James Beard Award–winning chef Renee Erickson invites home cooks to rediscover the joy of everyday cooking through more than 100 creative, approachable recipes inspired by curiosity, seasonal ingredients, and the beauty of simple food.
After more than 25 years running acclaimed restaurants, Erickson realized she had drifted away from the creative instincts that first drew her to cooking. Reconnecting with art, photography, ceramics, and home cooking, she found fresh inspiration in ordinary meals and everyday ingredients. In Sunlight & Breadcrumbs, she shares the recipes, ideas, and observations that helped her see food in a new light.
Part cookbook, part creative manifesto, this beautifully illustrated collection combines thoughtful essays with practical recipes for weeknight dinners, relaxed gatherings, simple appetizers, and satisfying desserts. "Work in Progress" sidebars offer a glimpse into Erickson's creative process, exploring how texture, color, seasonality, and small finishing touches can transform a good dish into a memorable one.
Discover recipes such as Melted Anchovy Toast, Oven-Dried Tomatoes with Whipped Feta, Mint, and Basil, White Beans with Pork Sausage, Lemon Peel, and Green Herbs, and Raspberry and Pecan Crumble Cake.
Whether you're looking for fresh weeknight inspiration, planning a dinner with friends, or simply hoping to fall in love with cooking again, Sunlight & Breadcrumbs offers a thoughtful and delicious guide to finding creativity in the kitchen every day.
Praise
"Much has been written about the interaction of food and art, often laid out in pompous and esoteric terms. In her latest book chef Renee Erickson deploys images and recipes to show just how naturally the two can merge without pretense while filling the belly and mind."
—Katie Parla, author of Food of the Italian Islands
“I am so happy Renee wrote this book, because this kind of joy and curiosity is the kind that should be shared.”
—J. Kenji López-Alt
“A romantic and thoughtful approach to making food sparkle with flavor and texture.”
—Nik Sharma, James Beard Award finalist, chef, and author and photographer of Veg-table
“Not only does Renee Erickson present delicious, unfussy recipes, she inspires us to create without judgment and as an act of joy.”
—Gregory Gourdet, James Beard Award–winning chef and author
“A beautiful tribute to how we all want to cook, and eat, today.”
—David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and Drinking French
“A joyful book about noticing, creativity, and finding pleasure and beauty in the world around you and in your cooking.”
—Diana Henry, James Beard Award-winning author
“I love this book, a vibrant intersection of all the things that fuel Renee Erickson’s creativity (drawing, photography, and food), and a deep dive into finding inspiration for what ends up on the plate.”
—Missy Robbins, chef/owner of Lilia and Misi
