Girl in the Kitchen: How a Top Chef Cooks, Thinks, Shops, Eats and Drinks [Hardcover]

Stephanie Izard (Author), Dan Goldberg (Photographer), Heather Shouse (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2011

Stephanie Izard knows how to inspire, captivate, and cook up a storm. Fan favorite and the first and only woman to win on TV s Top Chef, she s also the chef and owner of the acclaimed Girl & the Goat restaurant in Chicago. The Girl in the Kitchen collects more than 100 of Izard s best recipes, from innovative appetizers like Asian-Spiced English Peas to luscious desserts like Quince and Fig Cobbler with Vanilla Mascarpone. Beautifully photographed and bursting with flavor, personality, and insights into the top chef s process including where she finds her cooking muses, how she shops for food, and which beers and wines she chooses to accompany her meals this book represents the culmination of a craft and provides inspiration that reaches far beyond the kitchen walls.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I met Stephanie on the set of Top Chef and was very impressed by her discipline, talent as a cook, and creative passion. Following her success, in this book she demonstrates for us her true 'w IZARD ry' in the kitchen." -Daniel Boulud "Stephanie's book is not only one of the most visibly appealing and beautiful cookbooks I've seen in a very long time, it's also filled with awesome creative recipes that are sensible (like her). Stephanie is an amazing chef, an immense talent and a wonderful woman." -- Michelle Bernstein "The Girl in the Kitchen is a fresh, approachable and delicious addition to my cookbook library, written by a young, passionate chef, on the brink of a massive career! Now with this book we all are invited along for the ride." -- Gail Simmons "There's A Girl In The Kitchen, and you better fasten your apron and sharpen your knives, because Stephanie Izard about to take you on a incredible cooking adventure. These delicious recipes will make you the top chef of your family." -- Art Smith

About the Author

Stephanie Izard was named Top Chef in season four of the award-winning Bravo series, and is now chef/owner of Girl & the Goat in Chicago.

Heather Shouse is a Chicago-based reporter for Food & Wine and the Eat & Drink editor of Time Out Chicago.

Dan Goldberg is a Chicago-based food and lifestyle photographer. His work for Chronicle Books includes Latin Grill.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811874478
• ISBN-13: 978-0811874472
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wish it felt more familiar, October 13, 2011

By 

Sarea Okelani (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Girl in the Kitchen: How a Top Chef Cooks, Thinks, Shops, Eats and Drinks (Hardcover)

Stephanie Izard is a huge talent and is one of the best chefs on the scene today. I was super excited about this cookbook after eating at Girl and the Goat, where my friend and I had one of the best dining experiences of our lives.

My disappointment probably stems from my own assumptions about what the book would contain -- after all, it's true that it DOES NOT say that it contains recipes from Girl and the Goat. So this review is just to warn others who may erroneously assume, as I did, that the book would contain recipes for some of the wonderful dishes that are served at Stephanie's Chicago restaurant.

I never thought it would include the recipe for Pig Face, as braising an entire hog's head would be daunting for the average home cook, but I *was* hoping for her recipe for sauteed green beans, which are out of this world. Since I don't live in Chicago, I was looking forward to possibly being able to duplicate at home part of my wonderful experience at Girl and the Goat.

I was also rather dismayed to find that Stephanie's website contains many -- if not all -- of the recipes found in this book. While certainly I enjoy a beautiful cookbook (which it is) that I can keep on the shelf with the rest of my cookbook collection, I kind of felt that I had paid for what was essentially free content on the web. Then again, the same can be said of the Pioneer Woman's cookbook, so your mileage may vary on whether or not this is something that would bother you.

All that said, I am looking forward to trying many of the recipes found in the book; Stephanie seems to have a fantastic grasp of flavors and comes up with dishes that have almost universal palate appeal.

Edit on 10/31/2011: I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie at a book signing recently and she conveyed two pieces of information that I found useful and might be interesting to others who are thinking of purchasing this book. First, she revealed that the recipe for her fan favorite green beans is actually "secretly" in the book! It was originally conceived as a recipe for English peas -- so if you take that recipe from this book, sub the peas for fresh green beans, then add cashews and sliced shallots, you have the G&tG green beans. :D Full disclosure though, I checked the recipe afterward and it doesn't seem 'complete.' At the restaurant, they also drizzle some sort of opaque white sauce over them, which the English peas recipe doesn't have... not sure how big a difference that makes. The second piece of info is that she IS actually working on a restaurant cookbook from G&tG, so there's also that to look forward to!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's The Pigface?, February 3, 2012

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Girl in the Kitchen: How a Top Chef Cooks, Thinks, Shops, Eats and Drinks (Hardcover)

I saw Stephanie Izard featured on the 'Rosie' show, and Rosie was wild about her food. I collect cookbooks and thought this would be a great addition. Izard has also appeared on the 'Top Chef'.

There are over one hundred recipes in 'The Girl in the Kitchen' and they sound delicious. Izard gives us a 'flavor profile of ingredients and their effect on the overall dish', and she explains what they mean. Also, every couple of pages she provides a
'feature ingredient spotlight'. Some of these ingredients are not the everyday kind you would find in your regular supermarket. There is an opening chapter where Stephanie explains her philosophy and training. The book is separated by chapters starting with 'Starters'-asian inspired english peas, looks great. Onto 'Soups' and Pumpkin-Cod Soup- wow! Chapter THree is 'salads', including 'Shrimp, corn and green tomato'. Pastas follows in chapter four and my favorite is 'four cheese macaroni with apples and bacon'. Chapter five is 'Mains' and 'soft shelled crab sandwiches' looks so good! 'Sides' is chapter six and 'roasted fingerlings with picada' caught my eye. The last chapter is 'Extras'and salsa verde caught my eye.

This is a beautifully photographed book, and the cookbook is so well done. However, I am disappointed. The recipes are quite electic, and the only one I might attempt is the beef stew. I will read the cookbook again, and see what I can garner that might fit my family.

Recommended. prisrob 02-03-12

How to Cook Like a Top Chef

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So far so good, October 11, 2011

By 

Jim - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Girl in the Kitchen: How a Top Chef Cooks, Thinks, Shops, Eats and Drinks (Hardcover)

Made the stew last night and it was amazing. Best stew I have ever had and I can't wait to try more recipes.