Brooklyn Rustic: Simple Food for Sophisticated Palates

Recipes that bring Brooklyn's artisanal revolution to the world.

Bryan Calvert is a culinary pioneer who helped make Brooklyn the new center of American food. Now, in more than 125 surefire, imaginative recipes that combine rural comforts with urban sophistication, he brings the best of the borough to your table.

This is artisanal food at its most elemental and delicious: Melted Romaine; Heirloom Tomatoes with Gin, Feta, and Dill; Savory Stuffed Skillet Chicken with Lemon-Miso Sauce; and Dulce de Leche Cheesecake with Sea Salt and Caramelized Apples. Setting these recipes alongside beautiful essays in the tradition of Alice Water and David Tanis, Calvert shares an original and meaningful way to cook.

Calvert's food builds on staples that are available nationwide and adds flair with ingredients you'll discover in your market. Brooklyn Rustic shows how the simplest change in approach can make an ordinary meal unforgettable.

Features photography by Ed Anderson, Matt Long, and Deborah Williamson.

Bryan Calvert opened James restaurant in 2008 on a residential corner of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, after cooking for years in fine restaurants. His food quickly became synonymous with new Brooklyn dining. Calvert is also a co-founder of Cecil & Merl, a national brand of artisanal home and kitchen goods.