My friend and mentor Chef Danny Boylen wrote a cookbook, which I had the pleasure of reviewing. An (in)Appropriate Amount of Butter teaches the art of cooking — not just through recipes, but with stories, kitchen philosophy and cooking advice as well. Read the full review below, and order a copy or three.
An (in)Appropriate Amount of Butter
Recipes, Stories, and Advice from a Life of Chasing More Perfect Dishes, Dinner Parties, and Discourse
danny boylen prefers not to have his name capitalized, lest it detract from his craft. Well, here the craft shines, it sings, and sometimes it even cusses. Through An (in)Appropriate Amount of Butter, Danny seeks to teach you the art of cooking with techniques, philosophies, and of course phenomenal recipes.
For those who haven’t had the privilege of savoring Danny’s cooking, this book puts the highest caliber of cuisine within reach, and with remarkable ease — not just the centerpieces, but the garnishes, extra credit twists, and little details that send your experience over the top. The short ribs are a revelation; the brownies will make you swoon; and the soups are so good that the decision between seconds and room for the next course becomes an existential consideration.
There’s something here for every level of chef, whether you’re just starting out in the kitchen (read “Notes to a Young Chef,” and the “Prerequisite, Prefixes, and Predicates” section), or you regularly host dinner parties (“Short Ribs” and “Soup – A General How-To” are required reading). An (in)Appropriate Amount of Butter sets you up for success from the foundation up — starting with the essential tools and ingredients to stock your kitchen with, right on through to making the brisket of your dreams. And along the way, teaching you the kitchen principles to make you a more confident and creative cook. Not to be missed, are the stories accompanying the recipes — Gammy’s Remoulade (pg. 27) is a must. Reading the anecdotes feels like cooking together with Danny, while sharing a bottle of wine, and reminiscing about life because you’re old friends.
Chef/Owner of the celebrated private chef service Cogito Ergo Sauté, Danny has garnered a loyal following. Through his business, he has developed better versions of classic dinner party fare, because if it isn’t perfect, he’s not serving it. Danny’s dedication to always improving his craft has driven his success — even spending his days off as general manager of DC’s fine dining establishments shadowing each kitchen station. Ever a mentor, Danny doesn’t only bequest his recipes, but his kitchen philosophy.
An (in)Appropriate Amount of Butter is a capstone of gastronomy and bonhomie — with as much life advice as culinary. Let it guide you, and inspire you on this journey that you will find has a completely appropriate amount of butter.
-Rémi Gottheil
The All Purpose Kitchen
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