Bits & Bites — 02
Your new source of delicious finds and nosh-worthy nonsense!
We’re back, babes! First off, I owe you a little apology for the lack of a recipe this week… I was, ahem, playing hooky from work in celebration of my birthday week. But don’t worry, it was a big week for bites so the newsletter was a must! I’ll be back later this week with a delicious Baba Ganoush recipe, so make sure to grab an eggplant if you spot one at the market—you’ll want to whip this one up!
October is sneaking up on us, and with it comes a whirlwind of excitement for the fall season. The produce is starting to change, the grocery store is hauntingly filled with the cozy aroma of cinnamon and, if you didn’t know, fall is a wildly significant time for cookbook releases. Everything starts rolling out in September, just in time for the holiday rush, and that’s where my part-time gig at a cookbook store really pays off. I’ve been smuggling new cookbooks into my apartment on a regular basis, hoping Josh won’t notice it’s getting out of hand but the my cookbook shelf that’s spilling out onto the floor is starting to give me away!
I can’t wait to share some of the highlights coming up this fall, from heartwarming comfort food to new release books and some true pinch me author talk moments. But for now, I want to hear from you—what are you most excited to cook this week? Let’s embrace the seasonal change together and enjoy something new in our kitchens!
The Luxe & The Laid-Back — because life is about balance
Luxe: wild greens agnolotti al sugo with chanterelle mushrooms & gremolata at Chez Panisse
After ten years of dreaming of a dinner at Chez Panisse, I welcomed in year 32 at a table overlooking the kitchen. It was everything I imagined—simple yet elegant, highlighting the best of the season while perfectly straddling summer’s lightness and fall’s comfort. We started with a gulf shrimp panzanella, moved on to the pasta course, then to seared albacore tuna with ratatouille, and wrapped up with a delightfully tart raspberry ice cream and passionfruit sherbet over delicate meringues. But honestly, the pasta course was the real star. Those wild greens agnolotti, with their creamy filling and the savory, salty richness of that sugo, tied everything together. Add chanterelle mushrooms and a bright gremolata, and it was a little plate of heaven.
Laid-Back: brillat-savarin over La Panzanella cracked pepper crackers with fresh figs
Listen, I was way too excited about this snack and polished off all the figs before remembering to take a picture. So, you’ll have to use your imagination here. Brillat-Savarin has become my absolute favorite cheese this year. It’s a triple-cream cow’s milk cheese—think brie but with more complexity and an extra hit of umami. It’s rich, velvety, and pairs like a dream with fresh fruit. I once had it with shaved truffles, and woah, that was delightful. You can grab a small wheel from Bi-Rite or Whole Foods without breaking breaking the bank.
Have any food highlights this week that I also need to try?
Chronicle Books Fall Cookbook Haul
I have some exciting new reads on my bookshelf thanks to the unbelievably generous folks over at Chronicle Books! This box of goodies arrived on my birthday, filled with enough recipes to keep me busy for the next year (or two). Just in time for fall baking season, Sarah Kieffer’s 100 Afternoon Treats is a baker’s dream come true, brimming with cozy recipes for treats that will make any afternoon a little sweeter (hello, fig scones!), while The Chocolate Lover’s Baking Book by Michelle Song promises decadent desserts that are impossible to resist. I’m also diving headfirst into Breaking Bao by Clarice Lam, because let’s be real—pork floss focaccia? Consider my page-turning tracks completely stopped.
Of course, my love for trashy reality TV knows no bounds, so seeing Food, and Other Things I Love by none other than Caroline Manzo had me pumped. Bravo drama paired with family recipes? That’s basically my ultimate comfort combo. And just as I’m gearing up for those comforting soup-season nights, the Soup Deck is here to save the day with 50 recipes for all my seasonal favorites, from hearty stews to brothy bowls that’ll warm me up from the inside out.
Friday night date night in just got a little easier with A Couple Cooks by Sonja and Alex Overhiser, which offers 100 approachable and delicious recipes that are perfect for cooking together—ideal for cozy nights in or impressing guests without too much fuss. And when it comes to hosting gatherings, Southern Get-Togethers by Kelsey Barnard Clark will be my go-to for creative entertaining ideas that make every meal with friends and family feel extra special.
Rounding out this collection, Banchan by Caroline Choe is packed with 60 irresistible recipes for shareable Korean side dishes—perfect for when I want to turn dinner into a vibrant spread of small plates. And if that wasn’t enough to satisfy my culinary curiosity, The Vibrant Hong Kong Table brings late-night snacks and iconic recipes that capture the essence of Hong Kong’s food scene right into my kitchen. For a little extra fun, Coffee Cards offers 50 ways to level up my coffee game, ensuring that my caffeine routine stays exciting all year long.
Thank you to the amazing folks over at Chronicle Books for all of this! Can’t wait to dive into these and expand the book library!
Craving More?
Buffalo Smoked Trout Dip from Hailee Catalano
Football season is here and since I don’t watch football, this is what I like to call dip season. Everyone is making dips for their game day parties and your girl is amped about the recipes that are dropping. Especially when they have anything to do with buffalo sauce. Check out this delicious dip from one of my favorite recipe creators, Hailee Catalano.
If you’re loving this, have some thoughts, or want me to try the recipe currently on repeat in your kitchen, drop a line in the comments so your girl knows there are people on the other end. Love hearing from you! See you next week—stay well fed.