Since 2011, want-to-be foodies have been welcoming the team of “The Chew” from ABC television into their homes every weekday. Now the team wants to stay there on permanent basis – in book form.
The Chew: What’s for Dinner? 100 Easy Recipes for Every Night of the Week is a true extension of the famed TV show written by and featuring each of the show’s five hosts. While it is first and foremost a cook book, it is also part scrapbook featuring photos from the show and quips from its stars. Beautiful photographs and helpful hints accompany each page to help give inspiration and motivation in the kitchen.
“If “The Chew” has done nothing else, I hope it’s shown that home cooking shouldn’t feel like math, it should feel like finger painting,” says Producer Gordon Elliott on the Introduction page. “Every day I stand in front of the studio monitors and watch “The Chew” as an excited fan. I groove on the beautiful food and the laughs as these easy friends pull a meal together in a few minutes. They inspire me by making it look fun. And useful.”
What’s for Dinner? is formatted like last year’s 2012 bestseller, The Chew, and features over 100 recipes. Some are geared for busy weeknights and others for weekends or those times when you have a little more time to experiment. The book also features favorite segments from the show like, “What’s in My Fridge?” “Grandma’s Iron Chef Challenge,” “Leftover Makeover” and “Clinton’s Craft Corner.”
What’s for Dinner? is divided into two chapters. The first half, “It’s Monday! (Or Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) What’s for Dinner?” features meals that are both quick and easy to make. After a long day at work, nobody wants to face a long night in the kitchen and the Chew crew makes it easy. Highlights include: “Breakfast + Dinner = Brinner!” and “Sweet Treats for the Middle of the Week!”
– The second half of the book, “TGIF (and Saturday, Sunday and Other Good Times),” is less practical, but more fun including themes like:
– Pizza Night Party Like It’s Your Birthday!
– Partying with the Kids
– Saturday Night Specials
– Date Night!
– Sunday Sit-Downs
What’s for Dinner? is written by the show’s five hosts:
Carla Hall – In addition to her trademark glasses and the catch phrase, “Hootie Hoo,” Hall is best known for being a competitor on Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Hall’s style is a hybrid as she grew up in Nashville, but took classic French cooking classes. Hall also has a sweet side. She is the owner of Carla Hall Petite Cookies.
Clinton Kelly – Probably known more for co-hosting duties for TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” Kelly offers up entertaining advice.
Mario Batali – Is perhaps “The Chew’s” most important member as he oversees 24 restaurants, has penned nine cookbooks and has hosted many shows on the Food Network. Even non-watchers of the show are familiar with this chef’s choice in footwear – the famous clogs.
Michael Symon – Cleveland native with Greek and Sicilian family roots, Symon has his own line of restaurants and competes on the Iron Chef as well. He has won numerous honors and awards for his culinary creations.
Daphne Oz – Daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz, Daphne shows that she is not riding on her father’s coattails. However, she does possess his love of healthy eating. Oz is a 2008 graduate of Princeton University for Integrative Nutrition and received a culinary degree from the Natural Gourmet Institute.