Via Carota

The recipes are straightforward enough for a weeknight but feel special, and the photography makes me want to book a flight to New York. I just made the cacio e pepe and it was exactly like the restaurant's.

I've never made it to Greenwich Village, but the chapter on the restaurant's signature dishes makes me feel like I'm sitting at the bar. The writing from those two James Beard-winning chefs is unpretentious, and the Negroni sbagliato recipe alone was worth the price.

The recipes are surprisingly doable for a weeknight, and the section on their famous insalata verde finally explains why it tastes so good at home. The photos alone are worth it.