Candle 79 Cookbook: Modern Vegan Classics from New York's Premier Sustainable Restaurant Hardcover - 2011 - 1st Edition

Excerpt

1: Amuse-Bouches and Appetizers
At Candle 79, we have developed an array of amuse-bouches and appetizers to amuse the palate and tantalize the taste buds. You can create these dishes at home and serve them as a first course or as small bites from a buffet or passed-around trays. Whether made for a family meal, a special-occasion dinner, or a cocktail party, they are always welcome treats and pair beautifully with wine and drinks. From savory, nutty-flavored roasted artichokes and crunchy, bite-sized arancini to simple avocado salsa and homemade hummus, these healthy, tasty bites are great fun to make and share with loved ones, friends, and family.
 
Heirloom Tomato–Avocado Tartare
This vibrant tartare, made with a raw mushroom ceviche, avocados, and ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes, pops with all the tastes of summer. It is wonderful as an appetizer served with tortilla chips or crackers (our favorite is raw flaxseed crackers) or as a side dish for a summer barbecue. It’s very popular with raw food enthusiasts and carnivores alike. 
 
1⁄4 pound oyster mushrooms, diced
1 shallot, thinly sliced
3 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
Juice of 2 lemons
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 
1 pound heirloom tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 ripe avocados 
2 cucumbers, peeled, halved, seeded, and cut into 1⁄4-inch dice
Tortilla strips, for garnish (see page 30)
Sprouts or microgreens, for garnish
 
Serves 4 to 6 
 
In a small bowl, combine the mushrooms, shallot, scallions, olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. 
 
Put the tomatoes in a large bowl. Halve the avocados. Carefully press the blade of a sharp knife into the pit, twist, and pull gently to remove. Cut 1⁄4-inch slices horizontally and vertically into the flesh of the avocados to make medium-sized squares. Scoop out the flesh with a large spoon and add it to the tomatoes, along with the diced cucumbers.
 
Add the mushroom mixture and the remaining lemon juice to the tomato mixture. Gently mix with a large spoon, making sure not to mash the avocado. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
 
To serve, present the tartare in a bowl. You can also offer individual servings: pack the tartare into a 2-inch ring mold to shape it, then remove the mold. Garnish with the tortilla strips and sprouts and serve at once.

Media reviews

VegNews 2011 Cookbook of the Year

“There are no two ways about it: The Candle 79 Cookbook is stunning. Reading through the book feels like settling into one of the restaurant’s comfortable booths, as the warmth and hospitality of its authors ooze out. ...a gorgeously designed gift.” 
—VegNews, 12/1/11

“a lottery win for vegan diners.” 
—New York Times Well blog, 11/22/11

“Rare is the vegan restaurant beloved by vegetarians and omnivores alike, but New York City’s Candle 79 is just that.” 
—Whole Living Magazine, 11/1/11

“vegan or not, this is cooking done right: with a focus on herbs, spices, and inherently flavorful produce.”
—Publishers Weekly, 7/11/11

“The Candle Cafe defined sustainability and the green movement long before it was hip or even politically correct. More importantly, the Candle team has a track record of making delicious and beautiful food with explosive flavor and the heart and soul of a zen master. The Candle 79 Cookbook has everything anyone I know could want to eat, and each of these easy-to-make recipes drives (nay, cycles) me to the greenmarket again and again for the pure fun and deliciousness of it all.”
—MARIO BATALI
 
“If I’m in NYC, I’m headed to Candle 79. They have achieved something almost imponderable—compassionate, comforting, and healthy cuisine. This book is an artifact worth treasuring for its content as well as its broader message.”
—BIZ STONE, cofounder, Twitter
 
“If I had to choose my favorite meal ever, I’d be hard-pressed to do so with so many unbelievably delicious choices from Candle 79. Now I can re-create these amazing dishes at home, and they are actually quite easy to do. This cookbook is heaven-sent!”
—KATHY FRESTON, author, Veganist
 
“You can look at it as ‘eating healthy’; we think of it as ‘eating happy.’ In a fast-paced, fast-food world, Candle 79 offers an oasis where delicious food nourishes the body and a warm caring spirit nourishes the soul. The Candle 79 Cookbook lets us take that experience home. We encourage you to share in what has been an inspiring part of our lives for about twenty years—and to try the Seitan Picatta. It’s incredible.”
—MICHAEL J. FOX and TRACY POLLAN
 
“The Candle 79 family continues to feed me and my family on all levels. Their commitment to innovative, delicious dishes keeps me coming back for more . . . and more.”
—WOODY HARRELSON
 
“Candle 79 creates magical vegan feasts that make you glad you’ll be living longer to enjoy them.”
—DR. MEHMET OZ
 
“Candle 79 Cookbook has set the bar for vegan fine dining. Chef Angel has had a tremendous influence on my cooking, and this new cookbook is packed with innovative, beautifully thought-out dishes that prove just how tasty vegan food can be.”
—TAL RONNEN, chef and author, The Conscious Cook

Citations

• Publishers Weekly, 07/11/2011, Page 0