One of the things that Gelen gets absolutely right with this book is textural contrast in the recipes. If you love yogurt sauces, crispy rice and potatoes and fresh herbs, this cookbook should live in your kitchen, as it will in mine (as soon as I get a hard copy)! Some of my favorite recipes here are: Gruyere-Stuffed Dates with Salted Sesame Honey, Spiced Kebabs with Mint Sauce and Pineapple, Saucy Beans al Limone, and Honey Balsamic Roasted Cauliflower. By the way, Gelen really, really knows how to use a lemon. If you’re looking for something bright and beautiful on your table, start with Pass the Plate.
Pass the Plate by Carolina Gelen, (List Price: $35, Clarkson Potter, 9780593581872, September 2024)
Reviewed by Julia Paganelli Marin, Pearl’s Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas