COOKIMPROV

Herbert, who’s not a professional chef but a self-described “pattern geek,” offers a book that shows cooks how to improvise.

This is not a typical cookbook, but a collection of what the author calls “frameworks,” which each feature a “flexible combination of ingredients from key categories balanced to complement each other.” Instead of presenting fixed recipes with prescribed amounts of ingredients to get a standardized result, each framework is a creative guide. Herbert recommends a “shift from thinking about specific ingredients to an expanded view of ingredient categories,” which allows readers to adapt meals based on their preferences or what they have on hand. The frameworks proceed from basic to more complex dishes, with six categories in all: salads; “bowls and boards” (grain bowls, antipasto platters, and so on); breakfasts; “bread platforms,” which include sandwiches, tacos, and even crêpes; vegetable sides and soups; and, finally, “foundational proteins” to be paired with a vegetable for a quick weeknight dinner. Additional material at the end includes a comprehensive guide to building a pantry, with color-coded lists ranking ingredients from “essential” to “niche.” There’s also a chart of internal temperatures for cooking meats (including U.S. Department of Agriculture minimums and chef recommendations), a guide to selecting a cooking oil, and a combined glossary of ingredients and seasoning blends. This brief book—just over 100 pages in length—may initially seem slight to readers accustomed to doorstop-size cookbooks, but it packs an incredible amount of information into those pages. Much of the reason why it works is the amazing design and art direction from Karen Constanti and Kat Catmur, respectively. Each two-page spread covers a specific framework concept at length, showing suggested ingredients and instructions on the left, and expert tips and sample pairings on the right. Rather than photographs, the book employs Smith’s full-color illustrations, which often use an exploded view like an engineering diagram, showing each element that makes up the whole. (They’re also an absolute visual delight.)

An outstanding cookbook with an intriguing concept and exceptional design and illustrations.