The Chef Next Door A Pro Chef's Recipes for Fun, Fearless Home Cooking

“This book is a love letter to the home cook. I so admire the hard work it takes to prepare meals at home, and I hope this book lives on your kitchen counter as we prepare many meals together!”—Amanda

Amanda Freitag is a master at knocking out fabulous meals in her restaurant kitchen and on the set of Food Network’s Chopped and Iron Chef America. But until recently, cooking at home in her tiny apartment kitchen totally intimidated her.

Why did Amanda easily succeed in her restaurant kitchen, but find herself staring blankly into the fridge and reaching for the stack of takeout menus at home? Not wanting her anxiety to stop her from doing what she loves best, Amanda did what she’s always done in the face of fear—hit it head on—and created a list of restaurant-quality recipes that shine in the home kitchen.

The Chef Next Door teaches home cooks a wide range of confidence-instilling skills, tricks, and tips Amanda has picked up working in professional kitchens and cooking competitively on television. In her bright, lively voice, she helps you master the basic techniques that are the foundation of good, flavorful cooking. She also teaches you how to think like a chef—to consider seasonality, balance flavors, understand the steps, and improvise—to create a menu and execute dishes with panache.

You’ll find everything from the basics—sauces, marinades, stocks, and rubs—to appetizers, salads, and easy dinner recipes, and will even become skilled in making “The Scary Stuff”—recipes that may seem out of reach but are not. You’ll be able to dazzle friends and family with a diverse range of dishes, such as:

• Spinach-Feta Pies
• Avocado and Bacon Salad with Jalapeño–Bacon Fat Dressing
• Salmon with Peas, Pearl Onions, and Mint
• Cornmeal-Crusted Chicken Thighs with Jamaican Spice
• Pop’s Beer-Braised Bold Beef Stew
• Mediterranean Potato Salad
• Cocoa Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

With The Chef Next Door, you’ll learn how achievable good food really is and make confident home cooking a breeze.

“The only thing that can light up a room faster than Amanda’s contagious smile is her wonderful food, which is always thoughtful with twists on tradition that really make you take notice. I love that she is pulling no punches and showing that cooking at home can be easy when you are used to all that fancy chef stuff. Kudos to fearless home cooking!!”—Michael Symon

“If you’ve eaten Amanda’s food in her restaurant, this beautiful book of her home-cooking recipes will come as no surprise. What do you get when you catch a chef like this at home? Simple food that tastes great and offers the flair, professional tips, and great food combos you normally see only in a restaurant. Amanda is so real, and that comes across in her food. It will land straight on your home table with tasty results!”—Alex Guarnaschelli

“I know all too well how intimidating it can be to cook at home without the comforts of a professional kitchen. Amanda navigates the confusing space with humor and a guiding yet familiar voice that makes readers feel like she’s right beside them coaching from start to finish.”—Marcus Samuelsson

“Amanda gives you a window into her infectious personality and her unbelievable talent to make great food. It’s always balanced, surprisingly simple, and comes from the soul, which is evident when you taste the food. This is a cookbook that will live on your countertop and will end up stained and smudged, which is how a great cookbook should look.”—Aarón Sánchez