Just Play the Hits

Discover global flavors and timeless techniques in Just Play the Hits, a collection of 135 tried-and-true recipes from Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Hunter Lewis, shaped by his journey from restaurant kitchens to the forefront of food media.

Hunter Lewis knows about great food. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with the country’s most dynamic chefs and culinary tastemakers, incorporating their tips and expertise into his cooking at home. Now, in his debut cookbook, Hunter distills everything he’s learned in the past two decades to share his unparalleled inside access with you with a repertoire of what he and his family call “the hits.”

Just Play the Hits includes savory crowd-pleasers such as the Za’atar Party Mix—buttery and herby with just a hint of spice from Tabasco sauce—and weeknight classics like Pot-Roasted Chicken and Rice in Milk or Big Batch Ragu Bolognese (always keep some in the freezer!) for dinner. If you’re feeling ambitious, take on the showstopping Miso Hot Pot with Ginger Turkey Meatballs, a fragrant, Japanese-inspired dish with the perfect umami flavor. For something sweet, try Pecan Snacking Cake with Bourbon Whipped Cream, or top off your meal with Satsuma Thing, a citrusy cocktail that tastes even better when made with fresh ingredients from your local farmers’ market. Alongside the recipes, you’ll find essays that define Hunter as a cook, like the generosity of a proper Southern vegetable plate; why flavor must be built from the bottom up; and the ineffable, soulful joy of sopping bread.

With stunning, rustic photography and a sensibility that marries California’s seasonally driven cuisine with New York City’s global influences and Hunter’s Southern roots, Just Play the Hits brings a fresh, new perspective and professional know-how to the way you cook at home. 

• “Hunter is one of the most patient, encouraging, curious, and knowledgeable cooks I know—the world is very lucky to have a whole collection of his (and soon to be your) greatest hits.” 
  Alison Roman
• “Hunter Lewis’ rich, fat, and sassy new cookbook bears the mark of someone who has listened to chefs and experienced great food. His love of the way food can nurture and enrich our family life is his greatest gift.” 
  Jonathan Waxman, James Beard Award–winning chef
• “Essential recipes from a guy who is as able an editor with ingredients on the plate as he is with words on the page. This is devourable cooking you’ll return to over and over.” 
  Danny Meyer
• “Just Play the Hits is filled with globally beloved flavors, smart techniques, and the kind of food people actually want to eat—generous, accessible, and deeply satisfying. This is a cookbook you’ll use until it’s falling apart.” 
  Andrew Zimmern, author, chef, and host of Bizarre Foods
• “What an incredibly useful book! Hunter Lewis has spent a lot of time in restaurant kitchens, and he passes along everything he’s learned along the way. These excellent recipes will make you a better cook.” 
  Ruth Reichl, New York Times bestselling author