Member Reviews

Good book with solid advice. It was a bit wordy but nothing that made me want to stop reading. Solid book if you enjoy the subject.

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"The Cook You Want to Be" by Andy Baraghani is an inspiring culinary journey that empowers home cooks to define and develop their personal cooking style. With more than 100 recipes, Baraghani shares his expertise and passion for food, drawing from his experiences in renowned kitchens and test kitchens. What sets this cookbook apart is its focus on maximizing flavor in minimal time, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned cooks. Baraghani's recipes, many of which have become viral hits, are a fusion of umami-rich dishes, quick weeknight meals, condiments, and reinvented classics, all with a fresh twist. The book is not just about recipes; it's also a source of culinary wisdom, with essays and insights that inspire readers to explore and embrace their own cooking styles. With stunning photographs and delectable dishes, "The Cook You Want to Be" is a delightful addition to any kitchen, offering an abundance of flavorful and accessible recipes for modern times.

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I am a huge fan of Andy's youtube channel. Binging with Babish and it was so interesting to read his book. The instructions are easy to follow and the pictures accompanying them are mouth-watering. I can't wait to cook my way through this book.

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A wonderful Christmas present. If you know anyone adventurous and curious this is the book for you. It is a treat to read and explore. It is very user friendly, with easily accessible ingredients. A charming addition to any cookbook bookshelf.

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I’m so happy Andy Baraghani came out with this cookbook! I’ve tried his recipes before (his Feel Better Chicken and Rice Soup is a staple in my home already). HIs recipes are really good - they make sense, they are deliscious, and they are what I want to eat. I ordered a copy for my home cookbook library.

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Pleasantly surprised by how many vegetarian recipes there were and a lot of the sauces sound absolutely delicious. Will definitely be going back to try various recipes!

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Positively scrumptious! The recipes presented in this book are rich in complex flavors but also simple in preparation. If you are looking for a next step in your cooking adventure look no further than this cookbook! I for one cannot wait to try out the Proper Steak recipe. The photographs within will have you drooling from the first page and eager to try out all of the recipes. Happy Cooking!

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Fantastic recipes and a beautiful layout in this cookbook by a long-time contributor to Bon Appetit (for those of us who used to watch a lot of their YouTube content). Everything I tried was delicious, and I bookmarked MANY things to try next. I really like Baraghani’s approach to cooking - it’s very doable while still being opinionated in a fun way.

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I was eagerly awaiting The Cook You Want To Be by Andy Baraghani and I was not disappointed. I love the look of this cookbook, but better than that, I love the stories it contains along with the delicious food. After receiving an electronic copy of this book for review, I went out and bought a physical copy which I think best expresses what I thought of this book. I plan to use it a lot. There are a lot of vegetables in this book, and I love vegetables. I am always looking for new ways to cook and have a quest to make more delicious vegetable and grain dishes. This does not mean that this is a vegetarian book, because it is not. The snacks, the soup, and indeed the meat dishes are all easy to prepare once you have the right ingredients, and the desserts all look and sound amazing as well. I look forward to sharing the new dishes that I make and have been inspired by this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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For a general purpose cookbook.. this does have enough 'different' slants to make it an interesting choice for those looking to try new approaches in cooking. There are quite a few vanity shots of the author, which I find annoying in a cookbook.. If you are already well versed in international ingredients.. then maybe this would be less interesting. Myself, I didnt see much I wanted to cook, and therefore.. wasnt a 'must buy' title and did not add it to my extensive collection of cookbooks.

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The Cook You Want to Be: Everyday Recipes to Impress is an excellent cookbook by celebrated chef and food writer, Andy Baraghani. His Persian roots are evident in the recipes he presents, and the variety of dishes will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Even though many of the recipes have foreign origins, the ingredients called for are fairly common and can be found in regular grocery stores.

In addition to great recipes, there are dozens of helpful hints and techniques for home cooks to improve their cooking skills. The recipes are presented in the traditional form, so that they are easy to follow. Most of the recipes call for minimal ingredients, and are not difficult to prepare. There are also beautiful photographs of most of the dishes, which are inspiring. The prose is well-written, so this cookbook is one to curl up in a corner and read cover to cover.

Especially inspiring are the vegetable recipes – there are many, and they are unique and mouthwatering. There are other tempting recipes for fish, lamb, pork, and chicken. Dessert recipes are scarce, but the ones included are beautiful and tempting. Everyone will find something to love in this cookbook.

This is a fun and informative cookbook, and most cooks will welcome it as an addition to a cookbook shelf.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

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As a preface, I'm a college student without a car, so my ability to purchase things is limited to a bus line.

This cookbook was really interesting in that it wasn't just recipes, there were lessons scattered within the recipes to help you learn and really become a better cook. That being said, I didn't really have access to all the ingredients close to me. Especially as someone who is learning to cook (aka the target demographic) not being able to find the ingredients easily seems counterproductive. But overall, lovely recipes, pretty photos, and well written.

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I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I liked this cookbook because it had recipes that I thought I would use.

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A really nice cookbook with interesting anecdotes from the author. Although the recipes are geared toward the beginner, more experienced cooks won't feel it's too basic.

I especially liked how many recipes there were, all with clear, concise directions, and most recipes have a manageable amount of ingredients. The recipes lean toward the author's Persian background, lots of lemons, and lovely spice combinations.

Definitely worth reading, I can't wait to try some of these recipes!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an ARC!

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Simple, easy to understand recipes. The format is very clear and easy to read, I like the plain pages for the recipes as it is much easier to read this way. Many helpful recipes and photos.

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I love to cook and I love to read cookbooks. I was so excited to get The Cook You Want to Be as an ARC from NetGalley. I have gone through the book, as I always do, quickly skimming and marking recipes that look interesting. Then I actually sit down and read it, I read a cookbook in the way some may read a novel, and this book is a great novel. I love the tips he provides throughout the chapters and even as a long time cook I was delighted to learn some new ones.

The recipes, of which I've made a few so far, are not complicated yet result in dishes that are so flavorful. Most of the recipes do not include a laundry list of ingredients, but he chooses amazing combinations of flavor that produce delicious results. The book does have a leaning towards his Persian culture; fine by me, who doesn't love lemons, spices and more lemons?

I encourage anyone to explore the recipes in this book, they will certainly provide you with some new favorites!

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I only know Andy from Bon Appetit. I have loved his colleague's books - especially Carla and Rick. Andy's book is a letdown. You can sense that he is not an intuitive cook but just a technical one. Not a book I'd buy to gift or own.

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I received an ARC of this cookbook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this cookbook. None of the recipes were too complicated, so I think it could be enjoyed by both new cooks and experienced cooks!

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Am I in love with this cookbook? Clearly.
Do I need to give a better review than this? Probably.

I have to admit, I was always a fan of Andy Baraghani in BonAppetit and was eager to see what he would accomplish outside of it.

The Cook You Want to Be is a lengthy book, the recipes are not overly complex and can be achieve by most home cook, you'll get everything between sauces, snacks, meat, fish, dessert, each inspired by middle east cuisine. I can't wait to buy this book and try 90% of the recipes.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

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I just reviewed The Cook You Want to Be by Andy Baraghani and wanted to let readers know it is a wo derfyl cookbook. After trying a few receipes, we did enjoy the dishes. Some receipes have lengthy list of ingredients but were tasty.

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