A graduate of the French Culinary Institute, Antonia Lofaso was most influenced by her time cooking at Spago before becoming executive chef at Foxtail and now Black Market Liquor Bar in Los Angeles, where she lives with her daughter. She appeared on the fourth season of Bravo’s Top Chef and returned as a fan favorite and finalist on Top Chef All-Stars.

Bravo’s Top Chef All-Star and Los Angeles executive chef serves up more than 100 quick and easy family recipes that she developed as a hardworking single mom.

Many busy moms dread the challenge of getting a delicious and healthy home-cooked meal on the table. For single mom Antonia Lofaso, the issue hits especially close to home as she continues to do appearances for Bravo while working as an executive chef.

Showcasing Lofaso’s top picks for quick and satisfying meals, The Busy Mom’s Cookbook includes breakfast favorites ranging from pancakes to the world’s best blueberry muffins, and easy but satisfying dinners such as Beef Stroganoff with Creamy Pappardelle and Fish Tacos with Corn Tomatillo Salad. She even tackles the brown-bag lunch with choices that the other kids will envy, including BBQ Chicken Pita Pocket and Turkey-and-Swiss Panini.

The Busy Mom’s Cookbook is the first book to bring star-quality culinary expertise to the specific needs of busy parents. Laced with memories and lessons from Lofaso’s own experience as a working mom, this cookbook speaks from the heart with inspiring, real-world wisdom and plenty of lighthearted humor to encourage every reader to savor the rewards of making mealtime memorable.

"Antonia was a contestant I was always happy to see on Top Chef, when judging—or simply watching at home. As a judge, I was relieved to see her as I knew that, if nothing else, I'd be eating well that day. One of the strongest competitors and best cooks ever to appear on the long running series. Smart, no nonsense, wise—and a reliably terrific chef. She grounded the seasons on which she appeared with smart decision making, soulful flavors, and the kind of leadership qualities others would be wise to emulate.  It's about time she wrote a book."
—Anthony Bourdain, bestselling author of Kitchen Confidential

“Antonia has combined Top Chef tasty with busy-mom easy to make incredibly delicious and approachable recipes. Schedule-juggling supermom or not, anyone with a busy schedule and a desire for quick homemade goodness will find themselves returning to this cookbook time and time again.”
–Carla Hall, Top Chef fan favorite and co-host of ABC’s The Chew

“Antonia is a friend, but also an undisputed creative chef. Many moms will enjoy the quick, delicious and accessible recipes, but more important they can teach their kids about food and the importance of the bonding and memories that can happen when you share food around a table as a family—just the way Antonia grew up in her family. A must not only for moms, but for any home cook!”
–Hubert Keller, chef & owner, Fleur de Lys