The Gospel According to Tom: Colicchio's New Cookbook

by Catherine Donaldson-Evans, Posted Feb 18th 2010 @ 3:00PM

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Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio is whipping up a new cookbook his publisher promises will cover "everything he believes is important about food."

The Top Chef judge and founder of Craft restaurants finalized the deal with Artisan Books last week.

The as-yet-unnamed project, due out in the fall of 2011, is still in "the very early, early stages," Artisan's executive director of publicity, Amy Corley, tells Slashfood.

"It's going to be very different from anything he's ever done," says Corley. "There will be full color throughout. Chef Colicchio is working with his family on this book and they're going to be involved in every way."

Colicchio's cookbook will follow tradition in its offering of new recipes, techniques and tips, but it will also put forth Colicchio's set of philosophies and beliefs about cooking and food -- a sort of gospel according to Tom.

"Chef Colicchio is writing everything he believes is important about food, ingredients, recipes, and cooking at home," Artisan told New York magazine's food blog, Grub Street.

Colicchio's debut cookbook, Think Like a Chef, came out in 2000. He has since written three others: Craft of Cooking: Notes and Recipes from a Restaurant Kitchen, Top Chef: The Cookbook and 'Wichcraft: Craft a Sandwich into a Meal -- and a Meal into a Sandwich.

The 47-year-old New Jersey native got his first taste of stardom when he co-founded Gramercy Tavern in New York City with fellow celebrity chef Danny Meyer in 1994. He sold his share in the restaurant in 2006.

In 2001, he opened Craft in New York City, followed by Craftbar, Craftsteak and 'wichcraft.

Aside from his New York locations, Colicchio has various Craft restaurants in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Dallas, South Carolina and Connecticut. His New York City Craftsteak was replaced by Colicchio & Sons.

Colicchio has served as head judge on Bravo's Top Chef since 2006. He is married with two sons.

Filed Under: Books, Chefs
Tags: tom colicchio, tom colicchio cookbook, tom colicchio new cookbook, top chef