cover image Food Between Friends

Food Between Friends

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Julie Tanous. Clarkson Potter, $32 (272p) ISBN 978-0-59313-653-9

Actor Ferguson and his best friend Tanous, a private chef, celebrate food and friendship in their entertaining debut. Many of the dishes are inspired by Ferguson’s childhood in New Mexico, such as biscochito cookie bars, Christmas chilaquiles (“Christmas” coming from the red and green chiles used in the dish), and sopaipillas (a fried bread that can be sweet or savory). Tanous, an Alabama native, shares plenty of Southern-inspired dishes, among them grouper and grits, chicory salad with benne croutons, and biscuits with cracked peppercorn gravy. In addition to the classics, there are inventive dishes such as potato-parsnip “hash-kes” (a combination of hash browns and latkes), an asparagus and leek galette, and tiramisu tres leches. The duo pepper the recipes with humor (“Yes, boneless, skinless chicken breast is about as exciting as waiting in line at the post office,” reads the introduction to tarragon chicken with caper wine sauce) and celebrate their friendship by swapping family recipes and “[using] them as inspiration for our own creations.” This will surely inspire home cooks to grab some friends and start making memorable meals. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM Partners. (Mar.)