Poole's

When Ashley Christensen promises Poole s comfort food, I think she means food so delicious and generous in spirit, you almost overlook the effort behind it; dishes whose thoughtful sourcing and painstaking technique are expressed so seamlessly and humbly on the plate, your only obligation as a diner is to enjoy. That s not an easy thing for a chef to achieve. But here it is. <b> DAN BARBER, Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns</b> Ashley Christensen does with food what Bob Dylan has done with song. She takes all the pieces we ve come to understand in our life thus far the ingredients, the familiar chords and puts them together in a way that feels new, universal, and earth shaking, and yet somehow down-home. Having her food feels like church, sitting at the bar with best friends, and a history lesson all at once. <b> JUSTIN VERNON of Bon Iver</b> This is an inspiring peek into the incredibly full life that Ashley leads. We can all take away so many valuable things from this book, from the insanely delicious recipes to the way Ashley lives life on a daily basis. This is more than a cookbook, it s a life book. <b> SEAN BROCK, McCrady s, Minero, and Husk</b> Cauliflower soup with sulatanas, fried eggplant with burnt honey, rabbit poblano rellenos, and oysters rock-a-billy: the recipes here trip off your tongue and across your palate. <i>Poole s</i> is a catalog of great eats. It s also a work of sly philosophy, a meditation on community, and a celebration of the experiences that chefs and guests create together in those quicksilver moments when food and drink and good intentions converge at well-laid tables. <b> JOHN T EDGE, co-author of <i>Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook</i></b> We relate to the idea of the American diner because we find familiarity through that style of food, but Ashley Christensen has taken that notion, that essential piece of culinary identity, and created a magnificent temple to edible pleasure. This book is a superb and brilliant set of recipes and a marvelous story of the food we all want to eat. Poole s Diner is one of my favorite restaurants in the world and this book is your gateway to understanding why. Oh, and two words: Tomato Pie. <b> ANDREW ZIMMERN, host of <i>Bizarre Foods</i></b> This book is just right. I want to eat at Poole s, drink at Poole s, meet all of Ashley s friends at the counter at Poole s. I want the white acre peas and the crispy flounder, and while we re at it, I want her dad s cold meatloaf sandwich. I hope she is very proud of the work. She should be. <b> GABRIELLE HAMILTON, chef and author of <i>Blood, Bones & Butter</i> and <i>Prune</i> Ashley Christensen s restaurants just like her personality are beloved for their comforting, no-frills warmth, and for how seamlessly they express the fabric of her community. <i>Poole s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner</i> is chockful of dishes that beg to be cooked, savored, and returned to again and again. I can t wait to get my fix next time I m in Raleigh. <b> DANNY MEYER, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group</b> Poole s reminds me of my favorite bistros and brasseries in Paris, the out-of-the-way places that thrive on real food and no hype, the beautiful yet simple little restaurants where the recipes are time-honored yet creative, the ingredients are not too far removed from the farm, the presentation is fun and never fussy, and the entire dining experience is an adventure that I think about long after the meal. Eating there is an absolute joy. <b> JOHN GRISHAM, author If there were a Poole s in every state in America, I would be going on a never-ending road trip knowing that at the end of a long drive I would be guaranteed a delicious meal. Now the secrets and delights of Poole s Diner are in Ashley Christensen s terrific new cookbook. This is an excellent addition to your kitchen library, and you might want to drop off a gift copy at your local diner. <b> NANCY SILVERTON, chef and author of <i>The Mozza Cookbook</i></b> The first two snacks, among the more than 100 recipes in this collection, are misleading: pimento cheese followed by deviled eggs might cause readers to think that this is another tome featuring good old Southern comfort food classics. But the James Beard Award winning chef Christensen, owner of Poole s and six other eateries in Raleigh, N.C., quickly reverses course, steering head-on into the wilds of modern cuisine with fried eggplant with burnt honey aioli, and turnip green fritters with whipped tahini. Dynamic flavor and texture combinations highlight the salad section, which includes tangy options such as heirloom tomatoes with crushed olives, crispy quinoa, and white anchovy dressing. The vast breadth of a diner menu perhaps explains why a standard recipe for potato latkes turns up in the vegetable chapter, though they would certainly go well as an accompaniment to the Poole s steak, simply seasoned and served with a red wine pan sauce. Meanwhile, in his many full-color photos, Asheville photographer Johnny Autry shows a subtle appreciation for utensils: a thin knife tangential to a tomato pie, a school of seafood forks beside a bowl of mussels, and spoons and forks immersed in pork and dumplings. <b>- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Chef Ashley Christensen revived Raleigh, NC's historic Poole's Diner in 2007, putting a modern, approachable spin on Southern classics. The simple, often whimsical, dishes in <i>Poole's</i> dazzle. <b>- COOKING LIGHT Raleigh's empire builder extraordinaire Ashley Christensen makes her cookbook debut, fittingly, with a chronicle of her very first restaurant, the acclaimed Poole's Diner. Expect recipes for gussied up Southern favorites and diner staples, whether pimento cheese, macaroni au gratin, or for the gorgeous cover dish of watermelon, avocado, goat cheese, basil, and a sweet onion vinaigrette. Southern food lovers and restaurant obsessives alike will be eagerly awaiting this one. <b>- EATER NATIONAL Christensen s Southern restaurant empire runs seven deep, but at each additional restaurant, she doesn t let up on her commitment to local ingredients andRaleigh, North Carolina, appreciation.Her recipes, like the lively Poole s Diner itself, exude comfort and warmth. Which you ll find in the versatile chow chow, cornmeal-friedokraand dark chocolate pecan pie. <b>- TASTING TABLE If you re looking for inventive dishes and unique flavor combinations, then reach for Ashley Christensen s bold recipes. Her modern take on Southern food honors the traditional meals while incorporating new ingredients that take the flavors to a whole new level. Delight the senses with turnip green fritters with whipped tahini and warm broccoli salad with cheddar and bacon vinaigrette. It s a beautiful collection. <b>- MyDomaine.com</b>