Collards & Carbonara: Southern Cooking, Italian Roots

The first book from Memphis-based Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman, named as two of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs 2013.

Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman each grew up in extended Italian families in Memphis, Tennessee. Food Played a central role in both of their young lives, sparking in them both a passion for cooking and a joint career path. In this, their debut cookbook, these friends, chefs, and restauranteurs present a culmination of their lifelong obsessions, blending traditional southern ingredients with classic Italian techniques for a truly unique style of cooking.

Through 100 recipes and dozens of full-color photographs, Andrew and Michael share their unique culinary point of view with the home cook, translating the most popular recipes from their two Memphis restaurants, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen and Hog & Hominy, into dishes you can make in your own kitchen. With a delightful mixture of humor, insight, and reverence for their mentors and others who have inspired them throughout their journey, this book will forever change the way you think of fusion cuisine.

Selected recipes include:
-Fried Green Tomatoes, Blue Crab & Bacon Jam
-Spinach-Ricotta Gnudi with Marinara & Ricotta Salata
-Butternut Squash Agnolotti with Crab & Apple
-Duck leg Confit with Fall Sugo
-Brussel Sprouts with Speck, Tomato & Bacon-Chili Jam
-Southern-Style Collard Greens
-Pecan-Pumpkin Pie

Andrew Ticer & Michael Hudman began their studies separately, at the University of Mississippi and Auburn University, respectively. Both inspired by big families, influential Italian grandmothers, and their long friendship, they embarked on their culinary training together at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, and then The Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary Studies in Calabria, Italy. Upon returning to Memphis, Andrew and Michael studied under a local master chef before opening their two restaurants, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen in 2008, and Hog & Hominy in 2012, and have since earned much critical success. Together, Andrew and Michael were named semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Southeast in both 2012 and 2013. Their second restaurant, Hog & Hominy, was named by GQ magazine as one of the Most Outstanding Restaurants of 2013. In addition, they were selected among nine others as Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs for 2013. Andrew and his wife Karie are expecting their first child in June 2013. Michael and his wife Katie have two children, Cory and Ellie.