Antoni Porowski - Lets Do Dinner: From Antoni Porowski, star of Queer Eye

To LP,

Thank you for giving me the courage to grow from my fears.

The only thing more shocking than writing my first-ever acknowledgments for my first-ever cookbook is getting to do it a second time around. When my first cookbook was published, a dear, wise friend asked me how it felt to have a book out in the world for people to read and cook from. To my self-deprecating reply, she responded, There is no shame in being proud of your work. You are allowed to be excited, you know. I am indeed very proud. It took the trust and help of many people to create this new collection of recipes.

My appreciation can only start with my co-author, MINDY FOX . You and I spent countless hours cooking side by side in New York City, as well as conferring on the phone, and your work on this book has deepened my appreciation for your endless dedication to words and recipes. Call me sentimental, but our little recipe-development team made my apartment feel like a home, and for that, I have you to thank. Every single day you taught me something new, be it the versatility of my grill or the magic of cayenne pepper. I, in turn, gave you a stress banana, so youre welcome for that. You somehow continue to organize my chaotic mind and remind me to keep things simple yet thoughtful. Thank you for sticking around, and for being someone I can talk to for hours about grocery shopping and Kewpie mayo.

To our culinary assistant, SADIE GELB ; I am so happy you were part of our project. Thank you for lugging in ingredients every morning you always knew where to get the best prawns, cheese or bread, never settling for lesser options and for teaching me how to make the perfect jammy-yolked egg. Im sorry for immediately throwing you onto my Insta stories as soon as I realized you were a bit shy, but Im glad I broke you in the wealth of knowledge and precision you brought to this book helped make it what it is.

GINA GABRIEL , God help me if I had to do any of this without you. While Mindy, Sadie and I were typing away or recipe testing, you managed the rest of my insane world so I could focus. Thank you for stepping in to help with ingredient sourcing one day, or fixing the stupid printer another. You are the queen of multitasking, able to juggle a call with Delta to change one of my flights for the fourth time while simultaneously scoring me tickets to the American Kennel Clubs Meet the Breeds event. I start to get anxiety when I think about everything you manage and coordinate on a daily basis! Thank you again for doing what you do. Also a special shout out to BRIANNA KAUFMAN for keeping Ben in check and always going the extra mile.

To my editor, RUX MARTIN, Im as happy youve kept your iconic hairstyle as I am that you were just as direct and honest with your feedback and expertise this go-around as you were with the first book. You see and articulate things so clearly, with no room for bullshit, and I love you for that. Im sorry I dragged you out of retirement, but to be frank, no one could have done a better job.

To photographer PAUL BRISSMAN and assistant TOM WOOL , its an honour to continue working together. Paul, they dont come better than you. Focused and unobtrusive, youre a damn ninja.

Food stylists MAGGIE RUGGIERO and LISA HOMA , and prop stylist KRISTINE TREVINO , you see the beauty and art of the way food is presented. Im in awe of your talents. Thanks as well to assistants VERONICA MARTINEZ , TIFFANY SCHLEIGH , SARAH ABRAMS , SIMONE MANDELL and ERIKA DUGAN .

Book designer LAURA PALESE , thank you for taking the extra step in elevating this book with hand-lettered fonts and artfully making it all so enjoyable to our eyes.

My sincere thanks to the team at HMH, especially publisher DEB BRODY , for your faith in me. Art director MELISSA LOTFY made sure the cover was both classic and distinctive. Editor SARAH KWAK expertly managed a million details. Copyeditor JUDITH SUTTON stared down errors and MARINA PADAKIS marched them right out. CRYSTAL PAQUETTE worked with the printer to make this beautiful.

Styling and glam squad CHLOE HARTSTEIN, AMY KOMOROWSKI and JESSICA ORTIZ , its not the clothing you select or de-puffing potions you apply that I love you for. Its the care you take, so I feel confident before every photo is taken that I not only look my best but feel like a champ too. Im so grateful to work with you both.

To my friends REEMA SAMPAT , GIGI HADID , JONATHAN VAN NESS and TAN FRANCE , thank you for bringing your beautiful mugs to the pages of this book.

To CARRIE GORDON at LEDE Public Relations and your dynamo team, MATTHEW AVENTO , EMMA EALES and KAROLINA SURAWSKI , thank you for guiding me in every pursuit I embark on. Youre all superstars.

To my family, both Polish and French Canadian: DAD , thank you for the daily reminder to stay humble, even when Im bobsledding in Switzerland. I learned to communicate my love through food because thats what I saw you doing, and I wanted to be just like you. To my sis and brother-in-law, KAROLINA and PIOTR , I love you both so much. Karo, youre a warrior and you teach me strength with your very existence every day. SYLVIE , my rational French-Canadian mom, its totally OK that you love Tan as much as you do me. Everyone in your life is lucky to have you. Youve raised three good ones I am blessed to consider siblings. VALERIE , PIERRE-OLIVIER and SIMON , Im sorry my French accent is pretentious.

To KEVIN , thank you for being my best taste-tester and my compass for the things that matter most.

To my CAA literary family: My book agent, DAVID LARABELL , thank you for your continued guidance, support and encouragement. KATE CHILDS , you elevate books into experiences for readers and fans with your publicity expertise. I look forward to more 5:00 a.m. flights together on tour, justifying our often-questionable food choices along the way.

To my best friend and agent, BEN LEVINE : When I think of you and all weve accomplished together in such a short amount of time, I shake my head in disbelief. Our kinship as young assistants evolved to client and agent, and while our working relationship has changed, our friendship has only grown stronger, and that is the part I care most about but please keep getting me jobs! You have been my biggest champion.

ANTONI POROWSKI

To dear ANTONI , enormous gratitude and then some. Thank you for another exciting culinary adventure together. You make work light and fun, and youre way more organized than you give yourself credit for. I couldnt wish for a more trusted friend and collaborator.

To our editor, RUX MARTIN ; your spirited late-night text messages and savvy thinking kept us on our toes. Youre simply the best.

To our culinary assistant, SADIE GELB ; your talent, dedication, kindness, smarts and sweet sense of humour are unmatched. Working with you is always a dream.

To GINA GABRIEL , thank you for your skilful scheduling, keen cross-testing and limitless daily good vibes.

To DAWN PERRY , Antoni and I both thank you for terrific and calm-inducing pinch-hitting when our time narrowed at a critical deadline moment.