WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS HOW INCREDIBLE it is to be able to pen yet another Sriracha cookbook. But I guess I’ve become a legit writer now, so I better figure out how to get some words to express it—that’s my job! I feel so privileged to be able to share another collection of awesome recipes with people, especially this batch that I created to honor and celebrate the almighty vegetable.
This couldn’t have happened without the help, support, and friendship of so many folks, and I’m glad I get a chance to put some of their names down on paper as my way of recognizing and thanking them for their invaluable contributions. On the family side, big thanks to my mom, Bonnie, for always encouraging my endeavors and leading by the Golden Rule. So much love and gratitude to my Aunt Terri, Uncle Steve, Cousin Kim, Josh, and Miette.
In no particular order, I’m extremely lucky to have friends like Elliot “Gabriel” Weingarten, the darling Cambria Griffith, Gev Kazanchyan (plus Susie and the family, of course!), Josh Lurie, Matt Finkel, Mark Young, Nate Sellergren, Sharaya Olmeda, Tim Herscovitch, Rebecca Fogel, Sergio Salgado, Melinda McKee, and Mark Signaigo.
To Phi and the rest of the Nguyen family, who had no idea that my life flipped the day they introduced me to Sriracha at their house. I’m beyond privileged to know them, and I wish I got to see them more. Thanks also to my heroes the recipe testers, (and also amazing friends): Linzy May Mahoney and family; Madeleine St. Marie; Quarry Girl along with her wonderful husband, Nick; Samantha Loveira; Sandra Hernandez; Kristy and Chris Turner; Sam Edelstein and Erika Barry; and Anya Demianenko and Michael McCoy.
I’m also grateful to those who hosted events for me and/or looked after my general well-being: the Stone Brewing Co. crew (the art/media department, my book pimp Sue, Mr. Cheek, Denise, and the whole rest of you clowns that are gonna be mad I didn’t list you by name), Blue Palms Brewhouse and Eagle Rock Brewery (who hosted my first book release party—with a special Sriracha beer!), Tony’s Darts Away, Almanac Beer Co., everyone at Port Brewing/the Lost Abbey, Library Alehouse, StudioSchulz.com, and the whole gang from Pacific Coast Harmony.
Thanks to the crew at Ten Speed Press, including Melissa Moore (the greatest editor on earth!), Toni Tajima, Patricia Kelly, Michele Crim, Kara van de Water, Kristin Casemore, Ashley Matuszak, Kelly Snowden, Jenny Burbank, and Ali Slagle. Chloe Rawlins, thanks for making the book look so awesome, with Leo Gong’s insanely great photography, and the marvelous food styling of Karen Shinto, plus their illustrious team: prop stylist Carol Hacker and assistants Amanda Hibbert and Agustina Peretta. And lastly, a thank-you to those who’ve helped fine-tune and advance my writing over the years: Peter Reinhart, Dr. Haut, Ms. Spadafora, Lesley Bargar Suter, Chris Nichols, Greg Koch, Carol Penn-Romine, Nichol Nelson, Karen Young, Eric Mercado, Nancy Zaslavsky, and Amelia Saltsman.