Pantone’s First-Ever Cookbook Is a Visual Feast

The book’s cover. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

It’s a well-known fact that we eat first with our eyes. Pantone, the worldwide color authority, has taken that old adage and applied it to its first-ever cookbook, Pantone Foodmood (ACC Art Books, $50).

Organized into eight sections, the recipes are appropriately devoted to specific colors—yellow, orange, brown, red, magenta, purple, blue, and green—to present vibrant palettes and artfully displayed dishes. There is a range of recipes, from salads to entrées and desserts, and an array of cultural influences, with cuisine from Italy, France, and Japan, among others.

Recommended: The Museum of Pizza Just Might Be Brooklyn’s Next Big Art Destination

Pantone provides an engaging introduction to each section, encapsulating the mood evoked by the palette, followed by 56 easy-to-follow recipes. The book aims to show home cooks that they can easily bring more artistry to their meals and that cooking can be a visual art as much as fashion or design.

The book also features 40 suggested menus for combining colors for a variety of occasions (think brunch, a children’s party, or happy hour) plus meals for every season. There’s also an extensive guide for necessary equipment, utensils, and ingredients. Additionally, 50 hand-drawn how-to sketches demonstrate styling and presentation techniques for creating meals that are themselves a work of art.

Pomegranate and Pistachio Bulgur, an easy-to-make Middle Eastern–inspired dish. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

Pissaladiere, a dish from the South of France that consists of a thick dough base, anchovies, olives, potatoes, and caramelized onions. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

A beautifully designed mango pudding with a panna cotta center. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

Sea Bream with Rose Petals. The center is a horseradish cream piped to perfection. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

Savory Asparagus Tarts with thinly sliced Emmental cheese are suggested for a spring menu. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

A vibrant take on fruit salad made with grapes, peaches, and apples served with crunchy sesame brittle. Photo: Tommasi/ACC

Pantone Foodmood is available worldwide October 15.