The Red Cat Cookbook: 125 Recipes from New York City's Favorite Neighborhood Restaurant

Jimmy Bradley’s inviting and spirited take on food comes alive every night at The Red Cat, a convivial American restaurant that has anchored New York City’s Chelsea district since 1999. As the New York Times put it, “It’s the exceedingly rare place where unabashedly hearty preparations and ingredients meet seasonal produce and whimsical flourishes, where comfort and classicism welcome innovation without letting it run roughshod.” Now you can enjoy the charm and the food of The Red Cat in your own kitchen, with Bradley’s straightforward, thoroughly satisfying, and fun-to-read first cookbook.

In Bradley’s cuisine, the Italian-American classics of his childhood meet sensible New England accents and the creative energy of Manhattan in dishes like a pristine sauté of zucchini and toasted almonds topped with salty Pecorino Romano cheese; a surprising—and surprisingly delicious—peach and pancetta risotto; or a lusty prime New York shell steak with Yukon Gold potatoes, fennel, aïoli, and Cabernet. The techniques are basic, not fussy; the ingredients easy-to-find, not esoteric; the flavors bold, not flighty.

The Red Cat Cookbook is more than just a collection of fabulous recipes—it’s Bradley’s unique take on feeding loved ones and making guests feel at home, and it’s for everyone who wants home to be as warm and welcoming as The Red Cat.

Jimmy Bradley is a chef and owner of The Red Cat, The Harrison, and The Mermaid Inn restaurants in New York City.

Andrew Friedman has coauthored more than a dozen cookbooks and coedited the anthology Don’t Try This at Home.