From Publishers Weekly
San Francisco Bay restaurant Greens has always had a reputation for innovative vegetarian cooking, and once more Somerville (Field of Greens) brings together more of her distinctive style in this latest volume. While the Everyday Greens of the title refers to the Zen concept of everyday mindfulness, the Buddhist teaching of bringing awareness and acceptance to every moment of everyday life, most of the recipes could be competently produced at home. Ranging in skill levels, the recipes vary in complexity but are full of flavor. Whether it's the ingredient-intensive but simple to cook Spring Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce and Thai Basil, dense Debbie's Pecan Brownies or the composite Baguette with Tapenade, Grilled Peppers, and Fontina, all the recipes are bursting with texture and taste. Mixing the influences of world cuisine whether from the Far East, Middle East or South American, Somerville blends and melds cuisine styles with ease, drawing her inspiration from the fresh and unusual ingredients that have now become readily available. In Somerville's hands, tofu becomes another ingredient rather than a substitute. Unusually the chapter on ingredients and tools, The Kitchen Cupboard, is located at the end of the book; coupled with explanatory panels throughout the book, this section helps the home cook select items available in most markets, allowing anyone to experiment with vegetarian recipe options and lifestyle. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Adding another cookbook to the series originating from San Francisco's famous vegetarian restaurant, Greens, Annie Somerville addresses the wide world of vegetable cookery with Everyday Greens. Somerville continues the high-quality tradition of those earlier works, updating both techniques and ingredients as appropriate. Avocado and Tomato Sandwich with Chipotle Aioli makes a perfect lunch, and Penne with Roasted Butternut Squash, Brown Butter, and Sage reinterprets a classic Italian ravioli presentation. Since full, rich flavor is particularly critical in vegetarian cooking, Somerville pays close attention to making excellent stocks as bases for other dishes. Filo pastry figures strongly here, both as a wrapper for savory fillings and as a crisp base for desserts. Those who relished the earlier Greens cookbooks won't want to miss this newest addition to the series. Mark Knoblauch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description
Everyday Greens Home Cooking from Greens, the Celebrated Vegetarian Restaurant For more than twenty years, San Francisco's beloved Greens Restaurant has been in the avant garde of the cooking revolution in America. Through its endlessly inventive, ever-changing menus and bestselling cookbooks, Greens has introduced millions of delighted fans to a sophisticated, meatless cuisine packed with transcendent, satisfying flavor. The innovation continues. Everyday Greens is the first Greens book in a decade, and author Annie Somerville, executive chef since 1985, has written the most accessible cookbook yet. Greens's high level of flavor and creativity is everywhere, but the cooking is simpler, more relaxed. Here are more than 250 of the restaurant's most popular dishes fine-tuned for the home cook in straightforward recipes for the way we live today. This is spirited cooking for every day -- from casual lunches and quick weeknight meals to family feasts and elegant entertaining. There are main-dish salads; soups that make a meal; rustic ragoûts; satisfying stews; vegetables on the grill; quick stir-fries; casseroles layered with flavor; innovative side dishes; pizzas, tortilla dishes, and savory tarts; pastas and risottos; warm beans and grains; sandwiches; salsas; pickles; and the famous Greens desserts. The heart of Greens cooking is to use the best, freshest ingredients -- whether from the grocery store or your local farmers' market. Advice on finding and preparing these ingredients is combined with restaurant tips that simplify work in the kitchen. Through clever use of the freezer and pantry, Somerville shows how to minimize prep time with make-ahead dishes and born-again leftovers. Special features include pairing wine with Greens's food; advice on stocking the pantry with Asian ingredients, cooking oils, and dessert-making essentials; a resource guide for locally made cheeses; and the Kitchen Tool Box, a decidedly low-tech list of invaluable equipment. A final section on worm composting brings everything back to the source -- the earth -- and is sure to delight the passionate gardener. Readers of Fields of Greens love Somerville's warm, inspiring, friend-in-the-kitchen style. And Everyday Greens is more personal, so confidence-building that even beginners will want to dash into the kitchen and start cooking.

About the Author
Annie Somerville is the executive chef of Greens Restaurant and the author of the award-winning cookbook Fields of Greens. She came to Greens in 1981, trained under Deborah Madison, and has been the executive chef since 1985. Under her culinary guidance, Greens has flourished, expanding and adapting to a rapidly changing marketplace while leading the way with innovative vegetarian cuisine. Now in her twenty-second year at Greens, Somerville finds that her commitment to using garden-fresh produce and cooking based on the seasons remains stronger than ever. She works closely with the organic gardeners at Green Gulch Farm, local growers, cheese makers, and other purveyors, as well as with the Greens chefs, planning menus and overseeing a talented kitchen staff.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The first book in over a decade from San Francisco's celebrated Greens Restaurant, with more than 250 of the restaurant's most popular dishes fine-tuned for the home cook in straightforward recipes for the way we live today. For more than twenty years, San Francisco's beloved Greens Restaurant has been in the avant garde of the cooking revolution in America. Through its endlessly inventive, ever-changing menus and bestselling cookbooks, Greens has introduced millions of delighted fans to a sophisticated, meatless cuisine packed with transcendent, satisfying flavor. The innovation continues. Everyday Greens is the first Greens book in a decade, and author Annie Somerville, executive chef since 1985, has written the most accessible cookbook yet. Greens's high level of flavor and creativity is everywhere, but the cooking is simpler, more relaxed. Here are more than 250 of the restaurant's most popular dishes fine-tuned for the home cook in straightforward recipes for the way we live today. This is spirited cooking for every day -- from casual lunches and quick weeknight meals to family feasts and elegant entertaining. There are main-dish salads; soups that make a meal; rustic ragouts; satisfying stews; vegetables on the grill; quick stir-fries; casseroles layered with flavor; innovative side dishes; pizzas, tortilla dishes, and savory tarts; pastas and risottos; warm beans and grains; sandwiches; salsas; pickles; and the famous Greens desserts.

The heart of Greens cooking is to use the best, freshest ingredients -- whether from the grocery store or your local farmers' market. Advice on finding and preparing these ingredients is combined with restaurant tips that simplify work in the kitchen. Through clever use of the freezer and pantry, Somerville shows how to minimize prep time with make-ahead dishes and born-again leftovers. Special features include pairing wine with Greens's food; advice on stocking the pantry with Asian ingredients, cooking oils, and dessert-making essentials; a resource guide for locally made cheeses; and the Kitchen Tool Box, a decidedly low-tech list of invaluable equipment. A final section on worm composting brings everything back to the source -- the earth -- and is sure to delight the passionate gardener. Readers of Fields of Greens love Somerville's warm, inspiring, friend-in-the-kitchen style. And Everyday Greens is more personal, so confidence-building that even beginners will want to dash into the kitchen and start cooking.

FROM THE CRITICS

The New York Times

Chef Annie Somerville's cuisine couldn't be more shrewd and exacting -- she's a long way from tofu and spinach-chickpea mush. Cooking from this accessible book, you simply won't miss the meat. Somerville's recipes run the gamut from soups and sandwiches to tarts, salads, pastas, risottos, casseroles and curries. — Dwight Garner

Publishers Weekly

San Francisco Bay restaurant Greens has always had a reputation for innovative vegetarian cooking, and once more Somerville (Field of Greens) brings together more of her distinctive style in this latest volume. While the Everyday Greens of the title refers to the Zen concept of everyday mindfulness, the Buddhist teaching of bringing awareness and acceptance to every moment of everyday life, most of the recipes could be competently produced at home. Ranging in skill levels, the recipes vary in complexity but are full of flavor. Whether it's the ingredient-intensive but simple to cook Spring Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce and Thai Basil, dense Debbie's Pecan Brownies or the composite Baguette with Tapenade, Grilled Peppers, and Fontina, all the recipes are bursting with texture and taste. Mixing the influences of world cuisine whether from the Far East, Middle East or South American, Somerville blends and melds cuisine styles with ease, drawing her inspiration from the fresh and unusual ingredients that have now become readily available. In Somerville's hands, tofu becomes another ingredient rather than a substitute. Unusually the chapter on ingredients and tools, The Kitchen Cupboard, is located at the end of the book; coupled with explanatory panels throughout the book, this section helps the home cook select items available in most markets, allowing anyone to experiment with vegetarian recipe options and lifestyle. (May) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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