I am always on the lookout for exciting new cookbooks--either to gift to others at the holidays or to endanger our increasingly groaning shelves of cookbooks. Obviously everyone’s tastes are different so no cookbook ever manages to be 100% for anyone (except perhaps its own author), but this one is closer aligned to my tastes than most.

Recipes range from classics (buttermilk fried chicken, cozy beef chili, and devil’s food cupcakes) to original creations (blueberry Brie grilled cheese, spicy mezcal rigatoni, and no-churn Nutella ice cream).

The Table of Contents points us to lots of basics and building blocks as well as techniques, hints and a ‘sauce library’. During his final year at Harvard in 2018 he auditioned for Gordon Ramsay's MasterChef, becoming the youngest finalist in the competition. An additional section showcases recipes created in collaboration, including hot honey lemon pepper wings developed with foodie influencer the Golden Balance and Lynja Davis’s compost cookies. I'm trying to do one recipe a week, and then I'll probably just start over from the beginning and repeat forever. Building on a foundation of staple recipes such as basic pasta dough and homemade butter, Nick shares a mouthwatering selection of his favorite recipes.

Feast on New England favorites like Browned Butter Lobster Rolls and Garlic Butter Steak Tips, enjoy decadent pasta dishes like Smoky Mezcal Rigatoni and Sungold Spaghetti, and recreate fan favorites like his Viral Pasta Chips and Dino Nuggets. Carbona(ra)men- Dude asks you to cook 8 pieces of bacon, remove the bacon and leave ALL the hot fat, and dump 2 cups of water into it. To be sure, there are several recipes in here that look just as impressive as anything you might find in a Michelin-starred restaurant, but with relatively simple ingredients and techniques accessible to home chefs. Nick DiGiovanni is a chef, food content creator, and world record holder for numerous food-related feats. It’s filled with techniques that will last a lifetime, QR codes explaining everything in detail, and great food.

DiGiovanni is a force to be reckoned with and truly unique in his field as he blends culinary excellence with a personable TV presence and a loyal social following of over 22 million people. Nick DiGiovanni makes me believe that I could actually make a lot of these delicious looking recipes. I appreciate the scope of this cookbook, and I look forward to sharing this book with my soon-to-graduate children to have references for successful cooking later in life. In his debut cookbook, Nick DiGiovanni gives you the tools to become fearless in the kitchen and to create delicious meals.