Cooking for Good Times

Chicago chef Paul Kahan is legendary for inviting people over and cooking up amazing food while everyone--including him--is hanging out in the kitchen, talking, and having a great time. How does he do it? First, master a repertoire of twelve core tactics (roast some roots, make some dough, roast a whole fish, braise a pork shoulder, make a simple dessert, and more). Next, change out the supporting ingredients to create a half dozen variations that make the recipes seem new. Last, open two bottles of pretty good wine (Kahan includes easy-to-find recommendations), fill everyone's glasses, and enjoy the company while you finish getting the meal on the table. With recipes ranging from Roasted Chicken with Smashed Potatoes and Green Sauce to Farro with Charred Cauliflower and Oranges and to Steak with Radicchio, Honey-Roasted Squash, and Pumpkin Seed Pesto, plus more than 125 mouth-watering photographs, this is a playbook that is guaranteed to make hosting more relaxing, fun, and delicious--