First published 2022
Brian Baumgartner brings his passion for chili from screen to kitchen in this comprehensive cookbook. The actor who played Kevin Malone explains how a single spilled chili scene made him a culinary icon and launched his real-life quest for perfect recipes. Baumgartner traveled across America collecting 177 chili variations from TV celebrities, restaurant owners, championship cook-off winners, and devoted fans. The book covers regional specialties from Texas chili to Cincinnati chili, plus vegetarian options, chili verde, and creative applications like chili dogs and nachos. Each section explores what makes different styles unique and includes cooking secrets from their originators. Baumgartner provides his own perfected recipe with video tutorials accessible through QR codes. The collection features 50 championship recipes from International Chili Society competitions spanning 1967 to today, plus the official Kevin's Famous Chili recipe from The Office. Fellow cast member Oscar Nunez contributes a foreword. Written in Baumgartner's humorous style, the book combines practical cooking guidance with chili history and behind-the-scenes television stories.
Genres: cooking, food, cookbooks, food-and-drink
Vibes: cozy, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
252 pages · Spiral-bound · Fox Chapel Publishing