Chuck Hughes is the star of Chuck's Day Off, a Food Network Canada and Cooking Channel (U.S.) show featuring the charismatic chef cooking for friends and family on his day off at one of his Montreal restaurants, Garde-Manger. Fabulously energetic, fun and a skilled chef, Chuck definitely has star quality and "splash factor." His star is on the rise in the U.S.: Chuck's Week Off and Chuck's Eat the Street, along with Chuckmas (Chuck's Christmas special) are all popular shows on the Cooking Channel; he took down Bobby Flay in Iron Chef competition, and he was one of the participants in The Next Iron Chef in 2012.

Garde Manger features recipes from his restaurant and his show that are down-to-earth but festive, and never fussy. What's wonderful about the book is the energy the design brings--it matches Chuck's own style and approach to both cooking and life. One can only assume this is the first of many cookbooks from...