Geoffrey Zakarian demonstrates that healthy eating requires no sacrifice, showing how
even burgers and fries belong on your plate when made with grass-fed beef and
quality oils. Through accessible lessons on shopping, meal planning, and
cooking techniques developed across his acclaimed career, readers learn to
transform simple ingredients into nourishing meals for the whole family.
YOU'LL ALSO FIND:
- Practical guidance on selecting whole, local ingredients and preparing them
close to their natural state for maximum nutrition
- Step-by-step meal planning strategies that make healthy cooking accessible
for busy families seeking lasting dietary change
- Chef-tested cooking techniques from Michelin-starred kitchens adapted for
home cooks at every skill level
- A framework for understanding how quality ingredients become the
foundation for vibrant health and sustained daily energy
- Research-based insights connecting food choices to chronic illness
prevention and longevity without restrictive dieting approaches
Original Food shows how thoughtful cooking and better ingredient choices can transform everyday life. By focusing on whole, high-quality foods and practical kitchen techniques, Geoffrey Zakarian demonstrates that healthy eating doesn’t mean giving up the meals you love—it means preparing them in a way that truly nourishes your body. Through simple guidance on shopping, meal planning, and cooking, the book empowers families to move away from ultra-processed foods and create balanced meals that support sustained energy, better health, and long-term wellness. With approachable lessons drawn from Zakarian’s acclaimed culinary career, Original Food helps readers build daily habits that make eating well both enjoyable and achievable.
In Original Food: Recapturing the Joy of Eating, world-renowned chef Geoffrey Zakarian challenges the processed food culture that has dominated American eating for decades. Drawing on his training at the Culinary Institute of America and experience in Michelin-starred kitchens across Europe, Zakarian delivers a research-based approach to wellness through what he calls "original food" – whole, local, and minimally processed ingredients. Equal parts culinary storytelling and practical guide, Zakarian weaves over 20 new recipes together with his best tips, techniques, and strategies for transforming the way you shop, cook, and eat.
Geoffrey Zakarian was born and raised in Worcester, MA. After graduating from Worcester State College, he traveled to France, where he discovered his vocation. Returning to the U.S., he enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America. After graduation, he launched his career in Manhattan at Le Cirque, under famed restaurateur Sirio Maccioni and Executive Chef Alain Sailhac.
In 2001, Zakarian opened his first restaurant as owner, Town at the Chambers Hotel, followed by Country at the Carlton Hotel. Both earned three stars from The New York Times. He began appearing on television in 2009 as a judge on “Chopped.” In 2011, he won “Next Iron Chef,” earning the title of Iron Chef. He has appeared as a judge on numerous other Food Network shows and co-hosted “The Kitchen” for 12 years.
Zakarian has opened nearly 20 restaurants over the years. His first book, Town/Country, was published in 2006 and hailed by The New York Times as one of the best cookbooks of the year; his second, My Perfect Pantry came out in 2014. In 2016, he launched a signature line of products and appliances, Zakarian Pro for Home, and later a cookware line, Zakarian for Dash, which is featured on QVC.
Since 2014, Zakarian has been Chairman of the Food Council at City Harvest, the New York City food rescue charity, where he leads a group of top chefs’ fundraising efforts. Zakarian and his wife, Margaret, live in Tampa with their three children, Madeline, Anna, and George. His daughters published their own cookbook, The Family That Cooks Together, in 2020. Zakarian began playing golf and piano, at ages 6 and 7--hobbies he pursues regularly to this day.
