When I first sat down with my book editor Lee Boudreaux and the designer Allison Saltzman, they asked me what I wanted in a cover design. Oh, you know, I told them, I don’t want it to look cheffy or foodie. I don’t want it to look too precious or too slick. I’d like it to be homey but not dowdy, familiar to old readers but striking for new ones. I want it to appeal to recent grads and newlyweds and especially to parents. I want it to reflect the vibe of this blog. I want it to have good energy and I really want it to feel personal, like it looks right at home on my kitchen counter. I’m not Sean Brock or Gabrielle Hamilton. No matter how many times I make his brussels sprouts [1], I will never be David Chang. I’m a home cook who has figured out one thing — that making dinner for people I love brings me daily happiness — and I need this book to appeal to people who suspect that carving out a nightly dinner ritual might do the same for them.
Was that too much to ask for?
Apparently not, because I think they nailed it, don’t you?
To pre-order, please visit Amazon [2] or Barnes & Noble [3] or Indie Bound [4].