Vook author and celebrity chef Lior Lev Sercarz featured in The New York Times

Last weekend, The New York Times Magazine profiled Lior Lev Sercarz, spice master extraordinaire and author of The Art of Blending, a cookbook of savory recipes based on Lior's spice collection. "The Transformational Power of the Right Spice" by Alex Halberstadt dives into the world of Lior's custom spice blends, his celebrity-chef clientele, and La Boîte, his spice and biscuit shop in New York City.

"When I wondered out loud about how much spices could really matter — weren’t they a mere flourish after the difficult work of cooking was completed? — Lev Sercarz invited me for a demonstration in his home kitchen," writes Halberstadt. After Lior presents a few recipes, the author has a change of heart: "Spices, I was learning, not only behave as intensifiers and complicators but also, in the right hands, can redraw the boundaries of flavor and confound the brain."

The Art of Blending is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Vook's store, and—in a special fixed-layout edition—on the iBookstore. Check out The Art of Blending on Vook's store for a preview and links to all retailers.