Antoni in the Kitchen

Porowski, the food and wine guru on the Netflix series Queer Eye, presents an eclectic, appealing collection of recipes that reflect his “life path.” Elements of Porowski’s Polish heritage are echoed throughout, such as Polish caramel Easter squares, pickled herring tartines with apple and radishes, and bigos (a meat-and-cabbage stew). Influenced by growing up in ethnically diverse Montreal, Porowski includes several recipes that have Middle Eastern and South Asian flair, such as fesenjan (pomegranate-walnut chicken stew), and chickpea masala. There are also delightful recipes that recall his junior high school years in West Virginia, such as five-onion soup with crispy shallots, and a blackened swordfish with polenta hush puppies and roasted tomatoes (which he recalls from a “market-style” restaurant in the state’s capital). Fans of Queer Eye will enjoy Porowski’s recipes inspired by cast members, such as Johnny’s Queso Blanco named after Jonathan Van Ness, smoky chicken skillet fajitas (one of Tan France’s favorite dishes), and Kansas City Coconut Sheet cake inspired by one of the show’s caterers. Porowski accompanies many recipes with helpful tips: to slice soft goat cheese for canapés, he suggests using unflavored dental floss instead of a knife, and he also lists sriracha as a good substitution for chili garlic sauce. This terrific volume will appeal to cooks of all levels looking to expand their repertoire. [em](Sept.) [/em]