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OUR BOOK COLLECTIONS
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ABOUT SIGNATURE TASTES
We all have that memory of a great meal. The view was inspiring, the company enchanting, and the food? Oh, the food was so, so good.
While we can't bring back the place (they closed 7 years ago and sold out to a chinchilla farm) or the company (he said he “didn't believe in labels”), we can bring you the food. Such good food, reminiscent of the best place-based cooking experiences.
It has been said that food is memory. So think of each Signature Tastes cookbook as a culinary postcard: real restaurant recipes, local stories, and the delicious quirks that make a city or state… itself. If you’ve ever wished you could bring home that chowder from Boston, the beignets from New Orleans, or the gnocchi you still dream about—welcome, you’re among friends.
WHAT WE DO
Signature Tastes cookbooks are a delightful series that focuses on place-based cooking, collecting authentic restaurant recipes alongside bite-sized history, chef notes, and a sprinkle of trivia. Our books cater to those who love to eat like a local, travel with their fork, and bring those unique flavors back to their own kitchen. They blend the essence of a cookbook, a travel diary, and a nostalgic 'remember that meal?' moment—featuring full-page photography and step-by-step recipes that you'll actually want to cook.
We don't stop there. To truly enjoy the food, you must grow the food. This concept, known as terroir by our French friends across the pond, embodies the taste of the place. But who wants to spend all their time doing back-breaking work? Enter Ruth Stout, everyone's gardening grandmother, who offers us cookies before dinner and advises us not to work too hard. Being lazy never tasted so good.
Additionally, we can't help but reflect on the wisdom of Whitney Houston, who reminded us that the children are our future… teaching them well and allowing them to lead the way. A child that eats well is a child that lives well. To create something special, we consulted the premier experts in the field, Ms. Johnson's 3rd grade class, to produce Eat A Zoo! This menagerie of meals elevates playing with your food to a whole new plate—uh, plane.
Most importantly, we thank you for your time and attention. You could have chosen to explore countless sites online, yet you came here. We've been able to share our passion for place-based cooking for 15 years, and we could not have done it without you.
OUR FLAVOR COMPASS
To celebrate place-based cooking—the restaurants, recipes, and people that give a community its flavor—and to make those restaurant recipes cookable at home without needing a culinary degree (or a second mortgage for equipment) through our Signature Tastes cookbooks.
OUR SERIES
Signature Tastes — The flagship line of Signature Tastes cookbooks features city and state restaurant recipes along with local lore. (Example: Signature Tastes of New Orleans includes 110+ recipes and full-page photos.)
A State of Tastes — This newer series emphasizes story-forward place-based cooking, weaving together history, people, and recipes into a delightful tapestry of taste for each state.
Eat a Zoo! — A fun, kid-friendly approach to cooking, this book encourages silly-smart culinary creations that make food look like animals. It requires minimal knife work while maximizing giggles.
Playing With Fires — This collection showcases firehouse recipes from across the U.S. A portion of the sales supports the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation—delicious dishes for a worthy cause. Available at Amazon and Books-A-Million.
How We Build a Book
Scout: We research beloved local restaurants and uncover hidden gems, focusing on iconic dishes that showcase place-based cooking.
Partner: We work directly with chefs to adapt restaurant recipes for home kitchens (no sous-vide wand required, but God we do love ours!).
Tell the story: We fold in origin tales, neighborhood flavor, and the people behind the plates, capturing the essence of our Signature Tastes cookbooks.
Test & photograph: If it isn’t cookable or craveable, it doesn’t make the cut.
Publish: You get a gorgeous, gift-able cookbook that doubles as a culinary travel guide.
Who These Books Are For
Food lovers with wanderlust or enjoying a staycation while the little ones are at Girl Scouts can indulge in place-based cooking that captures the essence of local flavors. Travelers who collect meals and memories will appreciate the restaurant recipes that bring global tastes to their kitchens. Locals seeking the best of their own backyard can find inspiration on the table with Signature Tastes cookbooks. Gift-givers looking for something better than another candle will discover unique culinary treasures that delight the senses.
Our Not-So-Serious, Very-Serious Values
Authenticity over gimmicks: Real restaurants with restaurant recipes, real recipes, real stories.
Accessibility: You can cook this. Your teenager can cook this. Your neighbor who doesn’t measure can cook this. It's all about place-based cooking that anyone can enjoy.
Community: Food connects people; our Signature Tastes cookbooks spotlight the folks who make that magic happen.
A wink and a smile: We take the food seriously—ourselves, not so much.
quick faq
Are these official restaurant recipes? Yes—these recipes are developed with restaurants and adapted for home cooks, then tested until our editors cried uncle. They're part of our Signature Tastes cookbooks that celebrate place-based cooking.
Can I suggest a city or restaurant? Please do. We love tips, hot takes, and family-guarded lore—send yours via our contact page. Your suggestions could inspire future restaurant recipes!
Where can I buy the books? Right here on our site (high-five) and on Amazon (helpful for Prime people). Don't miss out on our Signature Tastes cookbooks!
Press & Partnerships
Need a quote, images, or a review copy of our Signature Tastes cookbooks? Want to collaborate on place-based cooking for a city, state, festival, or fundraiser? We’re game. Reach out via our contact page, and we’ll be in touch faster than you can preheat the oven.
meet the author
Steven is the founder and chief bottle washer behind Signature Tastes. He’s a firefighter, chef, and general raconteur. He once saved a Matsusaka steak from a burning grill. His weekly food column features place-based cooking that is enjoyed by several loyal readers (and at least one confused neighbor). He’s authored more than two dozen Signature Tastes cookbooks, ranging from restaurant recipes inspired by cities like Boston and Miami to those celebrating entire states such as South Carolina. He writes like he cooks: generous, curious, and just cheeky enough that your grandmother would still invite him back for seconds. (Ruth-Stout-level common sense included at no extra charge.) You can explore Steven’s full bibliography on his Amazon Author page (click here).
STAY IN TOUCH
Hop on the Gravy Train — sign up below and we’ll send you our FREE Signature Tastes Recipe Sampler featuring 17 authentic dishes inspired by place-based cooking, along with full-page photos from our Signature Tastes cookbooks.
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