Wants to cook and mix drinks with confidence and creativity, not just follow instructions.
Loves the idea of putting together a meal or cocktail with whatever's on hand, and impressing themselves with the result.
Craves both structure and freedom, and is curious about when to stick to the rules and when to break them.
CookImprov reveals the structure behind cooking and mixology through flexible, visual frameworks. You'll learn how to deconstruct and reimagine classic dishes and drinks: from simple salads to decadent crêpes, from timeless Martinis to clarified cocktails, and everything in between. Each framework teaches you to improvise with confidence and adapt to what's on hand.
You'll gain tools to build flavors, balance ingredients, and adjust on instinct, turning whatever you have into something memorable. The result: stronger culinary and mixological intuition.
Whether you're a seasoned home cook, an aspiring mixologist, or just starting out, CookImprov will teach you to think with structure and create with freedom.
CookImprov is for the person who:
About the author:
Tucker Herbert is a sommelier-trained cook and host who has invented hundreds of dishes and drinks. Most were developed while traveling or entertaining at his home in the Hollywood Hills, inspired by the tastes of friends gathered around his table.
He is the author of the CookImprov series, which teaches cooking and mixology through visual frameworks instead of recipes. The first book, CookImprov: Fresh Foundations, earned a starred Kirkus review, an IBPA Award, and a BookLife/Publishers Weekly Editor's Pick. CookImprov: Cocktail Creations brings the same approach to the bar, teaching balance, flavor, and technique so readers can improvise with what they have.
Tucker studied across four continents while earning degrees from Stanford and UCLA Anderson. He built a career in strategy consulting and healthtech, where he honed his ability to break complex topics into clear, flexible structures.
At heart, he is a pattern geek who believes structure propels invention, and that exploring flavors can completely change how we see each other. Creativity is a muscle worth exercising.
About the illustrator:
Lou Baker Smith is the hand behind every ingredient, dish, and drink illustration in the CookImprov series. She began her career illustrating food for editorial and book publishing, contributing to cookery columns for Country Living and Good Housekeeping, tea packaging for Waitrose, menus for British Airways, and a series of ingredient paintings for the Selfridges Food Hall. One of her favorite commissions took her island-hopping through Greece to paint local landscapes and food.
While her work spans a wide range of subjects and techniques, the common thread is a love of color, texture, and layers, along with a fondness for catching things mid-motion.
Lou lives in Bath, England, with her husband and their dog, Pippin. You can find more of her work on her website: loubakersmith.com