Bright Cooking: Recipes for the Modern Palate by Camille Becerra is a refreshing and inspiring cookbook that feels both stylish and approachable. Becerra has a knack for combining vibrant, seasonal ingredients in ways that feel modern without being fussy.
The recipes strike a lovely balance. They are creative enough to spark excitement in the kitchen, but practical enough for everyday cooking. The focus on bold flavors and thoughtful techniques makes each dish feel special…even the simplest ones. Plus, the book itself is beautifully designed, which makes it a joy to flip through. If you enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients and a little flair, this one's a keeper.

I received a copy of this book from netGalley for a honest review.

I like the concept of this cookbook, but the execution is too hard. This cookbook I'd for those already doing more intense cooking and flavor combos. Too high brow for me.

A good collection of recipes that most will love. They do take time to prepare but the ones we have tried are wonderful!

Most of the recipes in Bright Cooking I would never make. The premise of the cookbook tells of the authors journey as a chef while writing this cookbook. Bonus points for pictures.

Bright Cooking is a visually stunning cookbook with beautiful photos that make every dish look appealing. However, despite its aesthetic appeal, I found that the recipes aren't very practical for everyday home cooking. While the dishes may be enticing, they don't seem like something I would realistically make at home. It's a lovely book to flip through, but it might not be the best fit for those looking for simple, everyday recipes.

Bright Cooking: Recipes for the Modern Palate is a delightful cookbook based on healthy ingredients and healthy eating. This is not to say it is a crunchy granola-nuts and seeds-unappetizing foods cookbook (although there are trendy grains and foods traditional eaters (me included) won’t touch). This cookbook includes two sections: basics, and other recipes, which are helpful to anyone who cooks and wants to be healthy without sacrificing color and flavor. Becerra is a renowned chef who knows her stuff, and has created foods that most of us will really want to eat. Starters, snacks, salads, and sides are included, as well as a few main dishes that are based on seafood. Most of the recipes are vegetarian or vegan, which is unfortunate because the flavors she introduces would be good on meats and poultry. She does include a section on seafood which is good, but not enough for most of us.

The sauce section (sauces, broths, flavor pastes) is so good, it’s worth buying this cookbook just for that. This cookbook will be kept handy in my kitchen for almost daily use with the many different concoctions designed to make mundane foods exciting. If you’re looking for healthy main dishes using meat and chicken, you’ll be disappointing as I am.

The cookbook includes beautiful, professional photographs of most of the recipes to make them more tempting, but that isn’t enough for most of us who don’t want to have to go to a health food store or cut out the foods we love just make trendy dishes. This cookbook does have appetizing dishes, but isn’t recommended for most cooks that enjoy both traditional and unique.

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

I liked the idea of this cookbook for sure.

Positives-
-Easy to follow instructions
-Some recipes are more “choose your own adventure” style than an actual recipe.
-healthy recipes and ideas

Negatives-
- for a book called “Bright” the photos were meh and few.
- the book is a little pretentious sounding. (Ex- quick adaptogen Moka pot sipping broth. Just rolls off the tongue.)
- bc of the sourcing of ingredients, this isn’t easily accessible or affordable.

A cool concept but it could use a bit more personalization. There was only a little bit of background as to the purpose of this cookbook and the recipes were more like lists of suggestions.

This cookbook is rooted in creating bright, flavorful meals. Though mainly rooted in vegetarian recipes, it includes diverse recipes.

LIVE LAUGH LOVE AND CAMILLE BECERRA!

OMG I am obsessed with this cookbook and cannot wait to dive deeper into the tastes and cuisines of this savory book before June 25, 2024 -- PUB DAY BABY. From sour vinegarettes and creamy yogurt dressings and all of the above, I am so excited to embrace summer cooking with Bright Cooking.

This book is like having a conversation with a master chef about food possibilities and combining potential. Great foundational information on ingredients, sauces, and dressings, etc., without the same emphasis on specific recipes. So much information lovingly shared. I was hungry from page one.

First of all, this cookbook is stunning. From the cover to the layout to the photographs, everything is beautiful and colorful and would look fabulous on any countertop. On a content level, some of my major goals for the year have been to eat less processed foods, incorporate more vegetables into my diet, and look into intuitive eating. This books will be a major help in accomplishing all three of those goals! There are helpful sections about ingredients, meal elements, and listening to your body, There are a huge number of delicious-sounding recipes from that cover "elements" like sauces and pastes and "dishes" that make complete meals. If you're looking to revamp your cooking this summer and learn more about experimenting in the kitchen, then I think this book is perfect.

This cookbook is very different and a unique concept. I love how the book is split into techniques and recipes. I also really appreciate the idea that this cookbook is not meant to be followed exactly and that it encourages making a dish your own. The idea of bright cooking is an interesting idea, and I love how it focuses on being healthy but also following your own instincts and tastes. This is not simply a cookbook, but an educational guide meant to make the reader a better cook. While the recipes might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the lessons learned in the book could be used with almost any recipe. Overall, I think this is a really good cookbook.

Pros: The cover of this book caught my attention because--as the title says--it is bright! These healthy recipes feature mostly plant-based, whole foods that can be found at most grocery stores (or farmers markets!). My favorite part of this book was the photographs of the dishes. Having a visual to follow when trying a new recipe is so helpful for me. The author's skills as a food stylist were obvious as the photos were bright, colorful, and appetizing.

Cons: I wish I had a serving of the savory lemon focaccia to snack on while reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a beautiful and easy to follow cook book. It is not my personal taste so I will probably not buy a physical copy, but it was a fun one to browse through and I am sure there is an audience that will absolutely love to add this to their shelf.

A BIG THANK YOU to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Bright Cooking: Recipes for the Modern Palate by Camille Becerra. This is a strikingly creative cookbook that offers a fresh perspective on cooking and eating well. With a focus on vibrant flavors, nourishing ingredients, and beautiful presentation, Becerra introduces readers to a new way of thinking about food that’s approachable and adaptable based on what you already have in your own pantry. Becerra places a major emphasis on creativity and versatility, empowering home cooks to experiment with ingredients and techniques to create dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.

One of the book's highlights is its comprehensive approach to building flavor, starting with foundational pantry basics like mother sauces, broths, and finishing oils. Becerra provides readers with the foundational macrobiotic recipes they need to get started, offering guidance on how to combine these elements in unexpected ways. Her playful approach to ingredients and flavors encourages readers to embrace experimentation and trust their instincts in the kitchen.

With its beautiful photography, clear instructions, and inventive recipes, this cookbook is sure to inspire home cooks of all skill levels to infuse their meals with creativity, joy, and, of course, brightness. I plan on slowly incorporating a great many of these recipes into my own meal-planning rotation. Some of my personal favorites are listed below:

● Green Goddess Yogurt
● Walnut-Kimchi Dip
● Coconut-Ginger Broth
● Plum Molasses
● Turmeric-Chili Almonds
● Crispy Honey Chili Oil
● Napa Cabbage, Coconut, and Pecan Salad with Pecan-Coconut Dressing
● Collard Green and Peach Summer Salad
● Squash with Peanut-Coconut Curry
● Corn and Potato Chowder
● Salt and Pepper Seafood Fry

Although it will surely mean having to build yet another self in my kitchen to hold more cookbooks, this is one that I plan on purchasing and keeping on hand for constant reference. I definitely see myself coming back to this one again and again and taking something different away each time.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 25 June 2024
#BrightCooking #NetGalley

Bright Cooking is a unique, plant-based cookbook. It includes two sections: Elements and Dishes. The Elements section contains Mother Sauces; Pickles, Ferments, and Cures; Stocks, Broths, and Dashis; Flavor Pastes, Fruit Sauces and Tonics; and Finishings. The Dishes section contains Fruits & Cereals, Baked, Snacks, Salads, Vegetables, Grains, and Seafood. Some of the recipes are very creative and others seem more accessible. The photography is beautiful but feels more artsy than representations of the recipes. I enjoy the layout of the recipes.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #ChronicleBooks for a free copy of #BrightCooking by Camille Becerra. All opinions are my own.

Lovely cookbook with tons of easy, flavorful recipes. The format is nice - lots of little parts first (think sauces, nut mixes, butters, etc…) followed by recipes that use the parts. Will definitely be buying a copy of this once published. Not vegan, but easily adjustable!

What a lovely cookbook! The recipes are easy to follow and the photography is excellent. I love how the sections are broken up. So far we have tried the walnut-kimchi dip, the green tahini, the turkish eggs, and the clams and brothy rice. All were fantastic. I'm excited to try additional recipes from this book, especially those in the elements sections. I know I will come back to this book time and time again. If you are someone who is interested in adding more vegetarian/pescatarian flare to your kitchen, definitely check this one out.

Thank you to the publisher and author for a chance to get a sneak peak of this wonderful cookbook in return for my review.

Taking recipes and making them new and interesting is what this book is all about. Carrot harissa? fabulous. I have so many sauces and vegetables bookmarked to make. This book covers basics to extravagant. She gives so many ideas to take what you have on hand and make a wonderful meal from them. Beautiful pictures as well to see what your finished dish should look like. .