The Cook You Want to Be by Andy Baraghani

James Beard Award Winner  A cookbook for curious, confident, and bold home cooks. We’re especially excited to share The Cook You Want to Be with Gneiss Spice customers—because Andy Baraghani gets it. He grinds spices by hand. He collects mortar & pestles. He skips the paper towels. His kitchen values? Same as ours. His recipes? Bright, balanced, and built around whole spices, citrus, herbs, and just enough heat. Baraghani’s debut cookbook is a James Beard Award winner, packed with more than 100 recipes that will push your cooking forward—but never overcomplicate it. You’ll learn how to coax max flavor from simple ingredients, how to build your own style in the kitchen, and why seasoning, texture, and restraint are the keys to confident home cooking. Why we recommend it:This book is both practical and aspirational. The recipes are layered but never fussy, and they’ll expand your understanding of spice (toast it, bloom it, grind it fresh!). Plus, the essays make you feel like you’re