Jason realized he wanted to be a chef at the age of 11, when he helped put fold dumplings with a bunch of grannies at Yank Sing restaurant in San Francisco. He learned about the keto diet from a chef friend in Hawaii, where he got stuck during the Covid epidemic and discovered his body loved keto and he showed his community spirit and helped to prepare and feed people after the Lahaina fire.

He gives lists of Key Ingredients for the recipes that include; animal fats such as duck, pork and chicken, Cruciferous Vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, and cauliflower, Animal Skins such as salmon, chicken and beef, Keto Breads, Flours such as almond and coconut, Proteins such as meat,eggs and fish, Sugar Substitutes such as Stevia and monk fruit and Pickled Vegetables such as sauerkraut and kimchee.

You will need to read the recipes carefully and follow the directions to a tee to get outstanding cuisine!
The strawberry pancakes with strawberry syrup and whipped butter look fantastic and it is hard to believe they are keto!
The Rib Dry Rub for the Cola BBQ ribs looks fantastic, the photos in this book are very detailed and make the food look incredible.
The Glazed Pork is a masterpiece from the spices to the Pork jus to the finale.
Enjoy! You will need to find a farmers' Market, a meat market and a fish market to buy the freshest ingredients - then press on!

Really enjoyed looking at this cookbook, that included photos for every dish and getting some ideas from them. Though I admit I will probably not be cooking from it, as those recipes are really a chef's - time-consuming, needing lots of ingredients and many preparations.

The recipes here also ask for open-mindedness (I can really see a lot of Japanese influence in the book) and are for people not afraid to try new things.
Personally, I love trying new things! My young kids, not so much... but maybe later?

I especially liked the creativity of the chef and his drive for more exciting flavours, textures and something exceptional in American cuisine, a move away from sweetness. I often struggle with the sweetness of American food, so this is definitely a plus for me.

I recommend to curious foodies who like to explore and discover new foods, who like fusion cuisine, and who like those exciting modern restaurants where they re-invent classics with whole new ranges of flavours.

If you're thinking about trying keto, look no further than esteemed chef Jason Raffin's stunning new book loaded with tasty keto fare and incredible photos. Loved it!

Jason Raffin planned to travel in Europe but decided to first visit Hawaii. The year was 2020 and whileCovid regulations kept him there, he began several life changes. He stopped drinking and started the Chef Cooperative for Covid, raising money for local farms. He also experimented with Keto. This cookbook is the result.

Although you might be familiar with Keto diets, Keto Like a Chef, illustrated with breathtakingly beautiful photographs by Keith Schikore, is full of keto recipes with clearly written instructions that make keto look gourmet. If you follow a keto or are ready to start, these recipes will be a delicious addition to your diet. Organized by meal, you’ll learn how to cook a keto Cheese Soufflé, Egg Quiches, Cola BBQ Ribs, Burmese Salad, Tuna Poke Lettuce Wraps and more. My favorite is Lobster Chaud-Froid. With scales made of thinly sliced radishes and turnips, it looks like a work of art.

Tragically, the wild fires that devastated Lahaina in August 2023 destroyed Raffin’s home and business. He helped to feed volunteers and the homeless then helped form the Hua Momona Foundation. He is now their executive chef. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Girl Friday Productions and Jason Raffin for this ARC.

If you are looking for a truly gourmet keto cookbook, this is it. Each recipe has a beautiful photo and nutritional information. These are more work than I honestly have in me but they seem exceptional and worthy of Top Chef or the highest end restaurant. The author is himself keto and clearly a very well trained chef.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

This is a beautiful cookbook. Having been Keto myself for several years, I appreciate that the author keeps it short on how to be keto. So the beginning portion of the book before the start of the recipes is short. Love that!

All that being said, this is not a cookbook for the novice/beginner chef. You definitely need to have some skills in the kitchen to make a good number of these recipes. I also found that some of the ingredients listed are not something I can easily find in my area such as lahpet for the Burmese Salad. There are also a lot of recipes that require more expensive ingredients like lobster which can be out of budget for the average person.

However, I can tell that these dishes have to be amazing. It’s also refreshing to see a Keto cookbook that doesn’t include a ton of recipes containing heavy cream and cheese as most that I’ve read in the past do.

If you have some skill in the kitchen, follow the well-detailed steps, I think you have a winner on your hands with this book.

Keto Like a Chef is a great cookbook. People who are starting with the Keto Diet are able to follow all the rules of the diet. Jason Raffin made easy to follow recipes.

Keto as a Chef is a great food journey! It is a very colorful and tasty meal, for a healthy lifestyle and weight management. I realized that it is not easy to find all the ingredients, but I will try to make some dishes from this cookbook. The photos are so good with food and plates and the beauty of Hawaii. I really appreciate the offer to receive an e-book from NetGalley to read and enjoy keto cooking and dieting!

Keto Like a Chef by Chef Jason Raffin; Photographer Keith Schikore

The photographs are stunning – the food and the plating and the photos of Hawaii!

Mid travels during the Covid pandemic, “stuck” in Hawaii during the shutdown, Jason Raffin, a chef, decided to try the keto lifestyle. This cookbook is a product of his journey.

While it begins with the story of his time in Hawaii and the keto lifestyle, that is only a small part of the book (which, as a cookbook, I appreciate – I want the recipes!). In this section he offers helpful lists of protein, pickled veggies and alternative options/substitutes for sugar and flour.

The book is divided into the typical sections and includes a range of recipes from easier (fewer ingredients) to more complex (lists of ingredients w/assembly instruction). Included are the familiar, like cheese soufflé and grilled chicken Caesar - I omitted the fish sauce given my family’s tastes - still delicious - to the more exotic - pigs ears, anyone? So far, I think my favorite is the Cod à la Meunìere - this is one w/fewer ingredients and was fabulous (loved the savory/salty flavors of the capers). Next to try is the Flourless Chocolate cake and planning for a festive occasion.

This book can serve as both a cookbook for those who are either on a ketogenic diet or like me, just interested in low carb options and/or a “coffee table book” as the photography is beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley, Girl Friday Productions and Jason Raffin for an advanced copy of this cookbook.
Review posted on Goodreads (link below) and on Amazon (once they open it for reviews on pub day).

An interesting cookbook as I don't know much about the Keto diet but this had a bit of information in it along with ingredients to help you navigate your way through the book and recipes. Although I liked the photography and the recipes sound interesting it is a book that would make the food I buy more expensive.

Everything sounds and looks wonderful and it is a great recipe book to dream over but I find it a bit more for experienced and rich chefs rather than the ordinary person.

Thank you NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A great resource for people looking to begin or level up a Keto diet. There is a good variety of recipes and they are well set and easy to follow. I would recommend this one

A beautifully presented book. Take your home cooking to the next level and make it restaurant worthy ( not sure Grumpy Grandad would notice as he shovelled it in) and present beautiful keto food to your family. Great recipes and ideas I would like to try out.

The first thing I couldn’t help but notice is how stunning the photos in this book are. The recipes look great too but are not your everyday cooking type of recipes . Sometimes the ingredients list is long and not necessarily cheap . There are also a few with ingredients you already have in your pantry but presented so well you’ll wow your dinner guests. Definitely a book worth having for people who want to make their keto dishes extra special.

‘Keto Like a Chef,” by Jason Raffin

Cool book. lots and lots of pictures. All the food looks super good and I’m definitely going to try a bunch of the recipes. 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.