Ubuntu’s strawberry margherita pizza and cheesecake in a jar are two of the best things I’ve ever eaten. And I seriously have recurring dreams about the castelvetrano olives. (And they’re just OLIVES.) But I agree with you: some restaurant menus are peppered with unfamiliar ingredients or italicized offerings presented without context. I didn’t feel that way about Ubuntu, though. Instead of trying to show me how smart they were, I felt like the chefs were inviting me into the fold.

I’m with CallieKich. I’ve given Bittman’s book to several friends already, none of whom is a vegetarian. It’s just a great all-around resource, and the recipes are so straightforward. It’s one of the few photo-free cookbooks I have that I really adore.