"The menu at chef J-C Poirier’s acclaimed Vancouver restaurant, St. Lawrence, pays homage to the culinary traditions (and acumen) of his native province of Quebec. This cookbook — his first — brings it one step further, delving into recipes for time-honoured dishes like tourtière (meat pie), fèves au lard (baked beans), and pouding chômeur (a traditional dessert), alongside some home cooking favourites. Given Quebec’s cultural ties to France, it is no surprise the collection is rounded out with a section on old-school French cooking, including braised leeks with a brown butter and egg vinaigrette, coq au vin, and crème caramel. There are 125 recipes in all, and they’re woven with stories about his life as a restaurateur, memories of his mother’s cooking, and musings on what makes a great restaurant." - Valerie Silva