This new cookbook from Chef Ryan Rondeno features the same intriguing, delicious, and flavor-packed recipes he has developed to wow A-list stars, scaled to be accessible, and approachable for the home cook. In addition to dishes from apps to desserts, Rondeno shares his culinary secrets and expert tips, making even the most sophisticated recipes easy to follow.
Chef Ryan Rondeno’s personal story informs this book and this cooking style. Born in Metairie, Louisiana, his love of cooking was nurtured by his family. He started as a prep cook at sixteen, cultivating a deep passion for Cajun-Creole cuisine, and then trained at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. While in school, he developed his skills at New Orleans’s legendary Commander’s Palace and at Peristyle, where he built his strong foundation of Southern cooking. He continued to work under many celebrated chefs, including Emeril Lagasse, before relocating to Los Angeles in 2008 and launching his career as a personal chef to big-name clients, including Stevie Wonder, Lizzo, Mike Tyson, and many more. The book presents more than 100 recipes that seamlessly blend the vibrant flavors of Creole cuisine with the fresh ethos of California cooking. Recipes include, among others:
We got to ask the Chef about the inspiration for this new book.
STRIPLV: You’ve worked with iconic chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Anne Kearney. Are there any lessons or philosophies you learned from them that you carry with you today?
RONDENO: Working with these two iconic chefs has allowed me to lay the foundation for what you see today. The lessons of passion and consistency help show the love for what we do in each dish. One of the major lessons is to never stop learning. I strive to apply that, not only to food but to life.
STRIPLV: Why did you decide to compile your recipes into a cookbook?
RONDENO: I decided to write a cookbook because I wanted to share my journey, culture, and love for food with the world. Also, the purpose was to share ideas and flavors that so many people across the world can bring into their kitchens. I also envisioned inadvertently mentoring a young cook through the recipes and techniques presented in this cookbook.
Add this book to your collection and add some unique spice to your kitchen.