Acheson, a noted cookbook author (The Broad Fork) and judge on the show Top Chef, has gone back to basics with his latest. As his daughters grew older, he began imparting the basics of keeping oneself fed as well as making cooking a fundamental skill throughout one's life. That advice led to this book, which includes sections on shopping for ingredients, flavors, equipment, herbs, and spices as well as how to use a knife. To get readers comfortable with the basics of cooking, Acheson offers a building blocks section focused on foundational dishes such as poached eggs and pasta. Helpfully, Acheson explains why starting cooks should learn each dish, why they would want to make it, how to use the dish in other recipes, and the basic recipe itself. Going beyond the building blocks, more intricate dishes include recipes such as grilled cheese with tomato, ham, and slow-cooked onions. All the recipes are geared toward the beginner with easy-to-understand instructions. VERDICT This introductory cookbook will be a winner with new cooks, giving them the confidence to master kitchen skills.--Ginny Wolter, Toledo Lucas Cty. P.L.