From her early catering days and her time as proprietor of the charming West Village restaurant Lora to her current role as House & Garden's food editor, Lora Zarubin has always been hungry: for experience, for travel, and for friends, but most of all for new recipes and new tastes. Here she invites readers to share in this lifelong love affair with food, and practice her straightforward approach: She uses the best ingredients possible, keeps her recipes simple, and makes cooking fun. I Am Almost Always Hungry is a cookbook that will make you want to get in the kitchen.

Zarubin offers 30 seasonal menus and more than 100 recipes drawn from her childhood, her extensive travels throughout Europe and the United States, and her years as a caterer and restaurateur-which gave her unique insights into the subtleties of seasonal entertaining. Among Zarubin's featured creations are Fennel and Parmigiano-Reggiano Salad, Short Ribs with Chocolate and Cinnamon, Creamy Grits with Pureed Celery Root, and Roasted Peaches with Cardamon Sugar and Mascarpone Sauce. Throughout, stunning images by pioneering food photographer Tessa Traeger reveal the beauty of these dishes.