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Obsessed with the Best: 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-to-Head Tests
A charmingly obsessive, thoroughly tested exploration of the best ways to cook and bake your favorite foods.
Some might think the “best” roast chicken means “most efficient without sacrificing juicy meat,” while others might think “best” is the one that you won’t be able to stop thinking about for years, no matter how long it takes in a sous vide bag. When writer Ella Quittner (creator of Food52’s “Absolute Best Tests”) is cooking or baking something, she cannot rest until she’s tested every method she can to arrive at the best result. Even if that means traveling to Tokyo to learn the trick to extra juicy tsukune for her tender meatballs or spending time in the Alabama Black Belt gathering intel from the pros for her flakiest biscuits.
In Obsessed with the Best, Ella walks you through the results of 24 head-to-head tests of cooking methods to help you find the perfect choice for your palate. From these building blocks, Ella shares more than 100 recipes, grounding you in minimalist techniques that maximize flavor, and sharing creative options as jumping off points for your own favorite flavors. Recipes
Under-Pressure Flaky Biscuits, Fluffy No-Special-Equipment Buttermilk Pancakes, and a failproof Caramelized Shallot Soft Scrambled Eggs with ComtéCrispy Smashed Potatoes with Insurance Cheese, Rigatoni with Vodka “All’Amatriciana,” and more than a dozen optimized veggies, like Braised Tomato-Butter Cabbage. Entrées like Triple-Secret Tender Meatballs, One-Hour Roast Chicken, Opulent Slow-Roasted Chicken, and Lemon-Butter Cold-Poached ShrimpSweets like Overachiever Extra Brown Butter Bakery-Worthy Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Soft & Tender Yellow Cake, and Actually Manageable French-ish ButtercreamPunctuated with reported essays on people, places, or things obsessed with “the best”—be it a bacon evangelist from Iowa who flies annually all the way to Kofu, Japan, to throw a “Porktober Fest” in the middle of a seasonal celebration of a feudal lord, or an international spin through different pasta-making methods from Osaka to Tuscany—Obsessed with the Best is precise, informative, personal, and fun in equal measure.
Some might think the “best” roast chicken means “most efficient without sacrificing juicy meat,” while others might think “best” is the one that you won’t be able to stop thinking about for years, no matter how long it takes in a sous vide bag. When writer Ella Quittner (creator of Food52’s “Absolute Best Tests”) is cooking or baking something, she cannot rest until she’s tested every method she can to arrive at the best result. Even if that means traveling to Tokyo to learn the trick to extra juicy tsukune for her tender meatballs or spending time in the Alabama Black Belt gathering intel from the pros for her flakiest biscuits.
In Obsessed with the Best, Ella walks you through the results of 24 head-to-head tests of cooking methods to help you find the perfect choice for your palate. From these building blocks, Ella shares more than 100 recipes, grounding you in minimalist techniques that maximize flavor, and sharing creative options as jumping off points for your own favorite flavors. Recipes
Under-Pressure Flaky Biscuits, Fluffy No-Special-Equipment Buttermilk Pancakes, and a failproof Caramelized Shallot Soft Scrambled Eggs with ComtéCrispy Smashed Potatoes with Insurance Cheese, Rigatoni with Vodka “All’Amatriciana,” and more than a dozen optimized veggies, like Braised Tomato-Butter Cabbage. Entrées like Triple-Secret Tender Meatballs, One-Hour Roast Chicken, Opulent Slow-Roasted Chicken, and Lemon-Butter Cold-Poached ShrimpSweets like Overachiever Extra Brown Butter Bakery-Worthy Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Soft & Tender Yellow Cake, and Actually Manageable French-ish ButtercreamPunctuated with reported essays on people, places, or things obsessed with “the best”—be it a bacon evangelist from Iowa who flies annually all the way to Kofu, Japan, to throw a “Porktober Fest” in the middle of a seasonal celebration of a feudal lord, or an international spin through different pasta-making methods from Osaka to Tuscany—Obsessed with the Best is precise, informative, personal, and fun in equal measure.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 26, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
This is a wonderful cookbook, and I can't wait to try many of these recipes 😋. Looking through cookbooks always makes me wish I had a private chef, though, but I'd probably just spend my money on books rather than a chef if I had the money.
The photographs are absolutely gorgeous!
I would definitely recommend this cookbook.
This is a wonderful cookbook, and I can't wait to try many of these recipes 😋. Looking through cookbooks always makes me wish I had a private chef, though, but I'd probably just spend my money on books rather than a chef if I had the money.
The photographs are absolutely gorgeous!
I would definitely recommend this cookbook.
May 6, 2026
this is exactly what I dream about in a cookbook.
detail,
photos,
trials, notes, & tribulations,
ingredients, their swaps, and a gastronomic analysis (truly scientific!) of the effects of each & every variable in your baking AND your cooking.
refreshingly specific and unapologetically tailored towards the baking & cooking nerds- i loved this
detail,
photos,
trials, notes, & tribulations,
ingredients, their swaps, and a gastronomic analysis (truly scientific!) of the effects of each & every variable in your baking AND your cooking.
refreshingly specific and unapologetically tailored towards the baking & cooking nerds- i loved this
March 16, 2026
Quittner was working at Bon Apetit Magazine and realized as print magazines lost subscribers, she’d have to make herself indispensable. She decided to take all their most discussed recipes and do absolute best tests and her new career path was born! I enjoyed reading this book because Ella is SO funny. I feel like we’d be friends in real life. I enjoyed what I made from this book and I think you will too, but she’s even accommodated people who aren’t into following recipes by describing what she’s determined to be the best way to make each item at the beginning of each chapter. What a great cookbook! Thank you for the gifted copy, William Morrow Books.
🤩
Here’s what I made:
🥔 Crispy Smashed Onion Dip Potatoes- my potatoes weren’t consistently crispy but this was still a super tasty combo. I loved the idea of roasting the onions for the dip in the oven. Much less mentally and physically demanding than caramelizing on the stove!
🍫 Emergency “Chocolate Sandwich Cookie” Fridge Pudding aka Depression Pudding- I placed the puddings on my bed because that’s where this is meant to be eaten. The recipe is easy and uses ingredients I already had on hand, specifically for days you need a treat but feel too unwell to do much about it. I was impressed that cream, cocoa powder, and maple syrup could taste like this and of course, as a chronically ill person, I loved the concept.
🥚 High-Low-Medium Soft-Scrambled Eggs- I think I am obsessed with finding the perfect scrambled egg because I keep trying these recipes even though they don’t photograph well. It was pretty good but maybe I should have cooked it longer? Ella is adamant that you follow the recipe exactly!
🌽 Whipped Corn Muffins- these are tender and taste like corn cake. Especially good with the recommended melted butter and maple syrup!
🤩
Here’s what I made:
🥔 Crispy Smashed Onion Dip Potatoes- my potatoes weren’t consistently crispy but this was still a super tasty combo. I loved the idea of roasting the onions for the dip in the oven. Much less mentally and physically demanding than caramelizing on the stove!
🍫 Emergency “Chocolate Sandwich Cookie” Fridge Pudding aka Depression Pudding- I placed the puddings on my bed because that’s where this is meant to be eaten. The recipe is easy and uses ingredients I already had on hand, specifically for days you need a treat but feel too unwell to do much about it. I was impressed that cream, cocoa powder, and maple syrup could taste like this and of course, as a chronically ill person, I loved the concept.
🥚 High-Low-Medium Soft-Scrambled Eggs- I think I am obsessed with finding the perfect scrambled egg because I keep trying these recipes even though they don’t photograph well. It was pretty good but maybe I should have cooked it longer? Ella is adamant that you follow the recipe exactly!
🌽 Whipped Corn Muffins- these are tender and taste like corn cake. Especially good with the recommended melted butter and maple syrup!
April 23, 2026
Every recipe finds multiple new ways to shove in dairy, uses difficult to find ingredients (or calls basic ones by fancy names), and the whole book comes across as humble bragging. Not enjoyable.
May 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Obsessed with the Best.
An an unique cookbook about what constitutes the 'best recipes' of popular dishes though calling a dish 'the best' is subjective.
The author's goal is to discover the ideal recipe for how to make a recipe and she does just that with determination and enthusiasm.
The cookbook features over 100 recipes that are both approachable and inventive.
Some recipes require no skill (great for me!) and some do (boo for me!).
Each recipe showcases the techniques the author learned from experts in their particular field which are designed to maximize flavor and texture.
What I enjoyed the most are Ella's personal anecdotes and her extensive travels, particularly to Japan, where she explores what makes a dish “the best.”
I loved her stories about her family, her parents, her dad's love of Japanese food; it was kind, funny, and very relatable.
I can see where the author's passion and love for food comes from.
While most people aren't going to do a complete overhaul their tried and true recipes, Ella's determination and research resonate throughout the book.
She presents a thorough examination of what defines 'the best,' acknowledging its subjective and making you reflect on your own culinary preferences.
This is a blend of interesting information wrapped in a personal journey to learn from the best and add your unique touches to popular recipes.
There are definitely takeaways from these recipes you can use in your own dishes but it's entirely up to you.
This is a good read for anyone curious about upping their home cooking game with some side dishes of interesting stories.
An an unique cookbook about what constitutes the 'best recipes' of popular dishes though calling a dish 'the best' is subjective.
The author's goal is to discover the ideal recipe for how to make a recipe and she does just that with determination and enthusiasm.
The cookbook features over 100 recipes that are both approachable and inventive.
Some recipes require no skill (great for me!) and some do (boo for me!).
Each recipe showcases the techniques the author learned from experts in their particular field which are designed to maximize flavor and texture.
What I enjoyed the most are Ella's personal anecdotes and her extensive travels, particularly to Japan, where she explores what makes a dish “the best.”
I loved her stories about her family, her parents, her dad's love of Japanese food; it was kind, funny, and very relatable.
I can see where the author's passion and love for food comes from.
While most people aren't going to do a complete overhaul their tried and true recipes, Ella's determination and research resonate throughout the book.
She presents a thorough examination of what defines 'the best,' acknowledging its subjective and making you reflect on your own culinary preferences.
This is a blend of interesting information wrapped in a personal journey to learn from the best and add your unique touches to popular recipes.
There are definitely takeaways from these recipes you can use in your own dishes but it's entirely up to you.
This is a good read for anyone curious about upping their home cooking game with some side dishes of interesting stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.
I judge every cookbook by its chocolate chip cookie recipe. I know I'm not guaranteed one, but it's a marker of how much I enjoy the book. This book’s cookie recipe almost beat out Alton Brown’s…according to my friends at least.
I enjoyed how the recipes are presented in the book. I am the type to read the paragraphs before the recipe in a blog. It's what gives a recipe context, it lets me know the recipe belongs to the author and wasn't swiped off social media. It's one of those books that reminds me that recipes are about stories, memories and places.
The recipes are easy to follow and offer measurements in imperial and metric! I'm an American metric user with a scale constantly on my kitchen counter, I was relieved to read a cookbook that didn't just list cups and leave me scrambling to go online to translate cups into grams.
Everything is brightly colored and well placed. I made the chocolate chip cookies recipe and 3 ingredient tomato sauce for vegetarians in my life and they loved the recipes. Being vegan, I was able to tweak the cabbage recipe.
If you like Alton Brown, the Milk Street podcast, and Dan Pashman, you'll love this.
I judge every cookbook by its chocolate chip cookie recipe. I know I'm not guaranteed one, but it's a marker of how much I enjoy the book. This book’s cookie recipe almost beat out Alton Brown’s…according to my friends at least.
I enjoyed how the recipes are presented in the book. I am the type to read the paragraphs before the recipe in a blog. It's what gives a recipe context, it lets me know the recipe belongs to the author and wasn't swiped off social media. It's one of those books that reminds me that recipes are about stories, memories and places.
The recipes are easy to follow and offer measurements in imperial and metric! I'm an American metric user with a scale constantly on my kitchen counter, I was relieved to read a cookbook that didn't just list cups and leave me scrambling to go online to translate cups into grams.
Everything is brightly colored and well placed. I made the chocolate chip cookies recipe and 3 ingredient tomato sauce for vegetarians in my life and they loved the recipes. Being vegan, I was able to tweak the cabbage recipe.
If you like Alton Brown, the Milk Street podcast, and Dan Pashman, you'll love this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 by Ella Quittner is an absolute joy of a cookbook. It’s playful, thoughtful, and packed with personality - the kind of book you find yourself reading for entertainment just as much as for kitchen inspiration.
I loved the images showing all the different variations she tested along the way. Seeing the side-by-side comparisons makes you appreciate just how much effort and experimentation went into landing on the final version.
The lead-up stories are funny and genuinely engaging. They add so much to the recipes instead of feeling like filler. You really get a sense of Ella’s voice and sense of humor, and it gives the entire book such a fun, cohesive vibe.
And the recipes absolutely deliver. I was especially excited to try the biscuit recipe. I already had one I considered pretty great - but this book helped me pinpoint the missing ingredient that takes mine to the next level. That alone made it worth the read.
Overall, this is such an enjoyable cookbook, both for the writing and the recipes. It’s creative, smart, and full of heart. A keeper for sure.
Special Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the gifted copy 💕
I loved the images showing all the different variations she tested along the way. Seeing the side-by-side comparisons makes you appreciate just how much effort and experimentation went into landing on the final version.
The lead-up stories are funny and genuinely engaging. They add so much to the recipes instead of feeling like filler. You really get a sense of Ella’s voice and sense of humor, and it gives the entire book such a fun, cohesive vibe.
And the recipes absolutely deliver. I was especially excited to try the biscuit recipe. I already had one I considered pretty great - but this book helped me pinpoint the missing ingredient that takes mine to the next level. That alone made it worth the read.
Overall, this is such an enjoyable cookbook, both for the writing and the recipes. It’s creative, smart, and full of heart. A keeper for sure.
Special Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the gifted copy 💕
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you like a side of education with your recipes, written by a funny and personable (and impressively obsessive!) author, you will love this cookbook. With delightful photos of Quittner's elaborate grid-layout recipe tests, she describes her process to find out what methods and ingredients really make a difference, and explains the how and why. I appreciate the super specific little tips and guidelines she gives, e.g. how you'll know when to stop mixing, what appearance means it's ready, etc.
If you enjoy things like America's Test Kitchen this will be right up your alley in terms of not just delivering reliable recipes, but also educating you on *why* they work--and in an engaging voice (rather than feeling like you're in science class).
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
If you enjoy things like America's Test Kitchen this will be right up your alley in terms of not just delivering reliable recipes, but also educating you on *why* they work--and in an engaging voice (rather than feeling like you're in science class).
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Obsessed with the Best is an interesting cookbook. The author set out to find the best recipes for 24 foods. For each food, she writes up her culinary experiments and gives us her conclusions, based on her tastes. She then gives us her "best" recipe, along with a few options. For instance, there is a recipe for the best pancakes, followed by a recipe for pumpkin pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes. There are recipes for eggs, vegetables, chicken, pasta, cakes and more. As a baker, I found this book intriguing. Her exhaustive trials in the kitchen are fun to read about and the recipes sound like ones I would like to make. Her recipes list weights and measurements and oven temperatures are given in Fahrenheit degrees. I would recommend this book for the serious cook.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2025
This is a cook's best food reference book for taking the guess work out of ingredients, timing on ovens and foolproof hacks for making the best dish possible! As someone who loves food science books especially technical books like this to better my craft, this is a must in the kitchen! Now I have a list of test recipes that I'm dying to try out and with everything I've learned from this book, I can make this possible. I can't wait to see this for myself!
I highly recommend this book to any foodie and cookbook enthusiast! I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the amazing opportunity to checking this book out as an ARC! I received this book complimentary in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend this book to any foodie and cookbook enthusiast! I want to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the amazing opportunity to checking this book out as an ARC! I received this book complimentary in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2025
Ella Quittner’s Obsessed with the Best takes a deep dive into 20+ recipes ranging from biscuits, carrots, chicken, pasta to various desserts, calling them the Mother Recipe. She takes this even further, adding more recipes with various spins. As someone who likes to find my version of “the best,” I appreciate how she’s done the research and distilled her findings into her book, a collection of recipes, essays and research.
I’m excited to try her biscuit recipe, which would pair well with the mother recipe for roasted chicken. Dessert would be her superlative chocolate chunk cookies and milk powder shortbread, a great cookie plate to end the meal. As soon as I finished previewing the book, courtesy of William Morrow and Netgalley, I promptly pre-ordered the book. It’s a winner!
I’m excited to try her biscuit recipe, which would pair well with the mother recipe for roasted chicken. Dessert would be her superlative chocolate chunk cookies and milk powder shortbread, a great cookie plate to end the meal. As soon as I finished previewing the book, courtesy of William Morrow and Netgalley, I promptly pre-ordered the book. It’s a winner!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went in expecting standard recipes, but Quittner's 24 head-to-head tests completely changed how I think about cooking. She doesn't just tell you what to make—she shows you why certain methods work better, and honestly, that's shifted how I approach everyday dishes now.
The 100+ recipes feel earned because they're built on actual testing. The interspersed essays about people obsessed with specific foods add a nice human element too. It's not a casual flip-through book—you actually have to engage with it—but that's exactly what makes it worth your time.
Already referenced it multiple times and changed how I make several staple recipes. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to understand cooking better, not just follow instructions
The 100+ recipes feel earned because they're built on actual testing. The interspersed essays about people obsessed with specific foods add a nice human element too. It's not a casual flip-through book—you actually have to engage with it—but that's exactly what makes it worth your time.
Already referenced it multiple times and changed how I make several staple recipes. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to understand cooking better, not just follow instructions
October 30, 2025
4 Stars! You can tell the author loves food based on how passionately she writes about it. The explanations are a bit long. I like simple & to the point explanations but the author does explain things well and I just skipped to the recipes themselves.
Good amount of photos but more is always better. I tried the pancake recipe and OMG! Fantastic! I also tried the poached egg and that was pretty easy. I’d always been nervous to make poached eggs before but this was pretty easy. I can’t wait to try the rest!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
Good amount of photos but more is always better. I tried the pancake recipe and OMG! Fantastic! I also tried the poached egg and that was pretty easy. I’d always been nervous to make poached eggs before but this was pretty easy. I can’t wait to try the rest!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*
March 18, 2026
I really enjoyed this one! It’s fun, chatty, and full of little behind-the-scenes stories that make you feel like you’re hanging out with someone who really knows and loves the world they’re talking about. I liked how it’s part memoir, part reflection; there’s a lot of personality here, and it made me laugh and think in equal measure.
I cannot WAIT to try some of these Mother Recipes. She really details what makes them work in addition to some other riffs to try. I don't have the focus or energy to do that, so I loved having these done for me, haha!
Thanks Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC!
I cannot WAIT to try some of these Mother Recipes. She really details what makes them work in addition to some other riffs to try. I don't have the focus or energy to do that, so I loved having these done for me, haha!
Thanks Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC!
May 24, 2026
Not a cookbook for anyone who worries about the salt or fat content of their diet!
Obsessively tested recipes to find "the best" vodka pasta/chocolate chip cookies/pancakes etc. Unfortunately I've found every recipe I've tried too rich and salty for my tastes. And I cannot get her scrambled egg technique to work. Instead of fluffy, soft eggs I get a well-browned omelet every time. (That's probably more to do with my horrible old electric stove than with the recipe, though.)
The suggestion to use a frozen Thai paratha for your breakfast sandwich, though...10/10. I'm glad my store only had the giant family pack in stock, because that's going to be a new staple!
Obsessively tested recipes to find "the best" vodka pasta/chocolate chip cookies/pancakes etc. Unfortunately I've found every recipe I've tried too rich and salty for my tastes. And I cannot get her scrambled egg technique to work. Instead of fluffy, soft eggs I get a well-browned omelet every time. (That's probably more to do with my horrible old electric stove than with the recipe, though.)
The suggestion to use a frozen Thai paratha for your breakfast sandwich, though...10/10. I'm glad my store only had the giant family pack in stock, because that's going to be a new staple!
April 23, 2026
This is such a FUN cookbook! Ella Quittner’s writing is sharp, insightful, and engaging. Filled with essays and seriously deep-dives into core recipes with spin-offs, you may need to get some extra tape flags for all the recipes you’ll be marking to make. And the recipes are really solid, which makes the book even more loveable.
So far, I’ve made the biscuits, vodka sauce tomato soup, and the slow roasted chicken. Can’t wait to make more too!
William Morrow Publishers provided me with a copy of this cookbook; the opinions shared are my unbiased review
So far, I’ve made the biscuits, vodka sauce tomato soup, and the slow roasted chicken. Can’t wait to make more too!
William Morrow Publishers provided me with a copy of this cookbook; the opinions shared are my unbiased review
October 18, 2025
Netgalley ARC- Edible scientific research at its best. Why not explore what it takes to make a dish the best? A nice selection of recipes that are tested, each with its own method and variables laid out, and then some related recipes to keep you going. Her essays were entertaining as was her style of writing and her humor. Definitely loves food and it shows. The only downside was that there should (always) be more photos.
November 4, 2025
NetGalley provided book to review. Perfect for the technical foodie in your life. Not only breaks down why a method of creating the dish is the best but a fast and slow way to do it. The book comes off non-pretentious yet informative. The personal stories not only connect with each chapter’s subject but with sense of author’s core personality. I can’t wait to grab this one when it comes out next year for the dessert and pasta dishes alone.
November 6, 2025
Amazing! Obsessed with the Best literally the best! This book takes the guess work out! No more questions like, what if I add more baking powder, will it make it fluffier? No more wondering what would happen if you replaced an ingredient or used a different equipment or even temperatures! Not to mention the images are spectacular! With real visual comparisons side by side! As the chef/baker changing & making the BEST food has never been easier! Thank you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the book for people who like soft cookies one day and then crunchy the next. This cookbook wasn't just about figuring out the best but also figure out the science about the ingredients we put in our cooking. The author takes you on a baking education. And best of all goes into detail about certain details that in the past I've definitely thought, 'I hope this is what they meant.'
I recommend this book to anyone who likes America's Test Kitchen or Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes America's Test Kitchen or Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
You can tell this is a well thoughout recipe book that shows you exactly how you would ideally like it to turn out, the best way to do so for the different recipes, and with personal anecdotes how exactly its done. Felt like a love letter to not only food but its preparation and the various techniques and ingredients that go into the final results.
March 16, 2026
Obsessed with the Best by Ella Quittner is a fantastic addition to any home baker’s kitchen. The way each recipe is broken down makes baking feel almost foolproof. Instead of experimenting with multiple recipes trying to find the perfect one, this cookbook has already done all the testing and research for you, making it an incredibly helpful and reliable resource for bakers.
May 6, 2026
"the best" parts of this book were ella quittner's quirky, clever and damn funny writing and the in depth science behind her recipes. i learned a lot. the "less best" part for me is that i did not find any recipes that i was clamoring to write down and try. that's okay. it was still a really good read.
Review of advance copy
have to leave a review because i bought this “before publication”… thanks to my local b&n for letting me have this early, i guess?
pumpkin spice pancakes were good and vodka in your biscuits somehow actually works so 8/10
pumpkin spice pancakes were good and vodka in your biscuits somehow actually works so 8/10
March 14, 2026
Obsessed With The Best is everything perfect about a cookbook, but better. Quittner's precision recipes based on extensive testing are marvelous. The author's short essays at the beginning of each chapter are superb. Her piece titled "The Bacon Boys" is priceless.
May 1, 2026
What a fascinating idea for a cookbook. What IS the best way to make a chocolate chip cook? Pancakes? Vodka sauce? She offers recipes but also her tips for how to make things THE BEST. She obsessively cooks and perfects things. Love it. Going to get for my MIL for Mother's Day.
May 7, 2026
I’m not sure all the recipes in here were the best for me (I tried the pancakes twice and I just couldn’t get into them) I was still obsessed with the writing, the research and the whole concept of a chapter called “desserts to eat in bed”
February 26, 2026
A great option for anyone like me that is wondering... which new to me recipe really is the best?
April 5, 2026
Great book with recipes and better ways to cook and prepare foods
June 8, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed her writing, experiments, and explanations. She and Christina Tosi make us all braver to play with what we make.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews