Pascale Beale has had the great advantage of growing up with a fork-hold (as it were) in both northern and southern France’s culinary traditions. The wonderful thing is that she’s more than willing to share, as she now publishes the fourth in her seasonal series of cookbooks, Winter. This is a book of feasts, featuring what Edible Communities cofounder Tracey Ryder calls “a constant reminder of how vibrant and fulfilling the seasonal dishes of winter can truly be.”
Recipes range from Monique’s Succulent Beef Shank Winter Stew to Halibut Za’atar with Red Quinoa Herb Salad, and that’s just mains. Beale, a contributor to Edible Santa Barbara and the chef behind Montecito Country Kitchen (mckcuisine.com), is far from done now that’s she’s completed her series—she’s got three more books and an expanded cooking school in the works. In the meantime, if you care to sample her food, check out the BYOB Dinners starring California Syrah at SpiritLand Bistro (spiritlandbistro.com) March 23 or 30, when Beale will be guest chef, serving up roasted black cod with herb-nut crust over wilted spinach, with African yogurt sauce, among other deliciousness.