Description

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From the authors of Pen & Ink--New York Times bestselling illustrator Wendy MacNaughton and BuzzFeed books editor Isaac Fitzgerald--the stories behind the tattoos that chefs proudly wear, with their signature recipes.

Winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals [IACP] Cookbook Design Award.

Chefs take their tattoos almost as seriously as their knives. From gritty grill cooks in backwoods diners to the executive chefs at the world’s most popular restaurants, it’s hard to find a cook who doesn’t sport some ink. Knives & Ink features the tattoos of more than sixty-five chefs from all walks of life and every kind of kitchen, including 2014 James Beard Award-winner Jamie Bissonnette, Alaska-fishing-boat cook Mandy Lamb, Toro Bravo’s John Gorham, and many more. Each tattoo has a rich, personal story behind it: Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese Food remembers his mother with fiery angel wings on his forearms, and Dominique Crenn of Michelin two-starred Atelier Crenn bears ink that reminds her to do “anything in life that you put your heart into.” Like the dishes these chefs have crafted over the years, these tattoos are beautiful works of art. Knives & Ink delves into the wide and wonderful world of chef tattoos and shares their fascinating backstories, along with personal recipes from many of the chefs.

About the Author

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Isaac Fitzgerald appears frequently on The Today Show and is the author of the bestselling children's book How to Be a Pirate as well as the co-author of Pen & Ink and Knives & Ink (winner of an IACP Award). His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Best American Nonrequired Reading, and numerous other publications. He lives in Brooklyn.

Praise For…

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"To marvel." - Florence Fabricant, New York Times

"Knives & Ink, that's a cool book!" - The Today Show

"Every tattoo offers a glimpse into the minds of those who live through the long hours, burns, sweat, and joys of America’s kitchens. Sprinkled with recipes from the featured chefs, the book is a tribute to creativity, both in food and on the skin." - Vice

"[Knives & Ink] stands out from most tattoo books by illustrating, not photographing, people and their tattoo art, and by emphasizing the narratives behind them." - Los Angeles Times

"One of the fall’s most unusual books is a gorgeous look at the tattoos (and the stories behind them) of 65 chefs, some famous, some not." - Entertainment Weekly's "Must-Read Books of the Fall"

"Sharp, fresh and needed . . . The tattoos are merely the doorway into this world . . . It’s the characters and their humanity that make Knives & Ink so readable." - San Francisco Chronicle

"You’ll be wowed by the moving, even majestic origin stories of chefs of all stripes in KNIVES & INK." - Elle

"[The] stories are alternately cheeky and poignant--but regardless of who they are and where they cook, Knives & Ink offers another look into the creative, scrappy, food-filled lives of some of our favorite chefs." - Food & Wine.com

"This follow up to Fitzgerald and MacNaughton’s awesome Pen & Ink is a beautifully illustrated collection of chefs’ tattoos and the stories behind them. The tales behind the ink are as varied and vibrant as the body art they explain, and reveal a diversity of life experiences--troubles and triumphs both." - Nylon, “Must-Read List”

"A gorgeous and illuminating glimpse into whole worlds: meals cooked, loves lost, and lives lived." - Rachel Khong, Executive Editor, Lucky Peach

"In this lovely, funny, occasionally absurd, frequently very moving book, the figure of the tattooed chef -- so often reduced to a clichéd pork-belly punchline -- takes on a beautiful humanity. Its pages prove that it's no surprise that the men and women who work in kitchens are often drawn to the indelibility of tattoos; their stories of both food and ink are told in languages of passion, art, memory, and identity." - Helen Rosner, Executive Editor, Eater

"Through its sheer variety of tattoos, stories, and recipes, Knives & Ink celebrates the incredible creativity, passion, and inspiration to be found in the culinary community. A fantastic book." - Jamie Bissonnette, Best Chef Northeast, James Beard Foundation Awards

"Every tattoo, like every dish, has a distinct personality. These portraits, both lighthearted and complex, will make you see chefs in a whole new way. Plus, it’s so much fun!" - John Gorham, four-time James Beard Awards nominee

"Whether the subjects are showing off a motivational phrase, honoring a loved one lost with angel wings, or celebrating the bounty of fruits and vegetables in a bright sleeve, these chefs lay bare the inspirations behind their tattoos and their reasons for joining the culinary ranks. Knives & Ink is a moving read as well as feast for the eyes." - CraveOnline

"Knives & Ink is the perfect intersection of everything we find delicious--beautifully-told stories, tattoos, food, recipes, confessions . . . You’ll constantly find new things on every page, and as you dig in, you’ll be moved by more than just your hunger." - Tattoodo.com

"Fitzgerald and MacNaugton are back with a new book of lovingly illustrated tattoos and the stories behind them." - Brooklyn Magazine

"KNIVES & INK is an engaging read, with tales that are poignant, bittersweet, inspirational and occasionally funny." - San Jose Mercury News

"These chef’s stories remind readers just how dedicated they are to their craft . . . Pairing each story with a sumptuously drawn illustration of the tattoo, Knives & Ink invites readers further into the lives of each chef." - Napa Valley Register’s “Cookbooks ideal for holiday gift-giving”

"The perfect gift for anyone who’s fascinated by stories, food, chefs, ink, or cooking but doesn’t have the time to start a 500 page novel. Plus, Wendy Macnaughton’s illustrations completely make the book!" - Ace Natural’s “2016 Holiday Foodie Gift Guide”

"The ensuing sixty-five stories run alternately cheeky and earnest, and come from Michelin chefs and scrappy line workers. Collectively, the tales offer a vivid glimpse into cooks' lives and creative processes, and prove, once and for all, that chefs take their tattoos almost as seriously as their knives." - Michigan Quarterly Review

"This book is just too cool." - Bustle, “18 Books To Give Your Best Friend This Holiday Season”