Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes [Hardcover]

Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Author), Genevieve Ko (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2011

Join one of the world’s greatest chefs in his most personal book yet, as Jean-Georges Vongerichten shares his favorite casual recipes in Home Cooking with Jean-Georges.
 
Though he helms a worldwide restaurant empire—with locations in New York, Las Vegas, London, Paris, and Shanghai—Jean-Georges counts his greatest joy in life as family first, then food. In Home Cooking with Jean-Georges, he brings readers into his weekend home, where he cooks simple, delicious dishes that leave him plenty of time to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones. 

A few years ago, Jean-Georges decided to give himself a gift that most of us take for granted: two-day weekends. He and his wife, Marja, and their family retreat to their country home in Waccabuc, New York. There, the renowned chef produces the masterful, fresh flavors for which he is known—but with little effort and few dishes to clean at the end. These quick, seasonal, Vongerichten-family favorites include: Crab Toasts with Sriracha Mayonnaise, Watermelon and Blue Cheese Salad, Herbed Sea Bass and Potatoes in Broth, Lamb Chops with Smoked Chile Glaze and Warm Fava Beans, Parmesan-Crusted Chicken, Fresh Corn Pudding Cake, Tarte Tatin, and Buttermilk Pancakes with Warm Berry Syrup.

With 100 recipes and 100 color photographs—all taken at his country house—Home Cooking with Jean-Georges will inspire home cooks with fantastic accessible dishes to add to their repertoires.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sample Recipe from Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: French Toast with Roasted Apples

Serves: 4

2/3 cup whole milk
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/3 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped, pod reserved for another use
4 (1-inch-thick) slices brioche, preferably day-old
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
Crème Anglaise, optional
Caramel Sauce, optional
Confectioners’ sugar

Whisk together the milk, cream, sugar, egg, yolk, and vanilla bean seeds until the sugar dissolves. Arrange the brioche slices in a single layer in a shallow baking dish. Pour the milk-egg mixture over the bread, submerging the bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the bread is completely soaked and almost too soft to handle, at least 1 hour and up to overnight. When you’re almost ready to serve, preheat the oven to 400°F. Generously butter a small rimmed baking sheet. Arrange the apples in a single layer. Dot the apples with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Roast until golden brown and tender, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. When the butter foams, use both hands to very carefully transfer the soaked brioche slices to the pan. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes, then carefully flip. Transfer to the oven and bake alongside the apples until golden brown and puffed, about 5 minutes. Serve the French toast with the apples and the crème anglaise and caramel, if desired. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

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Review

“This is a terrific book, full of exactly the kinds of recipes I want from a master chef. There's no special equipment, no exotic ingredients, no long, elaborate preparations. Instead, there are creative, practical dishes that are well within the technical grasp of almost any cook.”
- Russ Parsons, Los Angeles Times

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 030771795X
• ISBN-13: 978-0307717955
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > French
  • #98 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Special Occasions > Seasonal

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Accessible Cookbook by a High End Chef January 15, 2012

By DNH@UNC

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This cookbook is beautiful, and the few recipes I have cooked from it so far have been delicious and surprisingly easy to prepare. Even though Vongerichten is a big name chef, these recipes really are geared toward the home cook - the ingredients are relatively easy to track down, and the preparations, for the most part, are not especially complicated. The book's recipes are also pretty unique, so it is worth having even if you already own lots of cookbooks. If you tend to shop at farmers' markets or get produce from a CSA farm, you will find this especially useful, as it contains plenty of recipes for vegetables. The quinoa with spinach, mushrooms, and goat cheese is very quick and very tasty.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple yet Elegant December 11, 2011

By Susan B

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am an avid cookbook collector and I tend to read them like novels. Jean-Georges has so much to share with the culinary world with this latest contribution. The recipes are clear and easy to follow. Every one I have tried so far has been excellent. There are also anecdotes into his life that are charming.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious recipes for nutritious food December 16, 2011

By Sara Powell

Format:Hardcover

I will admit that I've only made the butternut squash with balsamic vinegar and panko topping, but wow, was it good. I feel a little silly admitting that I didn't know you could eat butternut squash seeds, but they really added to the topping. And the whole thing was a pretty healthy side for a nice piece of fish. I have my eye on several other vegetable recipes and some of the desserts. The main entrees look a little more difficult than the other recipes in the book, but I'll probably get around to trying those, too. Beautiful pictures, and a beautiful book.

3/29/12 - Update: I made the fettuccine with Meyer lemon cream sauce the other night... WOW. Normally any sort of alfredo sauce makes the whole dish heavy and fatty, but the Meyer lemon really cut through all of that and made it surprisingly light and refreshing. I definitely recommend this one.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have January 19, 2012

By Hanna Davis

Format:Hardcover

Having bought too many cookbooks that looked good while browsing, only to have many of them sit on a shelf, I now check them out from a library first. I expected another overwrought chefs cookbook but was delighted by the simplicity and the inspired seasonings. So, I have no choice now but to buy it, sigh...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent cookbook January 17, 2012

By LisaLynn

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wonderful cookbook. Great pictures and easy (or at least most) recipes to follow. Tried the asparagus with shaved parm cheese with lemon zest. Big hit in my family. Also, the mac and cheese is to die for.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as inspiring as his other books, but glad I bought it. December 24, 2012

By Pi Face

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I own all of his cookbooks - and must say that I find his recipes with an Asian touch most inspiring. It is a good addition to his collection of cookbooks. When I can't think of anything to cook for a few friends who stop by, I will use this one for easy recipes with easily accessible ingredients.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Home Cooking with Jean-George - Elegant Simplicity December 11, 2012

By Shoe Lover

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Home Cooking with Jean Georges exceeds expectations. The most delicious food, in easy to follow recipes, with elegant presentations and beautiful photography.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Appetizing February 25, 2013

By William R. Franklin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jean-Georges tells us that this is the simple fare he likes to prepare for himself and his extended family when he is not tending to his international restaurant empire, and we have no reason to disbelieve him.

And the recipes are indeed simple, some, like turkey and bacon sandwiches, and bagels, smoked salmon and cream cheese, embarrassingly so. However, the majority of the recipes are for savoury, easily prepared dishes, often with a burst of innovation such as an oriental spice or fruit here and a touch of lavender there. And the photographs are lovely.

Surely, this attractive book will inspire the home cook at any level of competence to head to the kitchen and cook something delicious. That is the highest praise for any cookbook.