Community-powered cookbook: The Beginnings

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about Fresno's authenticity, especially as it relates to the Buy Local campaign and similar initiatives. I've also been thinking about food—nothing new there.

Combine these thoughts, though, and a cookbook emerges. Picture it sitting on your coffee table: beautiful photos, chef profiles, restaurant histories—all local, all Fresno. Sounds tasty, right?

Last Friday I tweeted the idea, and received several responses of recipes that community members would love to have, which are outlined below. To make a book, however, we'll need a lot more, so if you have a favorite dish at a a local restaurant, please share the details. We'll continue to collect responses, and submit formal requests to the creators.

Of course, there are the rules:

1. The recipe has to be from a locally-owned restaurant—this will ensure it's unique, and truly "Fresno" (that will also allow us to do cool things like profile the chef)
2. The restaurant has to be willing to share the recipe

That second rule seems obvious, but there are chefs who don't want to share an original recipe, and restaurant owners who worry that giving recipes away will keep customers at home. I can outline a barrage of counter-arguments, but it's their recipe. I respect that.

The list, so far:

• Fried rice from Edo Ya - requested by Michael
• Tri-tip sandwiches (start to finish) from Doghouse Grill - requested by Natti
• Pasta Fagioli from Cosmopolitan Tavern - requested by Kimburly
• Scarface from Dicicco's - also requested by Kimburly
• Salsa from Guadalajara - requested by Mike
• Phad tai from Mangosteen - requested by Jared
• Hummus and garlic sauce from House of Kebab - requested by Louis
• Sole entree at Limon - requested by Bradley
• Garlic sauce from Mediterranean Grill - requested by Irma
• Carrot dessert from North Inda Bar & Grill - requested by Marjorie
• Lentil soup from By the Sea - requeseted by Amanda
• Filipino chicken and rice soup from Campagnia - requested by Martin
• Sweet potato fries and dipping sauce from old Bulldog Brewery - requested by Arlene
• Sweet potato fries from Max's - requested by Greg
• Homemade bread from Dicicco's - requested by Rachel
• BBQ salmon salad from The Palms - requted from Caty
• Sweet potato fries (evidently, these are popular) from Max's - requested by Amanda
• Pheasant appetizer and salsa verde topping for filet from Chef's Table - requested by David
• Eggplant appetizer from Cracked Pepper Bistro - requested by Carol
• Bread pudding from Cracked Pepper Bistro - also requested by Carol
• Costillas con chile from Plaza Ventana - requested by Christina