In the Kitchen with Cleveland's Favorite Chefs: 35 Fabulous Meals in About an Hour (Black Squirrel Books)

A rare behind-the-scenes look at how Cleveland’s top toques entertain at home

Have you ever wondered what your favorite local chefs cook at home? What they prepare for their own family and friends? What they whip up when truly pressed for time? The secret’s finally out as In the Kitchen with Cleveland’s Favorite Chefs takes you into the private kitchens of 35 local culinary greats to discover what’s really cooking.

Author and food enthusiast Maria Isabella posed the same challenge to each featured chef: If you were suddenly to get a call at home from good friends who wanted to stop by, what would you prepare for them in one hour or less? The answers are as varied as the chefs themselves, who represent an exciting array of gastronomic talent―from celebrity chefs, restaurant chef/owners, and institutional chefs, to caterers, cooking instructors, and researchers. Each chef shares detailed recipes for delicious signature meals that can be prepared quickly and easily at home―119 dishes in all, including a wide range of meat, fish, and vegetarian choices to tempt every palate. Helpful wine pairings are offered as well. Accompanying each recipe are gorgeous full-color photographs featuring both the chefs and their culinary showpieces. Isabella’s profiles of each chef offer fascinating insights into everything from personal life stories to tips for successful last-minute entertaining.

In the Kitchen with Cleveland’s Favorite Chefs also allows readers to mix and match the recipes to create their own customized menus. For a delicious appetizer, one might start with Jonathon Sawyer’s “Devils on Horseback” or Eric Williams’s “Guacamole Tradicional.” For an impressive meal, try Michael Symon’s “Roasted Rack of Pork” with “Five-Spice Pumpkin Purée” and “Cilantro Salad” or Dante Boccuzzi’s “Mustard-Crusted Lamb Cutlets with Garbanzo Beans & Frisée.” For decadent dessert options, consider Jonathan Bennett’s “Gingered Apple Tarte Tatin,” Zachary Bruell’s “Greek Yogurt with Berries & Honey,” or Karen Small’s “Fig Scones.”

Filled with informative tips and clear step-by-step instructions using local ingredients and familiar techniques, In the Kitchen with Cleveland’s Favorite Chefs gives busy home cooks and foodies alike the tools and confidence they need to entertain just like the pros.

Maria Isabella is an award-winning freelance writer and published author with more than 30 years' creative experience in the advertising, marketing, and publishing fields. She has a degree in Communication from Cleveland State University and is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, the James Beard Foundation, and Les Dames d'Escoffier. She also enjoys teaching classes as a cooking instructor and contributing as a focus group member and recipe tester for Bon Appetit, Zagat, America's Test Kitchen, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and General Mills.