Ever wonder what food people actually cook when guests come over—and why those recipes always work?

In this episode, Adam Roberts—aka The Amateur Gourmet—takes us inside his kitchen, shares his favorite cookbooks and go-to recipes, and tells us all about his fantastic debut novel, Food Person. We talk summer cooking, dinner party philosophy, and why even a slightly undercooked salmon can still lead to a great night.

By the end of this episode, you’ll:

1. Get a sneak peek at Food Person, Adam’s twisty, funny, page-turning, novel (think The Devil Wears Prada, but for cookbook publishing).
2. Discover the dessert that never fails a dinner party. 
3. Find out the #1 mistake home cooks make when hosting, and the mindset shift that turns chaos into calm.

Press play for Adam’s best dinner party advice, his all-time favorite cookbooks, and the recipes he relies on most to make hosting feel like a breeze.

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Links:

Food Person, Adam Roberts’ debut novel, is out now!

Subscribe to Adam’s Amateur Gourmet Newsletter on Substack

Follow Adam on Instagram

Adam’s cookbook recs from today’s episode: 

The Barefoot Contessa books (especially for beginners)

Or level up your home cooking with Mozza at Home, by Nancy Silverton and Carolyn Carreno

For the best homemade ice cream recipes and techniques, check out David Leibovitz’s The Perfect Scoop 

Anything by Melissa Clark is dependably excellent 

Some of the cookbooks highlighted in Food Person: The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, The Chez Panisse Cookbook, and The Auberge of the Flowering Heart

Food writing that has inspired Adam:

Calvin Trillin 

Amanda Hesser’s Cooking for Mr.Latte

Nora Ephron’s Heartburn

Who Adam channels in his kitchen: 

Lidia Bastianich, and one of her recipes is his go-to pasta dish for dinner parties.

He might follow that with warm freshly baked chocolate chip cookies

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Got a cooking question? Leave us a message on our hotline at: 323-452-9084

For more recipes and cooking inspiration, sign up for our Substack here. You can also now find us on YouTube. 

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