The Sweet Life

October 17, 2011
A collection of diabetic-friendly recipes isn’t exactly what you’d expect when a former Top Chef star and acclaimed Hamptons chef comes out with his first cookbook. But Talbot was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 12—three years before he got his first cooking job—and he’s been figuring out how to prepare stellar food that he can eat ever since. His recipes are healthy, appealing, and straightforward: “no show business, no gimmicks, no ‘butter-poached spot prawns with celeriac-laced truffle fries and maple-bacon-scented Brussels sprouts topped with crunchy croutons and basil.’ ” He uses high-carb foods judiciously, and thoughtfully incorporates blood sugar regulating ingredients. Baked eggs with chickpeas and harissa; lentils with turkey sausage and mustard greens; and stir-fried cucumbers with poppy seeds and grapefruit, for example, feature elements that actively aid in sugar control. Seafood figures prominently in many enticing dishes, including peekytoe crab salad with summer corn; squid with cherries, tomatoes, basil, and mint; and simple black bass with kale and kalamata olives. Talbot goes holistic by covering topics such as sustainable fishing and his fitness routine, and rounds out the recipes with dessert offerings like warm mango with chile honey and lavender poached pears. Whether or not someone is diabetic, this is a valuable resource for wellness and good eating.