Table of Contents
An unapologetic introduction 9
The unapologetic kitchen 12
Food has to be built 13
A little cooking foundation
Staples from scratch 19
Pickled anything 20
Lacto-fermented vegetables 22
Simple jams 24
Nut butters 26
Basic stock out of anything 28
Pho broth 30
Dashi 31
Extracted animal fat 32
Unsalted butter 33
Compound butters 35
Mozzarella 36
Ricotta 38
Chèvre 38
Hot sauce 41
Ketchup 42
Pesto sauce 42
All-purpose barbecue sauce 43
Mayonnaise 44
Jalapeno salsa 45
Flavored mayos 46
Ranch dressing 48
Sauce gribiche 48
Horseradish-chive cream 49
Katsu sauce 49
Breads & starches from scratch 51
Sourdough starter 52
Basic sourdough bread 54
Big boy miche 57
My famous multipurpose dough 60
Burger & sandwich buns 62
Hot dog buns 62
Dinner rolls 63
Grocery store white bread 64
Bagel loaf 67
Cubano bread 68
Fresh pasta 70
Potato gnocchi 72
Buttermilk biscuits 74
English muffins 77
Flour tortillas 78
Browned butter cornbread 81
Ladyfingers 82
Graham crackers 84
Foundations applied
Breakfast 89
Perfect soft-boiled eggs 90
Browned butter-basted fried eggs 93
Breakfast sandwiches 94
Eggs benedict 97
Cinnamon toast 98
Congee 100
Hokkaido milk bread cinnamon rolls 102
French toast 107
Ricotta pancakes 108
Salted butter & jam toast 111
Austin breakfast tacos 112
Appetizers…or snacks 115
Pretzel sticks 116
Whipped ricotta garlic dip 119
Cheese board that everyone will eat 120
Smashed patatas bravas 123
Avocado & egg toast 124
Fish 127
Beer-battered fish 128
Fried fish tacos 131
Grilled branzino 132
The easiest crispy skin fish 135
Parmesan & nut crusted salmon 136
Maine-style lobster rolls 139
Gravlax smørrebrød 140
Meat 143
The perfect steak 144
Mojo-braised pulled pork 146
Chicken parmesan 149
Chicken katsu 151
Perfect pork chops 155
Chicken breasts that are actually good 156
Restaurant-style duck breasts 158
Mom's chicken fried steak 161
Roasted chicken 162
Mom's pot roast 164
Chashu 167
Chicken nuggets 169
Pastas & sandwiches 171
Pesto gnocchi 173
Carbonara 174
Cacio e pepe 177
Cubanos 178
Better than popeyes chicken sandwich 181
Honey butter chicken biscuits 183
Tuna melt allison's heart 187
The perfect bit 189
Grilled cheese 190
Steak sandwiches 193
Smash burgers 194
Vegetables & salads 197
Fried brussels sprouts 198
Charred kale 200
Broccolini with toasted peanuts & chili oil 202
Esquites 205
The greatest caesar salad of your life 206
Cobb salad 209
A respectable wedge salad 211
Soup 213
Mom's chicken noodle soup 214
Roasted mushroom soup with garlic chantilly cream 217
French onion soup 219
Beef pho 222
Chicken tortilla soup 225
Shoyu ramen 226
Tomato soup 229
Watermelon gazpacho 230
Egg drop soup 233
Dessert 235
The simplest chocolate cake 237
Sticky buns 239
Key lime pie 243
Banana hot fudge sundae 244
The ultimate chocolate chip cookie 247
Coffee ice cream 248
Tiramisu 250
Russian tea cakes 253
Strawberry shortcake 254
Peanut butter cookies 257
Index 258
Acknowledgments 263
About the author 264