Updated. About half of cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy find that food may taste different. It can be too sweet, too salty, too bitter or bland.
The Chemo Kitchen Cookbook is a collection of recipes written by award-winning chefs, created specifically for people going through taste change during cancer treatment.
It’s coming to you from Seattle via Kickstarter; order your copy by 5 pm Pacific on Friday 27 July.
It’s been funded! Happy Dance!
Chemo Kitchen was inspired by co-founder Cal McAlister, whose mom discovered that her favorite food “tasted like sand” during chemotherapy.
Some patients call it “chemo mouth” or “metal mouth,” a reference to food having a metallic taste. Taste changes can lead to loss of appetite and weight loss at a time when they need good nutrition the most.
“It’s a very common side effect,” according to Dr. Julie Gralow, director of breast medical oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and an associate member in the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Chemo Kitchen cookbook founding chef Eric Tanaka has been nominated for multiple James Beard Awards and awarded Best Chef Northwest; for 20 years, he has been partnered with Tom Douglas, who is also part of this project.
Contributor Shaun McCrain spent four years Thomas Keller’s NYC restaurant Per Se and now runs Copine Seattle with his wife Jill. Shaun started cooking for his father-in-law after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Chef Matthew Buchanan holds it down at one of the most popular restaurants in South Texas, The Leaning Pear. He was also one of Chemo Kitchen’s first contributors.
Matthew is joined by fellow Texan Chris Shepherd, the mastermind behind Houston’s Underbelly and now UB Preserv and Georgia James.
Edmond Sanctis cofounded Sahale Snacks because he couldn’t find a healthy, sustaining (and delicious!) snacking option. He shares his special recipe for turmeric-boosted berry nut mix in Chemo Kitchen.
Other chefs involved in this Seattle-based project include Skye Craig, Mary Ann Esposito, Chef Geoff, Carrie Nahabedian, Thierry Rautureau and Ethan Stowell. The cookbook contains more than 50 compelling recipes from 30 award-winning chefs.
Most recipes are around eight ingredients and take 45 minutes from counter to plate. Delicious dishes for people in treatment, for sure, but the cookbook also provides an opportunity and place for the outpouring of support from people who want to help and just make a dish or two.
Taste a recipe!
Please support this Kickstarter! (Hey, I want the cookbook!)