If for whatever reason I cannot fit my pants , blame the book. Every cook, wannabe cook or aspirant cook needs this book in their kitchen. Can you even hate on the cover? *nope!* We all need this book in our kitchens! It's written beautifully and in a way everyone can understand.

This is more than just a cookbook. it's also an instructional book on how to infuse simple foods with amazing flavor. I feel like I learned so much from this cookbook. I also love that there were so many pictures in this book. And the recipes were delicious!

Chasing Flavor is an amazing cookbook by Dan Kluger that is true to its name and helps you get the absolute best flavor into your food. He starts with suggestions for pantry and kitchen equipment to help you make his recipes. He shows different techniques, such as how to cut and blanch vegetables, make pasta, and slice brisket. The cookbook is full of great ideas, such as adding pureed cauliflower to tomato soup so you get creaminess without dairy, or turning chicken nuggets into something insanely special by adding a maple chile glaze.

Among the recipes I plan to try are Cashew Vinaigrette, Crushed Cucumbers with Yogurt and Chiles, Heirloom Tomato Panzanella with Parmesan Croutons, Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Fermented Chile Sauce, Grandma Pie, Raisin Stuffed Pork Loin, and Pan Roasted Chicken Breasts with Warm Potato Salad.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. I will definitely buy a hard copy of this one as soon as it comes out. The lessons on flavor are more than worth the price of any book. My review is voluntary.

Description:
In his debut cookbook, James Beard Award–winning chef Dan Kluger shares 190 recipes to help home cooks master flavor and technique

Dan Kluger, a chef celebrated for his simple yet flavorful food, knows there’s more to mastering cooking than just following directions. So with each of the innovative, elegant recipes in his debut cookbook, he includes a valuable lesson that applies beyond the tasty dish. For example, master the art of mixing raw and cooked versions of the same ingredient while preparing a Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Manchego Vinaigrette.

From homemade pantry items to vegetable mains, meats, and grains, this book is not just sophisticated recipes but a master class of lessons for more flexibility and innovation in the kitchen.

My Review:
The cookbook is very well written. It is informative and detailed. The recipes kept getting better and better. Definitely a table top book and one that I'm going to purchase once it's available in print.

Highly recommend this cookbook. Great job!

Chasing flavor is an elite amongst regular cookbooks in this over three hundred paged delicious ensemble. Wonder why certain pairings or flavors mixed work better than others? Look no further because here’s a cookbook that will broaden your cooking horizon like none other. I’m more of a baby cooker but the recipes in this cookbook soar to the flavor stratosphere.

What did I like? The pictures in this book are just gorgeous! Mouth watering gorgeous and look like they belong in a five star restaurant! I would want a seat in a restaurant that serves up recipes that look half as good as these. If I could make these recipes half as good as they looked then you have sold this book to me. I loved the pages that show you styles of chopping, curing, blanching, and blending. Beautiful step by step pictures and instructions that make it look simple. The recipes themselves while look difficult but you can do a sum of the parts, until the whole recipe is made. Love how it’s broken down and the results look amazing.

Would I recommend or buy? No lie...this cookbook is pricey, but the recipes alone make me want this book. They just look amazing! It also holds a fountain of information of recipes and how to’s of a successful NYC restaurant. The author backs the book with an impressive resume and over twenty years of experience in some of the best restaurants. It’s all about chasing flavor.

Thoughts for the author? Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and offer my opinion. Author has made a beautiful, and huge cookbook bursting with flavorful recipes. Highly enjoyable and definitely going to enjoy the recipes from this one for a long time. Five huge cooking stars!

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for granting my wish and offering this ARC of Chasing Flavor!
I am a HUGE fan of Dan Klugers food, and restaurant. I love the way that he takes simple ingredients and makes them super flavorful. Chasing Flavor really dives into the techniques to take the home cooking to the next level.
I also want to send a special shout out to Nick Fauchald, his writing style really comes through in this book.
I will be cooking my way through this book for sure!

Awesome book, step-by-step photos, fancy and delicious recipes! The food photos are mouth-watering! There are 190 recipes and I'm sure you will want to make at least half of them! One of the best and pretties cookbook I've seen. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Chasing Flavor by Dan Kluger is more than just a cookbook, it is a full-on flavor-creating lesson, and one I'm so happy to have taken. From kitchen essentials, to how to cut ginger to his and advice on how to build blocks of flavor to create new dishes, I loved everything about this chef's book.

The recipes themselves run the gamut from fairy simple to restaurant-quality, and divided in Starts & Soups, Salads, Vegetables. Pasta, Grains & Pizza, Meat & Poultry and finally, Seafood. Many of the recipes also include an expert tip Takeaway that can bring the dish from good to great, but my favorite thing about these recipes is the description and really the mindset or motivation behind how the dish is created. As someone who entertains a lot and loves to try new flavor profiles, I've long struggled to know why some flavors work well together, and some simply don't. The author's explanations really helped clarify that for me and, I think, will really up my flavors.

I've already earmarked a number of recipes to try in my own kitchen, including cCorn Soup with Spiced Popcorn, Summer Beans with Lavender-Pickled Peaches and Goat Cheese, Parmesan-Crusted Butternut Squash with Meyer Lemon Gremolata, Cavatelli with Spring Vegetables and Cheese Sauce, Grandma Pie, Raisin-Stuffed Pork Loin and Pan-Seared Sa Trout with Butternut Squash Puree, Parsnips and Crispy Herbs.

Each recipe is well organized and the instructions are clear. And the photography is absolutely mouthwateringly great!

Chasing Flavor does what the title promises - it shows a home cook like myself how to really go from good to excellent when it comes to flavors through a delicious mix of complex and fun recipes. But, it goes farther, in that the author really takes the time to explain why, for example coconut and ginger taste great with butternut squash - a flavor combination I would never have tried before reading this book.

I can't wait to work my way through this entire book!

This review is based on an advance copy read.

Dan Kluger is AMAZING! I absolutely LOVE the intro, his story and the PANTRY STAPLES section. I found this to be super essential when starting to get organized and wanting to create new things. Knowing the essentials is great to help dive into ANY recipes! Having this to reference along with step-by-step photo techniques - it's a home chef's dream come true! I cannot wait for this to come out in print and wish that some of these cooking ARC's would be paper version to have on display in my kitchen! A definite purchase when this is available.

Thank you so much Houghton Mifflin Harcourt & NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I liked the fact that this book offers a different perspective on cooking. How to use spices and how to mix them and decorate flavorfully your meal.
There were few recipes I did not care for, but many I see myself making them for the simple fact : they were easy.
Good book if you like spices and herbs.