In Good Company: Easy Recipes for Everyday Gatherings

This delightfully down-to-earth debut cookbook from chef Tomaszeski, who has hosted Food Network shows including Dinner Party Wars and Restaurant Takeover, emphasizes the joy of creating dishes for family and friends. “Food is a conduit to sharing our lives,” Tomaszeski writes. The collection includes modern takes on his Polish grandmother’s recipes (Tomaszeski family borscht) and his mother’s farmhouse staples (Carole’s Famous Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing and Candied Orange Frosting) as well as personal favorites (spicy skillet T-bone steak). The book is well structured, includes ready-made menus for various occasions, and is generously illustrated, with many photos of Tomaszeski and his inspiring dishes. Recipes are easy to follow, highlight dishes that can be prepared ahead of time, and include suggestions for variations with additional ingredients or substitutions. Tomaszeski reminds readers that the moment of serving a dish and sharing food with guests is more important than a broken plate, misread recipe, or any number of goofs made along the way. He’s good company in the kitchen indeed. (May)