“You know why this cookbook is such a kick? Because if you want restaurant food you should eat it in a restaurant. Why put Matthew Kenney out of work? What Kenney thinks makes more sense, however, is to show you how you can cook deliciously and smart for the life you lead, in the city you live in, in that kitchen you hate, with the little time you have, using the best stuff from the market down the block. If you already know all this, we’ll all be over tonight at about 7:30.”
--Hal Rubenstein,
New York Magazine

Matthew Kenney is a shining star at his big city restaurants. He’s also a big city home cook. This fabulous cookbook is as stylish as it is practical, and it’s the perfect solution for anyone who’s ever tried to rustle up dinner for eight in a small apartment kitchen or attempted to barbecue on a 3-inch balcony. But the best thing about cooking in the big city is that the world’s produce markets and delicious gourmet ingredients are right at your doorstep. Using simple, efficient techniques like grilling, searing, roasting, and stewing, these recipes have plenty of downtown clout--without uptown fuss. There’s advice on stocking the pantry, buying just the right pans for a limited workspace, and plenty of menus to make entertaining easy. Plus, the eye-catching PVC cover is a cinch to wipe clean. Big City Cooking is sure to keep busy city slickers at home on the range.

Matthew Kenney grew up in Maine. He came to New York to pursue a career in law but instead attended the French Culinary Institute and went into the restaurant business.

Joan Schwartz is the author of Macaroni and Cheese and coauthor of several other cookbooks. She lives in New York.