Caprial's Cafe Favorites by Caprial Pence

Cooking, Television, Fine Dining

Caprial Pence was named the James Beard Best Chef in the Northwest just a few years after taking over the Kitchen in a Seattle hotel. She now runs the Westmoreland Bistro with her husband, John, in Portland, Oregon.

STYLISH COOKING MADE EASIER

Caprial Pence has a knack for making the difficult seem not just manageable, but downright fun (and tasty, too). As a busy restaurant owner, television chef, and mother of two small children, she's had to. Caprial has shown viewers of her TV series the Surprisingly simple steps to making everything from the elegant Sauteed Chicken Breasts with Apple Curry Sauce and Triple Chocolate Hazelnut Torte to simpler fare, like Pesto Pizza or Asian Vegetable Soup. Now, with this book, you can make those same dishes in your own kitchen.

Here are more than 130 favorites from Caprial's show and restaurant, recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, desserts, and more - all featuring the easy-to-follow instructions, easy-to-find ingredients, and handy menu suggestions that make cooking with Caprial such a joy. A special section covers the rewarding "basics" that few home cooks even think of making anymore - things like salsa, roasted garlic, mayonnaise, and creme fraiche - all simpler to prepare than you might expect, and immeasurably tastier than store-bought.

This collection is filled with the kind of cooking that can be prepared in a hurry for a quiet, intimate meal, or delight a dinner party with its variety and sophistication ... and either way, you get all the credit.

 

Her television series premiered on the Learning Channel in the summer of 1994.

Caprial Pence has created a hundred recipes for the home chef that reflect the refreshing style developed in her restaurant. In this book tie-in with her television show, Caprial concentrates on reasonably priced, fresh ingredients, easy preparation, good planning ahead, and colorful presentation.

152 pages Publisher: Ten Speed Press 1994