The latest foodie book buzz centers around SF’s very own Chris Cosentino, chef of Noe Valley’s Incanto and proprietor of Boccalone in the Ferry Building, who is out on tour now promoting his very first cookbook, “Beginnings: My Way to Start a Meal”.

Known best for his love of sweetmeats and offal, Cosentino has branched out into the world of writing, focusing on Italian-style first courses.

According to the press, “In Beginnings, Cosentino offers more than 60 simple and soulful recipes in chapters formatted by season along with dedicated sections for cheese and salumi with tips on how to curate your own selection and an approachable, photo-driven resource guide. Each recipe is prefaced with a personal anecdote by Cosentino with his hand-drawings and color photos by photographer Michael Harlan Turkell.”

Examples include:

* Spring: Fava Beans, Strawberries & Pecorino; Barolo Bagna Cauda; Egg & Anchovy Crostini

* Summer: Clams, Prosecco, & Lemon Verbena; Lobster Crudo Fra Diavolo; Grilled Sardines with Salsa Verde

* Fall: Pumpkin, Pumpkin Seeds & Pickled Cranberries; “Dirty” Vegetables; Pork & Porcini Polpettini

* Winter: Chicken & Matsutake Stracciatella; Duck Conserva & White Bean Bruschetta; Asian Pear, Lardo, & Rose Thyme

Cosentino recently embarked on national booktour. You can catch him at the Walnut Creek Williams-Sonoma (1470 Mount Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA, 94596) tomorrow at 2pm or in Corte Madera’s Williams-Sonoma (1802 Redwood Highway, Corte Madera, CA, 94925) on Friday at 1pm before he jets off to New Jersey.

Details:

Beginnings: My Way to Start a Meal By Chris Cosentino

Olive Press: A Williams-Sonoma & Weldon Owen Publishing Partnership

May 2012

U.S. $25.00 / Can. $28.99

192 pages

• Tag: Beginnings: My Way to Start a Meal, Book, Chris Cosentino, Cookbook, Events, Incanto, Itaian, offal, Recipes