The Good Stuff Cookbook : Burgers, Fries, Shakes, Wedges, and More

Former Top Chef contestant and owner of the Good Stuff Eatery in Washington, D.C., presents recipes for classic fare and fan favorites including burgers, shakes, desserts and Good Stuff Sauce and Curry Mayo. Original. Title: The Good Stuff Cookbook Author: Mendelsohn, Spike/ Mendelsohn, Micheline (CON)/ Shymanski, Joe (PHT) Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc Publication Date: 2010/05/24 Number of Pages: 256 Binding Type: PAPERBACK Library of Congress: 2009026521

This, ladies and gentlemen, is more than a simple cookbook. It is a rallying cry. It is a whoop, a holler, a hail, and a salaam. In The Good Stuff Cookbook, former Top Chef star Chef Spike Mendelsohn takes all-American comfort food and spices it up. Based on menu items from his wildly popular new restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery, these 120 mouthwatering recipes offer a fast, fun, and completely fresh approach to classics.

"Good times and good friends" is the motto when you're making these signature recipes that are perfect for groups of any size. For a starter, you can bring the wedge back with a twist and try a fresh Fennel, Orange, and Pomegranate Wedge salad. Everyone will love these crowd-pleasing recipes for beef, turkey, chicken, pork, and lamb burgers, especially when topped with Chef Spike's one-of-a-kind Good Stuff Sauce or spicy Curry Mayonnaise. Try the amazing hand-cut fries or shake things up with Baked Sweet Potato Fries or Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus. Don't forget to finish up with a handspun milkshake, malt, or classic float and everyone will leave your table with a smile.

You'll also find a section of hip and simple party dishes that includes luscious treats like decadent Cinnamon Twisted Donuts and cold, refreshing Margarita Slushies. With lists of vital pantry items and must-have kitchen tools, you'll have everything you need to eat simple, fresh, and great food, whether you're hosting a big crowd or just cooking for one.

Chef Spike believes in American comfort food made from the very best farm-fresh ingredients. The Good Stuff Cookbook shows you how to add that gourmet touch to the traditional burger-and-fries combo to create good food and good times. This is an aspirational, inspirational cookbook for enjoying the good stuff in life—handmade burgers, hand-cut fries, and handspun ice cream you'll crave again and again.

Start spreading the goodness . . .

Publishers Weekly

Mendelsohn has a lean and hungry look, which is surprising as he is the proprietor of D.C.’s Good Stuff Eatery, home of many a handcrafted hamburger, french-fried potato, and milkshake. In his first collection, this former Top Chef contestant and one time Le Cirque underling expands upon his eatery’s menu to offer up 120 comfort foods with attitudes. His mac ’n’ cheese is spiked with chopped bacon and herbs. His “Blazin’ Barn” is a Vietnamese-style burger with pickled carrots and cilantro. And his mint Oreo shake calls for one cup milk, two cups ice cream, and 20 mint Oreo cookies. He prefers his fries tossed with rosemary or served with a cheddar cheese sauce that has a cayenne pepper kick. Salads, or “wedges,” in Spike speak, begin with iceberg lettuce, which then gets topped with anything from poached eggs to fennel, orange, and pomegranate. Since his joint is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, a certain neighborhood family has been known to drop by on occasion. Mendelsohn has returned the favor by creating the Prez Obama Burger, a sophisticated blend of sirloin, bacon, and bleu cheese, topped with red onion marmalade and horseradish mayo. Michelle’s Melt, by comparison, is a multifaceted turkey burger with diced green apple and other ingredients inspired by the first lady’s South Lawn garden. (June)

“With The Good Stuff Cookbook, Spike Mendelsohn applies his limitless imagination to classic American comfort food” (Tom Colicchio, chef and owner of Crafted Hospitality). “Spike knows how to bring the fun to bun.” —Rachael Ray One of the most popular contestants ever on the hit television show Top Chef, Spike Mendelsohn is now one of the hottest celebrity chefs on the scene. His restaurant in Washington, DC, Good Stuff Eatery, has been a resounding success and even claims Michelle Obama as a fan. In The Good Stuff Cookbook, Chef Spike serves up fast, fun, and fresh recipes for classic fare like burgers, sides, shakes, and desserts, as well as menu suggestions for all types of events, from big parties to casual family dinners. You'll find old favorites with a twist: unique and tasty sauces and mayonnaises like Good Stuff Sauce and Curry Mayonnaise; fan-favorite sides like Baked Sweet Potato Fries and Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus; the famous Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake, malts, and floats; and, of course, Chef Spike's crowd-pleasing burgers made with beef, turkey, chicken, pork, and even lamb. Featuring 120 fresh and delicious recipes and 140 full-color photos, this is the perfect all-American cookbook for anyone who loves great casual comfort food like burgers, fries, and shakes, but wants to mix things up with a gourmet touch. “Chef Spike Mendelsohn has a pulse on the American heartbeat for delicious, soul-satisfying comfort foods.” —Art Smith, chef and author of Back to the Table One of the most popular contestants ever on the hit television show Top Chef, Chef Spike Mendelsohn is one of the hottest celebrity chefs on the scene. His new restaurant in Washington, D.C., Good Stuff Eatery, has been a resounding success and even claims First Lady Michelle Obama as a fan. In The Good Stuff Cookbook, he serves up fast, fun, and fresh recipes for classic fare like burgers, sides, shakes, and desserts, as well as menu suggestions for all types of events, from big parties to casual family dinners