The Last O.G. Cookbook

Released to coincide with the season two premiere of The Last O.G., a TBS comedy starring Tracy Morgan, this witty companion cookbook is ostensibly written by Morgan’s character, Tray Barker, with cameos from the show’s other characters. The fictional ex-con turned chef and Taylor (The Up South Cookbook) conspire to create some 80 dishes with soul-food roots and streetwise nomenclature. Lump crab meat salad served on a bun is called Snitches Get Ceviches, for instance. For those seeking behind-bars cuisine, there is a prison burrito made from instant ramen, a bag of Doritos, and a Slim Jim (one of only a few gimmicky recipes). With its okra and filé powder, Gowanus gumbo owes more to New Orleans than to Brooklyn, but the borough is an undeniable costar in this collection, with offerings inspired by its neighborhoods as well as a “food safari” map featuring eight of the borough’s classic foods (among them, doughnuts at Peter Pan Donut Shop, and heroes at Mamma Louisa’s). The authors show a serious side as well with pages dedicated to such topics as the limited access people in low-income neighborhoods have to nutritional foods and the difficulties former inmates face in reentering society. Humor and civic awareness get served up alongside some rough and tumble eats in this surprisingly solid cookbook. (Apr.)