Inspiration: Dana Slatkin

If you've ever strolled the beaches of Santa Monica in southern California, it's an unforgettable experience. Which is why I cracked open a copy of Dana Slatkin's "The Summertime Anytime Cookbook." Slatkin's family own Shutters on the Beach, a very posh spa and hotel that is one of the most noteworthy sights on the beach and the source of the recipes in the book. I didn't expect it, but Slatkin (below) has some very substantial chops when it comes to the kitchen. So it was probably a foregone conclusion that she'd write a cookbook.

DANA SLATKIN/BEVERLY HILLS FARMGIRL/used without permission

I have a number of great summer cookbooks and, I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much from Slatkin. My first reaction to a woman who was instrumental in starting the Beverly Hills Farmers Market is to ask whether that's an oxymoron and then laugh or dismiss her. But I was smitten by Slatkin who noted in the book that "life at the beach revolves around the weather." And then went on to divide her chapters and meals by weather: "Sunny Days," "Cloudy Days," "Balmy Nights," "Stormy Nights" and "Misty Mornings." No matter where you live, we all experience those conditions and can thus take advantage of Slatkin's inspirational and philosophical tidbits.  

Shutters on the Beach is a dreamy and drop-dead gorgeous hotel (above); but Slatkin's dishes are fresh, realistic and beautiful. And her recipes have quirky and inventive touches but are not overly difficult or fancy — as befits a book about summer/beach cuisine. One of Slatkin's recipes is for Roasted Chicken Breasts with Smoky Lentils — lentils that are spiced up with smoked salt and bacon. I could live on lentils, so I just made my regular recipe but with Slatkin's additions which took the dish from delish to memorable.  

As she demonstrated with the lentil dish, Slatkin's skill lies in taking many familiar, staple summer foods and often just adding a splash and a dash that turn them into something special, like French green beans with lemon, garlic AND ginger. I'm a ginger fanatic so Slatkin's recipe for Lemon Ginger Cookies (with both ground and crystalized ginger) may be enough to make this book a must buy for me!

Slatkin also has a blog — The Beverly Hills Farmgirl — where you can read about where she's shopping, and her take on 90210 style as well as peruse a number of recipes from the book. You can also order "The Summertime Anytime Cookbook: Recipes from Shutters on the Beach" on Slatkin's site or from Amazon. (Full disclosure: And if you live in Madison, you can also find a copy at Orange Tree Imports — which is where I work and how I discovered Slatkin's book!)

Comments

[Sunita]

I'm fascinated by the "sunny Days", "Rainy Days" categorization. In my kitchen, its usually "too hot to cook" or "too rainy to sit in the kitchen". Which usually ends up seeing me in my garden instead ;D

[Erin]

What a great tip! This sounds like just my kind of cookbook. I'm a summer girl, through and through, and anything that might make me feel a little bit more summery in January, or take more advantage of the little bit of summer we have here, is something I'm into. I'm off to Amazon to check it out.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Hi Sunita and Erin! Before I looked inside this book, I imagined it would be rather snooty and L.A. But it's quite lovely, very summery and filled with many great sounding dishes that I am anxious to try.

[AliceB]

I just discovered your lovely Blog this weekend, a link from Fairegarden led me to you. Thank you for the journey you have shared with us. I read newest to oldest yesterday and today. Absolutely beautiful

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Wow, Alice! Thanks so much for those kind words — and for going back so many weeks.

[Erin]

Just received the cookbook yesterday and I've been dog-earing pages ever since. Am currently in the process of making the halibut with tomato fennel sauce and have the ingredients for two other recipes for Sunday and Monday. I haven't been this excited about a cookbook since the revised Joy of Cooking came out. Thanks so much for the great tip!

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Erin — Email me with the results of your experiments. I've only tried one recipe but have ingredients for more as well.