Brave New Meal: Fresh as F*ck Food for Every Table

The folks at Bad Manners (Thug Kitchen) give all the f*cks as they ardently advocate for a plant-based diet in this irreverent and enticing guide. Responding to what they see as a “food reckoning” brought on by the culinary wake-up call of the pandemic, the authors argue that now’s the time to make food not just “different, but better.” Eating more consciously, they argue, “doesn’t mean you have to suddenly become a stuck-up asshole who’s no fun to be around.” Instead they teach home cooks how to “eat less trash” and more veggies, urging them to buy ingredients and fresh produce instead of “products,” and to reduce food waste by getting comfortable with cooking with whatever’s lying around. Recipes range from breakfast to dinner and sweets, scouring the world for inspiration and subverting “constructs” along the way. Spaghetti’s served for breakfast, while a smashed cucumber salad cools things down when it’s “hotter than hell outside.” Sticky tofu with sweet sesame sauce (essentially a “cake made of beans”) puts a healthy spin on takeout, and strawberry rosewater cheesecake takes the sting out of the idea of being gluten-intolerant. Capping things off is an enlightening produce glossary with tips on when to buy and how to store them. This makes a serious matter seriously fun. Agent: Richard Pine, InkWell Management. (Nov.)