Shared Plates - by Pilar Valdes (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From Pilar Valdes--home cook turned catering entrepreneur, private chef, recipe developer, and senior culinary contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show--comes Shared Plates, her debut solo cookbook about bold flavors, generous cooking and the joy of gathering.

Pilar's childhood in the Philippines was a master class in communal eating: a lazy Susan at the center of the table, dishes in constant rotation, each bite a mix of flavors, textures and conversation. That spirit, guided by bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of communal generosity, has shaped her cooking ever since--from family meals in Manila to vibrant, shareable feasts in New York, and to the tables of millions watching her on The Drew Barrymore Show--and informs her approach to food as something meant to be passed, layered and enjoyed together.

In Shared Plates, Pilar transforms familiar ingredients into bold, unexpected dishes across more than seventy-five recipes. From crave-worthy Tamarind Pork Ribs with Spice Cabinet Oil and chilled Soba with Savory Granita to punchy Scallops with Almond Milk Aguachile, comforting Cabbage and Plantain Pot Pie, and sunlit Calamansi Almond Cake, these recipes surprise and delight. A pantry of condiments, sauces, and flavor-packed components gives readers the tools to dress up everything from weeknight dinners to festive gatherings. Pilar's practical guidance and playful techniques make cooking inventive, joyful, and memorable.

Rooted in her immigrant experience, Pilar weaves stories into every dish, showing how flavors and memories intertwine. Shared Plates proves that every meal is a conversation, a story to be experienced together, and a way to create home--recipes to revisit, remember, and cook again and again.

Review Quotes

"After almost a decade of collaborating, I can say that Pilar's food is as good as it gets. She has taught me so much. Every dish is as delightful and thoughtful as she is--distinct and personal, full of flavor and stories in every bite. There is always Pilar in her food. I feel lucky she's sharing not only these plates, but herself."--Drew Barrymore

"In Shared Plates, Pilar Valdes transports you into her world while making every dish feel communal and real. With recipes inspired by her Filipino heritage and imbued with her smart professional skills, cooking through this book feels much like being welcomed to stand next to her at the stove--a place I would love to be."--Justine Doiron, New York Times bestselling author of Justine Cooks

"Shared Plates is more than a cookbook. It is Pilar Valdes's story of love, community, and family, told through food and flavor. Her passion for feeding others shines through on every page, inviting us to gather our family, friends, and neighbors to create our own crowded tables and joyous memories. Pilar's food is uniquely hers: laid-back yet creative, simple yet sophisticated, and imbued with rich, nostalgic flavors of home. I'm totally transported."--Hetty Lui McKinnon, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and food writer

"I've been waiting for a long time for Pilar Valdes to write this book. In Shared Plates, she brings her years of experience and wisdom to home cooks, encouraging us to explore the many ingenious ways to create a memorable meal. This book is layered with intention and flavor, and Pilar reminds us there's always room for adjustments and fortuitous accidents."--Nik Sharma, author of Fundamentals of Flavor and Editor in Residence at America's Test Kitchen

"Pilar Valdes is a thoughtful, warm chef who makes delicious, approachable food that effortlessly weaves her Filipino heritage with her uniquely NYC know-how and sense of play. She shows us, with ample grace and generosity, that cooking exists for one reason--to bring us together--and that even the most unassuming moments are ripe opportunities for gathering and connection. It is a rare cookbook that sets us free while holding us close."--Natasha Pickowicz, chef and cookbook author of More Than Cake and Everyone Hot Pot

About the Author

Pilar Valdes was born and braised in the sticky tropical hearth of Manila, Philippines, amid the spin of her family's lazy Susan. In 2010, longing for both the proverbial stove of her childhood and relationships forged over shared meals, she cofounded the catering company Kickshaw Cookery. Coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Rebel Homemaker, she currently works as a private chef and is the senior culinary contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show.