California-cool grilling wisdom from one of the most renowned chefs in
Los Angeles.
Josiah Citrin is one of the biggest names in the L.A. food world and his
restaurant, Mélisse, is a temple for fine dining. But his hot new
restaurant, Charcoal Venice, is devoted to the kind of cooking he does
at home for his friends and family--backyard cookouts where a pile of
coals and seasonal ingredients are all a home cook needs to create an
unforgettable meal. In Charcoal, Citrin presents completely fresh ways
to cook with fire and charcoal, not only grilling over the coals, but
cooking inside them and finding inventive methods for searing and
smoking.
Whether Citrin's grilling barbecue classics like J1-Marinated Skirt
Steak and Salt-Baked Whole Maine Lobster or West Coast-inspired
vegetable sides like his signature Cabbage Baked in Embers, charcoal is
the dynamic center of this cookbook. Unlike other grilling books,
vegetables get equal billing with meat. For Citrin, the color, texture,
and flavors of vegetables are endlessly inspiring. With almost 100
recipes for savory main dishes and sides, as well as desserts and even
cocktails, Charcoal shows that the satisfaction of smoky flavor and a
good char knows no bounds. It is a celebration of the universal human
craving to gather together and cook over a live fire.
