Review: FutureChefs by Ramin Ganeshram

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

A curated collection of 150 recipes drawn from the experience and kitchens of young cooks all over America, FutureChefs brings real, cooking-obsessed tweens and teens to the page as relatable
characters who span a diverse social and cultural experience. Here, in rich, inspiring detail, is the ethnoculinary America of the future.
Veteran journalist and trained chef Ramin Ganeshram has crafted profiles of serious young cooks
who run the gamut of experience, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to create an inspiring prism through which readers might see what’s ahead in America’s food culture. Whether they’ve taken to it
because of necessity, inspiration, or sheer passion, these are kids, teens, and tweens who are very serious about food.
This is a generation more interested in hands-on cooking than ever, but they’re lacking material that treats them as a serious part of cooking culture; FutureChefs is the perfect vehicle.

MY TAKE:
If you're a fan of Masterchef Jr., you will love this book.

In FutureChefs, readers get to meet a lot of amazing and accomplished kid and teen chefs, as well as learning some of their signature recipes. A lot of the recipes featured are gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian or just plain healthy.

The book's recipes are divided into the following categories: soup/salads, appetizers/snacks, vegetables, pasta/grains, fish/chicken/meat, breads/muffins/rolls, sweets, and beverages. Basically, you can plan an entire meal from just this cookbook. Plus, since there are plenty of recipes here, you're bound to find something you like.

I've been on the lookout for recipes for healthy food that my toddler can eat. At the moment, he doesn't seem to have any food allergies, but even if doesn't the gluten-free, vegan and other healthy recipes here would still be something that I would want him to try.

Some of the recipes that I found interesting had ingredients that aren't available at my local supermarket, so I have to look for them at specialty stores. However, I still found some recipes that were interesting and had easy-to-procure ingredients. Number one on my recipes to-do list is the Zuchi Bread. The second would be Cruz's Organic Festival Lemonade. Although I'd probably substitute kalamansi for lemonade. Yes, as mentioned in the book, kalamansi is used a lot in cooking and is widely available here in the Philippines.

Aside from the recipes, I think the biggest value of this book is how inspirational the young chefs are. It gives you that feeling that, if they can cook and invent or modify new recipes, why can't you?

Thanks to NetGalley and Rodale Books for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The stories of the kids and teens are inspirational.
2. The food all looks delicious and healthy.
3. There's something for everyone to try. 

THE BAD:

1. Some of the ingredients for a few of the recipes may be difficult to find at your local supermarket.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child likes eating and experimenting in the kitchen.
2. You are looking for recipes that are healthy and delicious.
3. You want to be more creative when it comes to cooking. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?