The Kitchen Commune: Delicious Meals to Heal and Nourish

by Chay Wike

“A game-changing book for parents and hosts alike. Say goodbye to making separate meals, and say hello to a united table!” —Dr. Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, DC, leading functional medicine expert and bestselling author of Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum, Intuitive Fasting, and Gut Feelings

Featuring more than 100 family-friendly, crowd-pleasing recipes—including gluten free, grain free, paleo, vegan, and more—for everyone. 

Preparing a meal is an act of love for yourself and the ones you share it with. In this stunning cookbook, Chay Wike, author of the home cooking and lifestyle blog The Kitchen Commune, offers a guide to reclaiming your health and nourishing your family and friends with easy, delicious, allergen-friendly recipes for all seasons. 

With gorgeous photographs and brilliant swaps and tips, the recipes within are endlessly customizable and will inspire readers to: 

• Learn how to enliven a simple dish with vibrant sauces like Chay’s House Chimichurri, Chipotle Aioli, and Creamy Thai Pesto.
• Start the morning with Fluffy Silver Dollar Pancakes; a Super Green Veg + Fruit Shake; or Beans, Greens + Broken Eggs. 
• Enjoy bright and colorful salads and sides, from Chicory Chop Salad to Pan-Roasted Cauliflower with Caper-Currant Relish to grain-free, artisanal breads. 
• Prepare show-stopping mains, including Whole Roasted Branzino; Chicken Thighs with Green Olives, Dates, Lemon + Butter Lettuce; and Eggplant Moussaka Bake with Fresh Almond Ricotta. 
• Satisfy a sweet tooth with Caramel-Pear Galette, Shortbread Tea Biscuits, Dark Chocolate Cake with Sweet Potato Frosting, and much more.

Cooking without certain ingredients doesn’t have to be restrictive. Chay emphasizes nutrient-dense whole foods that everyone can enjoy, including updates on familiar classics, easy substitutions with ingredients already in your pantry, and flavorful sauces that will make you want to lick your plate clean. Throughout, The Kitchen Commune celebrates the art of eating together. After all, food should be joyful for everyone—and now it can be. 

• ISBN13: 9781959411185
• Publish Date: 22 February 2024
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Flashpoint
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 240
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Kitchen Commune is a well written tutorial guide and recipe collection with allergen-friendly cooking (including gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, vegan, and others) written and curated by Chay Wike. Due out 9th Jan 2024 from Flashpoint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Most people's social/family lives are spent feeding and breaking bread with the ones they care about. Inclusiveness and genuine hospitality invites readers to make an effort to find delicious, healthy, appealing food which they can share with their friends, even the ones who are on restricted diets because of allergies, autoimmune issues, diabetes, or other self-imposed diets (paleo, vegan, low-carb, etc). This book is a bit of a mix and match, with all the major diets at least mentioned. 

The layout is accessible and the recipes are logically arranged: sauces & staples, mornings, salads & small plates, soups & stews, pasta & noodles, veggies, seafood, poultry & meat, and bread baking & sweets. The recipes contain an intro, bullet list of ingredients, and step-by-step preparation instructions. Recipe measurements are given in imperial (American) units. Most of the ingredients will be readily available at any well stocked grocery store. Some few will require specialist retailers or health-food stores. 

The photography throughout is plentiful, professionally styled, and appetizing. The author has also included lots of tips for managing groups with multiple dietary considerations. 

Well written healthy recipes, none of which are too complex. This would make a very good choice for public library acquisition, home use, and gift giving.Worth noting: there is no nutritional info included in the book, which was a trifle odd.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.