This Is a Cookbook: Recipes For Real Life

This Is a Cookbook presents over sixty recipes from Max Sussman and his partner Eli, who work at the Brooklyn restaurants Roberta's and Mile End. The book emphasizes practical cooking for home cooks, particularly beginners, with recipes designed to be approachable and not intimidating. The Sussmans draw on their restaurant experience to offer techniques and shortcuts that simplify cooking and make it more enjoyable. The recipes include comfort foods from their childhood as well as dishes developed through experimentation. All recipes use easy-to-find ingredients, require minimal prep time, and can be made in small kitchens. The cookbook includes meals for one, two, or multiple people, along with plans for dinner gatherings. Recipes range from simple variations on basics like popcorn and sandwiches to dishes such as Korean-Style Short Ribs and Chicken Adobo. The book includes a foreword by Rob Delaney. Sussman is a James Beard Foundation Rising Star nominee.