14 Comments

Yay!! I also started a Substack this week and am surprised with how exciting and creativity-inducing it is. so happy u shared this!!!

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Oct 3, 2022Liked by Ben Mandelker

I have been looking for something like this for ages! The bolognese and lasagna pinwheel recipes from Italian-American are 🤌, looking forward to hearing about your perfected bolognese recipe.

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Oct 3, 2022Liked by Ben Mandelker

What a treat to get to dive deep into your cooking! I made Ina’s Lobster Mac and Cheese last night. I’m still recovering, but it was delicious and NBD fancy.

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Oct 3, 2022Liked by Ben Mandelker

I also have a cookbook addiction but probably not at your level! My current absolute favorite that I share with everyone is “The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook” from America’s Test Kitchen. I’ve made countless recipes from this and they are always a hit - definitely NBD cooking when I make something for friends/family. Can’t wait to follow your recipes!

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My cookbook collection is almost embarrassing. At this point, I keep adding bookcases and shelves in my study to accommodate the overflow.

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Oct 3, 2022Liked by Ben Mandelker

This was great. Love the concept.

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I am so excited! I, like Ronnie, just learned what a substack is and here I am. I have really enjoyed your insta posts about cooking so I'm here for more.

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Love this. Already feeling inspired.

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Ina and Nigella are the largest of my collection but I love to add to it no matter how trashy, ridiculous, fancy, or simple it may be! Some I use again and again (Nigella Lawson's How to Eat; all Ina books) some I just read for the inspiration (Yotam Ottolenghi Plenty More,) or sheer amusement (the neighborhood cookbooks from the 80's.) Some are flops where I tried one thing and left on the shelf (all of Gwyneths,) or I am ashamed that I still own it (the Pioneer Woman.) My wish list includes anything by Donna Hay and Norwegian cooking. I live in Houston where we have a wonderful Asian food scene so it never makes sense for us to cook it at home when we have some of the best here.

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Ben! OMG so excited to dive into this. I was a Sous chef many moons ago and a culinary school grad. I love love this!

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I really love "Dessert Person" by Claire Saffitz. I found her book to be well laid out, and the instructions easy to follow. Also there's recipes for beginners (basic cookies) and advanced bakers (croissants, croquembouche)!

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My friend has that. I was thisclose to buying it last week.

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Do it. You won’t regret it. I think you’ll really appreciate how she organized her book and how well written the instructions are. Also her recipes are not complicated and won’t ask for 1/8th of a tsp of some obscure ingredient that ultimately makes no difference in the recipe. I guarantee you’ll have most of the needed ingredients already in your pantry!

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I miss watching her on the BA Test Kitchen. So sad to see that it all imploded.

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