Breakfast and lunch specialties *Appetizers, salads, and entrees *Desserts, drinks and cocktails *Special considerations (family-friendly and restricted diets)

The bestselling business book from award-winning restauranteur Danny Meyer, of Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, and Shake Shack Seventy-five percent of all new restaurant ventures fail, and of those that do stick around, only a few become icons. Danny Meyer started Union Square Cafe when he was 27, with a good idea and hopeful investors. He is now the co-owner of a restaurant empire. How did he do it? How did he beat the odds in one of the toughest trades around? In this landmark book, Danny shares the lessons he learned developing the dynamic philosophy he calls Enlightened Hospitality. The tenets of that philosophy, which emphasize strong in-house relationships as well as customer satisfaction, are applicable to anyone who works in any business. Whether you are a manager, an executive, or a waiter, Danny’s story and philosophy will help you become more effective and productive, while deepening your understanding and appreciation of a job well done. Setting the Table is landmark a motivational work from one of our era’s most gifted and insightful business leaders.

An insider's view of the restaurant business, including behind-the-scenes looks, writing reviews of restaurants, details on specific foods, and favorite restaurants as chosen by food critics.

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression." Have you ever heard this saying? Before we get a chance to say a word, our gestures and manners have already spoken for us. Though some of the rules of good manners change, others remain constant. This book is about the constants: the least you need to know to make a good first impression. As Clarence Thomas once said, "Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot." Use this book as a master key to open those doors.

The “concise, informative, indispensable” work by the grand master of cooking skills and methods—now completely revised and updated (Anthony Bourdain). For decades, Jacques Pépin has set the standard for culinary greatness and mastery of French cuisine—ever since his seminal works on kitchen how-tos, La Méthode and La Technique, hit the shelves in the seventies. Now Pépin revisits the works that made him a household name in a completely revised and updated edition of his classic book. Filled with thousands of photographs demonstrating techniques; new advice and tips; and hundreds of recipes ranging from simple to sublime, this is the must-have manual for any kitchen aficionado. Pépin offers step-by-step instructions on every aspect of cooking, including: learning basics, such as how to use knives correctly and how to cut a flawless julienne; conquering classic recipes, such as crêpes suzette and hollandaise sauce; creating whimsical and elegant decorations, such as olive rabbits and tomato flowers; tackling inventive ways of becoming a culinary superstar, such as turning an old refrigerator into a makeshift smoker; and much more. No matter the recipe or skill, Pépin has time-tested instructions on how to do it like the pros—and Jacques Pépin New Complete Techniques brings all of the master chef’s secrets into one easy-to-use guide, guaranteed to please any palate, wow any guest, and turn any home cook into a gastronomic expert.

From popular TV correspondent and writer Rocca comes a charmingly irreverent and rigorously researched book that celebrates the dead people who made life worth living.