Cooking with Zac: Recipes From Rustic to Refined: A Cookbook

by Zac Posen

Fashion designer Zac Posen gives fans a peek into his kitchen and the recipes for the garden-fresh and internationally influenced dishes he features on his Instagram account. #cookingwithzac

Most people know Zac Posen as the world-renowned fashion designer and judge on the Emmy Award-winning show Project Runway. But recently, his mouth-watering, beautifully plated dishes on Instagram introduced his fans to another one of his passions: food. For Zac, food and fashion are both sensory experiences, and the process is the same whether you’re planning a meal or a fashion collection. Cooking with Zac brings together these passions: Its design is based on the five fashion collection seasons and each chapter opens with a custom pattern created by Zac.

When it comes to creating his meals, Zac believes in a balance between healthy, fresh, local ingredients and decadently sweet desserts. Think chic daywear followed by a striking evening gown. In Cooking With Zac, readers will be taken on that journey of exquisite taste with recipes ranging from delicate corn summer salads and a classic blueberry tart to cozy culurgiones topped with a zesty tomato sauce. Throughout the book, Zac shares stories of his incredible rise and journey within the worlds of fashion and food.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 10, 2017

Reviews

[Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629)]

I am choosing not to rate this particular cookbook. The reason being is I knew before hand this cookbook was not going to be totally for me.

I purchased it because...Zac Posen.I know he is not a vegan. And I know he most likely is not on a limited income like me. And let's face it I really can't cook. Which is why I have all these cookbooks.

I actually got much more out of it than I thought I would though. I have several recipes flagged I can make with a few tweaks. And there are other recipes that simply will serve as a starting point for my own (vegan) ingredients. He also has great suggestions and information such as the different types of lentils, uses for rosewater and uses for poached pears.

What everybody could get from this book is joy from the absolutely magnificent photos!!! I have several shelves at home dedicated to cookbooks and I can tell you with complete certainty that none of them have this level of photographs. Completely stunning!

In addition to the photos the cookbook reads like an autobiography. Should Zac ever decide to pen an autobiography I will absolutely purchase it!

Oh and Zac if you are reading this please know I also live in Bucks County. Give me a call and we will do lunch sometime! Your treat? Just kidding. No I'm not.

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this cookbook. The best chocolate chip cookies recipe that I've made this year. The lavender sugar cookies - yum! The pistachio carrot cake was one of the largest cakes I've made to date and it turned out great. Also, I made the flatbread recipe and it was the first time my bread turned out edible. I love this cookbook. First Tomatoes Sauce is so yummy too. Good food hacks ("homemade" chicken broth). While some recipes are more complicated such as a crown rack of lambs, I do think the recipes are accessible to intermediate chefs as well as determined beginner chefs.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband bought me this for Christmas because he knows I love cookbooks, and because he watches Project Runway with me so he recognized Zac Posen. I read it from cover to cover, then started trying the recipes. The Oxtail Barley Soup was wonderful. The Japanese Vegetable Curry was fabulous. I am eager to try more.

[Kathy Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had great expectations for this book. Zac's food photos on IG look so tempting, so I know he can cook. But the recipes aren't particularly interesting, the headnotes aren't engaging, and the whole production doesn't seem to be well-conceived.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photos! There are a lot of different and interesting recipes here but, as you might guess before reading, the majority of them will require a decent amount of time and money. It’s a fancy cookbook, not a practical one.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful but very fancy and intricate recipes.

[Beth Harbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, but not enough, photos of the food, fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers. The recipes look good but most are for dishes I would never serve.