Vegetables First: 120 Vibrant Vegetable-forward Recipes

From "Back to My Roots" Throughout my career of promoting the importance of cooking together and eating together, the taste of those first summer vegetables and the joy of planting and harvesting food for the table have inspired me. My television and magazine work has evolved into a brand built on a modern vision for the art of family living. So, when we set up our new office headquarters, flagship boutique, and café on Montreal’s South Shore, I made sure the roof was reinforced so that it could support a thriving garden of eighty planters and two beehives. I enjoy seeing the plants grow, be shared among colleagues and used in our test kitchen. For me, the power of vegetables is linked with memories and family stories. And that’s what I want to share with you: how fantastic vegetables can taste and how they can connect us to our roots. Finding it tough to get your kids to eat cauliflower or peas? It happens to the best of us. The important thing is to plant a seed for the future, by serving vegetables in smart, well-prepared dishes. Some life lessons take time, but in the end, we reap what we sow. Like a vegetable garden, I hope this book becomes part of your daily life and grows with you and your family as you create your own memories.

“This book is for the rising number of home cooks who want a more plant-based diet without completely eschewing meat, but don’t know where to start beyond smoothies and salads.” –Karon Liu, The Star"A colourful tribute to vegetables, Ricardo beautifully combines standout vegetable sides (maple glazed mushrooms and corn polenta) with classic French dishes like ratatouille." –Chatelaine"Chef Ricardo will make you want to eat more veggies with these dishes . . . His new cookbook Vegetables First shares appetizing, healthy recipes where vegetables are the shining star." –The Social