Behind the Scenes of a Cookbook Shoot
Plus, some favorite recipes for Spring!
Just got back from my cookbook shoot in NYC and it was quite the whirlwind. It’s funny to think that after publishing two books, I’m only now shooting the third one the “proper” way. As you probably know by now, I used to do it all on my own. From the grocery shopping and food styling, to photographing with my iPhone at my kitchen table, each book took me 3-4 months to shoot. This time? Eight days. Eight days for 83 recipes.
For someone so used to working alone, learning to collaborate in a creative way was an exciting shift. We had a full team: a photographer, two food stylists and a prop stylist. The prop room alone was a dream, filled with stacks of platters, boards and linens galore. I was able to help set the tone for each dish in a way I never had before. The food stylists worked their magic, cooking and plating everything while I got to taste my own recipes from the other side of the table. Let me tell you, these dishes are so good.
Each day we cranked out 10 to 12 scenes, working nonstop. It reminded me of my production days when I used to work at The Late Show. I’ve realized I thrive in these fast-paced environments, moving with the rhythm of the day. We also had some wonderful visitors along the way. My manager stopped by with my friend Justine, who brought us pounds of homemade cake. Even my dad joined the shoot, rolling up his sleeves to help in the prep kitchen. His hand even made a cameo in one of the recipes.
I’m also so grateful for all of the brands that collaborated with us to bring this shoot to life. Shout out to Columbus Craft Meats, Maille, Nuts.com and Gourmet Sweet Botanials. Fresh Direct also came through with grocery help, making the shopping process so seamless and easy. I curated a list of my favorite cheese plate products, and offering a discount code of $50 off first orders of $99+! Check out the details here.
This book will still have the cheese plates you know and love, but I’ve expanded and evolved in ways that feel so exciting. We have one more lifestyle shoot upstate in May, and you’ll see the cover before it officially hits shelves Spring 2026. And don’t even get me started on the book tour… I’m pulling out all the stops to make it so much fun. This new era feels different. I feel different. More at ease, less critical of myself and fully leaning into the joy of it all.
It takes a village to produce a shoot like this, shout out to the team who made it happen!
Photography: Nico Schinco
Food Stylist: Katie Wayne
Assistant Food Stylist: Nikki Jessop
Prop Stylist: Maeve Sheridan
Studio: Blue Salt Studio
Prop House: Hero and Beauty
BTS Photos: Dillon Puswald
Spring Recipe Roundup
Although it’s still a bit gloomy in the northeast, I’m leaning into all of the spring flavors and dishes. Here are a few favorites!
Herby Spring Pasta Salad with Ham and Peas
Ingredients
10 ounces Girelle pasta
1/3 cup freshly shredded parmigiano reggiano
4 ounces frozen peas, defrosted
4 ounces chopped asparagus, blanched
4 ounces boneless ham steak, diced
1/2 small shallot, diced
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons chives, chopped
Dressing
2 ounces fresh goat cheese
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
To Make
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta for 12-14 minutes until al dente. Drain and let cool for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile in a small bowl, mix together goat cheese, honey, red wine vinegar, and lemon. Whisk in olive oil until thoroughly combined (might take a few minutes to smooth out the cheese clumps) Stir in thyme, salt and pepper
In a large bowl, combine pasta, parmigiano reggiano, ham, peas, asparagus, shallots, fresh herbs and top with goat cheese dressing. Mix to coat all ingredients and top with additional parmigiano reggiano.
Serve immediately or store on the fridge for 3-4 days.
Spending the next few days at home finishing up the final touches on my manuscript, then I’m headed to ITALY!!! More to come :)
Can't wait for book 3!
Congrats on the shoot! Love all the BTS content. Looking forward to this one! ✨