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I’m still on a big Kenji Lopez-Alt binge, but for the last few weeks I’ve spent every few minutes I’ve had reading The Food Lab. It has changed the way I think about cooking. It feels really good to understand the science behind cooking, but more importantly why I’ve f**ked up a so many dishes I’ve cooked in the past. This isn’t a traditional recipe book, it dives deep into the science behind temperature, heat, acid, and even the materials that make the best pots and pans and I am hooked.
Feb 1, 2022
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Not really a recipe book (though certainly has recipes) and more of a reference bible about the chemical processes of cooking. Kenji answers questions like:
- Why does the pH of my pancake batter matter?
- Why should I add sodium citrate to mac n cheese?
- Why is my turkey dry?
- How to make can beans taste good?
and will also teach you how to butterfly a chicken, faux-tourné your carrots, and emulsify your vinaigrettes.
Kenji is extraordinarily online (linked his website for socials) and posts tons of stuff for free if you don’t wanna shell out for this very expensive and very heavy book. I have a ton of respect for him and genuinely think he is the most influential living person working in food right now + will be remembered among the greats.
Can’t rec this book enough!
Feb 19, 2025
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Anytime I meet someone who’s also a fan of Kenji we both start geeking out like kids. This man has taught me how to cook economically and his videos helped me develop a foundation of food science knowledge to help create a wide variety of dishes. He’s incredibly humble and encourages experimentation and creativity. I have his book “The Food Lab” and it’s probably the only cook book you would ever need.
Jul 2, 2024
This is a cookbook with no recipes that will teach you how to cook everything. It covers everything there is to know about food -- from how it was discovered, how man changed it, how it is grown, how it is harvested and how to prepare and cook it. It dramatically changed my cooking life.
Jun 11, 2024
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I’ve never been to Disney as a kid and as I grew older I always felt like I was too old for it. I spontaneously tagged along with my family the day before they left and I think that was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m a huge fan of Star Wars and Avatar, and even as an adult I think I had the best week of my life and I felt like a kid again. I legitimately had real tears of joy on some of the rides. It’s never too late!
Mar 1, 2022
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While everyone is raving about their trendy nonstick pans, I’m here to bring the spotlight back to cast iron cookware. There’s a huge stigma around how hard it is to take care of cast irons, but it’s really not bad! You just gotta keep using it, and over time, it basically becomes nonstick. This article has sent off a tangent, and now I am a proud owner of a well-seasoned cast iron pan and griddle.
Mar 1, 2022
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Antique shops have a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my childhood road trips. When I was little, I always thought antique shops were just useless junk. As I grew older, I’ve learned to appreciate the “junk” a bit more. Browsing through the aisles, they kind of feel like a time machine. My top things to look out for are vintage cameras, dutch ovens, and vintage porcelain.
Feb 1, 2022