**A cookbook about the unique, fire-based cooking approach and
ingredient-focused philosophy of Camino restaurant in Oakland, CA, with
approximately 100 recipes.
**
Russ and Allison first opened the doors to Camino restaurant in Oakland,
California, just as recession forced would-be diners home. Faced with a
walk-in refrigerator full of uneaten food and an idling staff, they got
industrious--canning, preserving, brining. This efficiency borne out of
necessity soon became the driver of innovation for Camino's cooking and
the marker of a truly waste-free kitchen. But Camino is not all prudence
and grandmotherly frugality. There's the smoldering fire at the heart of
the restaurant, which likely has a whole lamb leg dangling from a
string, turning as it roasts perfectly, its fat seasoning a pot of fresh
garbanzo beans underneath. Or, eggplants grilling for a smoky and
complex ratatouille. Or, fresh fig leaves browning over the hot embers
for a surprising and unforgettable grilled fig leaf ice cream. The pared
down approach to ingredients at Camino opens up a world of layered
flavors and ingenuity--sophisticated but direct, revelatory and, in its
own way, revolutionary. This Is Camino is an extension of the
brilliance of the restaurant, full of deep knowledge, good humor, and
delicious food.