Tavern on the Green Cookbook, A Treasured Keepsake from Central Park’s Iconic Gem, Reviewed

  

 I just spent a delightful afternoon with the Tavern on the Green Cookbook, and it’s every bit the celebration you’d expect from a restaurant that’s been dazzling New Yorkers for nearly a century. This isn’t just a collection of recipes—it’s a love letter to a landmark. The book opens with a rich, beautifully told history, tracing the restaurant’s journey from a humble 1870s sheep shelter to the glittering dining destination reborn under Warner LeRoy in the 1970s. You’ll feel like you’ve walked through its doors a dozen times, even if you’ve never been. The recipes are the heart of the book, and they’re as memorable as the setting. Standouts include the Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Red Wine-Garlic Butter, Roasted Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallops, and the Marathon Pasta served annually before the New York City Marathon. Each dish is tied to the seasons, with monthly sections ensuring you cook with the freshest ingredients. I’m not usually a lava cake fan, but the Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava Cakes—with their molten peanut butter centers—have me rethinking my stance. The Chocolate Challah Bread Pudding with Peanut Butter Sauce is another winner; I’m already planning to make the sauce alone for dipping banana slices. Practical touches abound. A “Pantry” section offers homemade stocks and staples you can prepare and store, while a thorough index makes everything easy to find. The photography is stunning—lush, inviting shots that make you want to cook immediately—and the stories of famous guests (from Madonna to John Gotti) add a dash of glamour.Whether you’re a home cook, a New Yorker with fond memories, or searching for a standout holiday gift, this book delivers. It’s equal parts history, inspiration, and delicious possibility.

You can order a copy here.  What a great gift for mom on Mother's Day!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Gathering Boards by Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill, Reviewed

 

I am a bit charcuterie board obsessed, which is why whenever I see a unique board, book, or card deck relating to the subject, I succumb. What can I tell you? I love cute food. I also love easy and relaxed food and entertaining.

Gathering Boards by Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill (scheduled for publication June 4, 2024) is one of the best books on the subject that I have seen. More text than photos, although there are plenty of those, I enjoyed reading about Sarah and what she’d learned from her mother, as much as I did reading about the various ways to make food boards to serve, to gift, and to pair with cocktails. If you only buy one book on food boards, make it this one. 

Sarah stumbled upon food board entertaining quite by accident. Her mother (to whom the book is dedicated), like mine, knew that if you’re serving cocktails, you also need to serve nuts. Sarah took it one step further, grabbed three different types of nuts, dumped each into its own bowl, added bowls of olives, and put everything on the entrance hall table. When her evening of entertaining was over, no one commented on the dinner over which she had slaved, but more on the clever way that she had served snacks. I loved that story.

  

Everything that you need to know about charcuterie boards is in this book, from selecting an appropriate board, choosing your cheeses, choosing the proper knives, prepping, arranging, and serving. Not only that, but there are photos and ideas for making specialty holiday boards for holidays like Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mother’s Day. Her “Lakeside Snackle Box” is one of my favorites, and one of her most inspired. All ingredients are assembled in a [clean] tackle box, making it not only immensely clever, but perfect for Lakeside or Seaside dining.

 

There are special sections in the book containing information and ideas on every day gathering boards for winter, spring, and summer, making seasonal entertaining so easy for you. You will also find recipes for cocktails, snacks, and making your own cheese spreads.

 

 I don’t think I have seen a book on the subject as cleverly put together as this one. From the beautiful photos, to the various recipes for accompaniments such as cocktails and dips, to the delightful stories of her youth, this is one of the most informative and readable books you’ll find.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher Globe Pequot, and Sarah Zimmerman Tuthill for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.