Ovenly: Sweet and Salty Recipes from New York's Most Creative Bakery

Starred review from January 5, 2015
Though they've only been open since May of 2012, Brooklyn's Ovenly has quickly gained a ravenous following. Owners Kulaga and Patinkin go further than most other baking cookbooks, creating something closer to a printed apprenticeship than a rote collection of recipes. Small but important tips like choosing the right baking pan (dark pans will brown/burn more quickly), scoring pan (to ensure consistent batter levels), and specifics on butter temperature will ensure dishes come out as intended. As for the recipes, regulars will find many of them here, with step-by-step photos for Bloody Mary Scones, Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies and their infamous Hot Tarts, a riff on the breakfast classic that's filled with caramel and bacon and other flavors. If readers would prefer to keep things more traditional, Kulaga and Patinkin generously offer base recipes for quick breads, coffee cakes and scones, in addition to classics like Peanut Butter Cookies and shortbread. The result is a book readers will find themselves turning to often as well as growing with. Kulaga and Patinkin are encouraging coaches, and the recipes are well thought-out and artfully presented. Bakers might as well buy two copies, as the first is likely to become butter-stained and dog-eared.

August 1, 2014

A chance meeting at a food-focused book club inspired Kulaga and Patinkin to launch Ovenly, a Brooklyn bakery that's been recognized as one of New York City's best by Time Out and the Village Voice. In the coauthors' first cookbook, they enliven a familiar friendship-turned-business partnership story with sweet-savory recipes that encourage readers to get creative with variations and substitutions. Their scones, cookies, quick breads, and cakes have eastern European influences and a liberal dose of assertive ingredients such as mustard, rosemary, caraway seeds, ancho chile powder, bacon, and beer. Bloody Mary scones and spicy bacon caramel corn make great grown-up treats for readers who dislike the overly sweet, while peanut butter cookies (gluten free) and cherry almond hot tarts with lemon glaze are more nostalgic. VERDICT Complemented by an attractive design and step-by-step photographs of important techniques, this is a satisfying everyday baking collection--perfect for readers who like substantial baked goods with a salty streak.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.