Graze

October 1, 2017

When food stylist Lenzer took a trip to Spain, she fell in love with tapas, or small plates of appetizers. When the author returned to the United States, she incorporated this style of eating into her own life, practicing what she calls "grazing" instead of eating a full meal with a main course. Lenzer feels this frees the cook from having to prepare a main course and allows for keeping meals simple. She advocates for creating multiple small dishes that rely on high-quality, fresh, and seasonal ingredients. Sample menus provide inspiration for ingredients that pair well together. Lenzer's essential items include fresh bread, good tomatoes, cheese, and cured meats. This book is divided into chapters based on the level of preparation required, from simple communal vegetable and cheese platters to those that require a bit of cooking such as soup and items that require more time and effort such as jam or pate. VERDICT Beautifully photographed, as one would expect from a food stylist, this is a exquisite book to browse, but its simple recipes and creative menus make it accessible to even novice cooks.--Melissa Stoeger, Deerfield P.L., IL

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