"In this solar system of culinary stars, there is a newborn one that shines very bright. Chef Spike Mendelsohn has a pulse on the American heartbeat for delicious, soul-satisfying comfort foods from his crowd-pleasing restaurant on Capitol Hill that has pleased Presidents and celebs. Enjoy the Good Stuff recipes and see why folks are coming back for more."
—Chef Art Smith, TLC's Comfort Food

"With The Good Stuff Cookbook, Spike Mendelsohn applies his limitless imagination to classic American comfort food."
—Tom Colicchio, chef/owner of Craft restaurants and Colicchio & Sons

"I am a self-proclaimed queen of burgers, and it looks like Spike is on his way to becoming the king. I am obsessed with all things between the bun and have really enjoyed eating my way through the Good Stuff. Spike knows how to bring the fun to bun."
—Rachael Ray

One of the most popular contestants ever on the hit television show Top Chef, Chef Spike Mendelsohn is one of the hottest celebrity chefs on the scene. His new restaurant in Washington, D.C., Good Stuff Eatery, has been a resounding success and even claims First Lady Michelle Obama as a fan. In The Good Stuff Cookbook, he serves up fast, fun, and fresh recipes for classic fare like burgers, sides, shakes, and desserts, as well as menu suggestions for all types of events, from big parties to casual family dinners.

You'll find old favorites with a twist: unique and tasty sauces and mayonnaises like Good Stuff Sauce and Curry Mayonnaise; fan-favorite sides like Baked Sweet Potato Fries and Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus; the famous Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake, malts, and floats; and, of course, Chef Spike's crowd-pleasing burgers made with beef, turkey, chicken, pork, and even lamb.

• The book features 120 fresh and delicious recipes and 140 full-color photos
• Mendelsohn is one of the hottest up-and-coming chefs on the food scene with two new restaurants, a new web-based show on Food2.com called "By The Book, Off The Hook," and a number of other projects in the works
• This is the perfect all-American cookbook for anyone who loves great casual comfort food like burgers, fries, and shakes, but wants to shake things up with a gourmet touch

Just in time for Independence Day barbecues and summertime cookouts, The Good Stuff Cookbook offers a fresh and inventive take on classic American food.

"When somebody can take humble American food…and bedazzle them in fresh and imaginative ways, that's really good stuff." (CulinariaLibris.com, July 2010)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK.

CONDIMENTS & COMPLEMENTS: MAYONNAISES & SAUCES.

HOMEMADE BASIC MAYONNAISE.

GOOD STUFF SAUCE

CHIPOTLE MAYONNAISE.

CHIPOTLE PESTO.

SRIRACHA MAYONNAISE.

OLD BAY MAYONNAISE

MANGO MAYONNAISE.

BALSAMIC MAYONNAISE.

CURRY MAYONNAISE.

POMEGRANATE MAYONNAISE.

MUSTARD SEED MAYONNAISE.

MAYOLIVE.

WEDGE WITH AN EDGE: SALADS.

FARM-FRESH GREEK WEDGE.

FARM-FRESH CAESAR WEDGE.

FARM-FRESH ENSALADA WEDGE.

FARM-FRESH CLASSIC WEDGE.

FRIED GOAT CHEESE, DRIED CRANBERRIES, AND ALMOND WEDGE.

FENNEL, ORANGE, AND POMEGRANATE WEDGE.

ARUGULA, RED ONION, AND PARMESAN WEDGE.

POACHED EGGS AND FRISÉE WEDGE.

ASIAN PEAR, PISTACHIO, AND BRIE WEDGE.

ERR ON THE SIDE OF . . . SIDES.

SUNNY'S HAND-CUT FRIES.

SPIKE'S VILLAGE FRIES.

CLIFF'S HOMEGROWN VIDALIA ONION PETALS.

UNCLE D'S CHILI.

CHEDDAR CHEESE SAUCE

NIC'S MESS WITH SUNNY'S HAND-CUT FRIES.

BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES.

STREET-STYLE CORN ON THE COB.

ZUCCHINI FRITTERS

HOMEMADE CORNBREAD.

BIG B'S BAKED BEANS.

RED CABBAGE SLAW.

FARM-FRESH POTATO SALAD.

MAC 'N' CHEESE.

ROASTED CORN AND RED PEPPER SALSA.

PEPERONATA.

FRESH FRUIT SALAD.

FRIED BRUSSEL SPROUTS.

CELERY ROOT, POTATO, AND PEAR GRATIN

BACON-WRAPPED ASPARAGUS.

GRILLED WATERMELON, YUZU, AND FETA SALAD.

PERFECTLY ROASTED WILD MUSHROOMS.

THE GAME CHANGERS—BURGERS!

FARMHOUSE BURGER.

FARMHOUSE BACON CHEESEBURGER.

SPIKE'S SUNNY-SIDE BURGER

GOOD STUFF MELT.

COLLETTI'S SMOKEHOUSE BURGER

FREE-RANGE TURKEY BURGER.

BREADED EGGPLANT, ROASTED PEPPER, GOAT CHEESE, AND ARUGULA 'WICH.

BLAZIN' BARN.

UNCLE D'S CHILI AND CHEDDAR BURGER.

VEGETARIANS ARE PEOPLE TOO 'SHROOM BURGER.

PREZ OBAMA BURGER.

SOUTHWESTERN BURGER

TAMARIND-GLAZED PORK BURGER WITH RED CABBAGE SLAW AND GRILLED PINEAPPLE.

PORK AND PANCETTA BURGER WITH SMOKED MOZZARELLA, PEPERONATA, AND BASIL PESTO.

FRIED CHICKEN BURGER WITH SMOKED BACON, GINGERED HONEY MUSTARD, AND SAUTÉED COLLARD GREENS.

LAMB BURGER.

CAPRESE BURGER.

DOUBLE-ALE FISH BURGER.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH ROSEMARY AND HONEY MUSTARD GLAZE.

MICHELLE'S MELT.

STACKED WITH THE GOOD STUFF.

REDSKINS #74 SPICY CAJUN BURGER.

HORTON'S KIDS GRILLED CHEESE.

BRING ON THE BRAIN FREEZE: SHAKES, MALTS, & FLOATS.

BIG VERN'S ROOT BEER FLOAT.

TOASTED MARSHMALLOW SHAKE.

WHIPPED CREAM BLACK AND WHITE SHAKE.

MILKY WAY MALT.

VERY BERRY SHAKE.

SOURSOP HOP STRAWBERRY SHAKE.

DE-LECHEBLE LECHE.

VANILLA AND CHOCOLATE SHAKES.

MINT OREO SHAKE.

PUMPKIN PATCH SHAKE.

CREAMSICLE SHAKE.

AVOCADO SHAKE.

BANANAS FOSTER SHAKE.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SHAKE.

FOR PETE'S SHAKE.

CADBURY SHAKE.

DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAY, I'M A SWEETHEART: DESSERTS.

GREEK YOGURT WITH HONEY AND NUTS.

OATMEAL AND MILK CHOCOLATE COOKIES.

RED VELVET BROWNIES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE ICING.

COCONUT-MERINGUE DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIES.

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING.

CINNAMON-CHOCOLATE BROWNIES.

BANANA-CHOCOLATE COOKIE SANDWICHES.

CHEESECAKE-BLUEBERRY BLONDIES

CHERRY-APRICOT JAM BLONDIES.

RASPBERRY SUGAR COOKIES.

BAKLAVA COOKIES.

HONEY–PINE NUT BARS.

VIETNAMESE COFFEE BROWNIES.

GOOD STUFF POPSICLES.

CALVADOS CANDY APPLES.

CARDAMOM AND CARAMEL POPCORN.

LOUKOU BEIGNETS.

POMEGRANATE GRANITA.

CARLA'S PUMPKIN TRIFLE.

BIRTHDAY CAKE.

FAVORS 'N' FLAVORS: PARTY DISHES.

SPICY FIRE WINGS WITH SPICED APPLE CIDER.

PEACH ICED TEA TIGER TAIL.

MARGARITA SLUSHIES.

BLOODY MARY.

HONEY-ROSEMARY LEMONADE OPA! OUZO MARTINI.

CINNAMON TWISTED DONUTS.

BLACK RICE PUDDING WITH MANGO AND HAZELNUT.

INDEX.