Antoni Porowski - Antoni in the Kitchen

ANTONI POROWSKI is the food and wine expert on the Emmy Award-winning Netflix hit show Queer Eye. A television personality, chef, and model, he has worked as a food consultant and sommelier. He lives in New York City.

MINDY FOX is a writer, editor, and recipe developer who has authored and coauthored many cookbooks. She lives in Portland, Maine.

Copyright 2019 by Speedy Popo, Inc.

Photographs 2019 by Paul Brissman

Special thanks to the following locations in New York City: Bedford Cheese Shop Associated Cut Flower Co., Inc. Fish Tales Gourmet Seafood Market Kiszka Meat Market La Colombe Coffee Roasters Village Den

All rights reserved

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to or to Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 3 Park Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

hmhbooks.com

Book design and hand lettering by Laura Palese

Cover photography by Paul Brissman

Food styling by Lisa Homa

Prop styling by Kristine Trevino

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Porowski, Antoni, author. | Fox, Mindy, author. | Brissman, Paul, photographer.

Title: Antoni in the kitchen / Antoni Porowski with Mindy Fox ; photographs by Paul Brissman.

Description: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, [2019] | Includes index. | A Rux Martin Book.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019002545 (print) | LCCN 2019002714 (ebook) | ISBN 9781328631350 (ebook) | ISBN 9781328631343 (paper over board) | 9780358206170 (special edition) | 9780358206187 (special edition)

Subjects: LCSH: Cooking. | LCGFT: Cookbooks.

Classification: LCC TX714 (ebook) | LCC TX714 .P6813 2019 (print) | DDC 641.5dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019002545

v1.0819

Youve been there for me through dark times and happy days alike. From you, I learned that what is essential is invisible to the eye. It is with the heart we see best.

I know very well that it takes a village, and Im so very grateful to have one. Writing this book connected me with a group of incredibly talented women and men, and reconnected me with Polish family members and other loved ones. It also turned out to be a great adventure in digging deep into my food memories and collaborating with like-minded people who express their love through the sharing of food.

To my dear coauthor, Mindy Fox, I cannot believe how lucky I am to have met you. Your love and respect for food is admirable, and your attention to the minutest of details, along with endless hours of work on recipes and words, have made this book what it is. Your gentle nature and patience encouraged me to trust my own voice. Im honored that you agreed to collaborate with me and excited for more opportunities to come. Also, since my dad sent you his Vermont maple syrup, Im pretty sure that means youre part of the family now, so yeah...

My editor, the culinary worlds own Grace Coddington, Rux Martin. I admire your honesty and directness, which come with equal amounts of heart, patience, and invaluable guidance. I hope that with this book Ive made you proud.

Ted Allen and Barry Rice, my friends, former employers, and forever mentors. Knowing you has helped me expand my food, design, and vintage furniture know-how, and hone my basic human skills, like drafting e-mails and calendaring. Your respective passions gave me the confidence to pursue my own.

To my family, including my parents, Janusz and Janina; my sisters, Karolina and Aleksandra; my aunties, Magda S, Magda J, and Leslie; Uncle Andy; and Cousin Maa. Working on both Polish and family-inspired recipes for this book allowed me to revisit my childhood and heritage and renewed my appreciation and respect for both of those things. I am a proud Polish-Canadian-American because of each and every one of you.

To Joey, Minette, Jim, Bess, and Joe. Our years together gave me what Id been searching for my whole life: a family to cook for. You gave me your hearts and your kitchens so I could feel safe in giving you back my love and my food. Many of the recipes in this book were tested on you before the crazy life I have now. Joey, you were my number-one supporter in life and work, and I will never forget that.

Mindy and I would like to thank Beth Barden and Jennifer Ophir, our uber-talented recipe testers. We cherish your honesty, feedback, and skill in the kitchen. Beth, you made Kansas City feel like home.

Paul Brissman, your beautiful food photography, journalistic approach to lifestyle photos, and love for New York and all of its side streets took this book to another level.

Food stylist Lisa Homa and prop stylist Kristine Trevino, thank you for your dedication and stunning work.

Book designer Laura Palese, thank you for putting it all together and in such a unique and gorgeous way.

Melissa Lotfy, Jamie Selzer, Judith Sutton, Sarah Kwak, Crystal Paquette, and Jacinta Monniere, thank you for brightening all the corners of this book.

Glam and styling squad, Nina Soriano and Matty Bidgoli, Im so sorry I distracted you endlessly while you tried to do your jobs. Youre the real deal (and fun to distract).

Alex Kovacs, Jason Weinberg, and Jamieson Baker at Untitled Entertainment. Alexs logistical aptitude is what allowed me to write this book while filming in Kansas City and to make my flights back to New York to attend photo shoots.

My agents, David Larabell and Ben Levine at CAA. After moving to New York and later attending meetings at your offices with my then-boss, Ted Allen, I only dreamed of one day being represented by such a supportive team. I am a damn lucky guy.

To the entire team at Scout Productions, David Collins, Michael Williams, Rob Eric, and Joel Chiodi; the fabulous support at ITV from Ally Capriotti Grant, Jordy Hochman, Danielle Gervais, Gretchen Palek, Beyhan Oguz, David George, Adam Sher, and David Eilenberg; Jenn Levy and the team at Netflix; and executive producers Jen Lane and Rachelle Mendez and the crew on- and off-set at Queer Eye, who foster a warm and collaborative working environment.

To Hanya Yanagihara, for your friendship and support; Klaus Biesenbach, confidant and mentor, for teaching me the many benefits that come from making mistakes; PJ Vogt, for encouraging me to pursue multiple passions; and Christian Coulson, for reminding me to be gentle with myself.

To Reema Sampat, my best friend, confidant, hero, mother to my goddaughter Mara, inspiration for many recipes, and biggest cheerleader.

And last but far from least, my Queer Eye brothers, Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tanny France, and Jonathan Van Ness, for being beloved friends, honest taste testers, and the supportive backbone in all of my endeavors.