Portland, Ore., a city renowned for creativity and local flavor, is also a hotbed for eateries, including Tasty n Sons, Tasty n Alder and Toro Bravo. Chef-owner John Gorham (Toro Bravo: Stories. Recipes. No Bull.) brings the tricks of his establishments to the page in Hello! My Name Is Tasty: Global Diner Favorites from Portland's Tasty Restaurants, written with Liz Crain and featuring artful photography by David L. Reamer.
The book opens with pantry stocking tips and equipment suggestions before diving into diner fare loosely grouped into three sections: Brunch, All Day Long and Dinner, including combinations of small plates, big plates, boards, sandwiches, cocktails, sides and sweets. Gorham and Crain usher home cooking into a new echelon with decadent dishes like Polenta and Sugo with Mozzarella and Over Easy Egg; Korean Fried Chicken with Rice, Tasty Kimchi and Eggs; Alabama BBQ Chicken; and Cedar-Plank Salmon with Salsa Verde.
Gorham writes, "Kitchens, primarily, have been my home"; this cookbook serves as an invitation into his. Personal stories, food histories and fun facts liven up long recipes. Many of the meals are indulgent; rarely are they quick. A number include ingredients that need to be ordered online. Yet this collection sizzles with possibility. Even among a roster of complex dishes, simplicity shines through in the easily replicable Sour Pickles, Potato Chips or a Big Batch of Bloodys. The recipes are odes to regions and spices, both sense-awakening and surprising. --Katie Weed, freelance writer and reviewer