When Brooklyn restaurateurs Doug Crowell and Ryan Angulo opened Buttermilk Channel in Carroll Gardens in 2008, they created more than a restaurant—they built a neighborhood institution. Known for dishes like Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Cheddar Waffles and towering Popovers, the restaurant became one of Brooklyn's most beloved dining destinations. They followed it with French Louie, a warm bistro that blends French influences with the spirit of a Brooklyn neighborhood restaurant. In Kindness & Salt: Recipes for the Care and Feeding of Your Friends and Neighbors (Grand Central Publishing, 2018), Crowell and Angulo share more than 100 recipes from both restaurants, along with the philosophy that has guided their work for decades. The title reflects the two principles they believe are essential to every great meal: kindness, expressed through genuine hospitality, and salt, the attention to flavor that brings food to life. Alongside signature dishes, the book offers advice on entertaining, cocktails, wine, and the art of making guests feel welcome. Kindness & Salt stands out among restaurant cookbooks because it is as much about community as it is about cooking. Part cookbook and part neighborhood memoir, it captures the relationships among restaurateurs, staff, regulars, and the communities that grow around a dining room. At its heart, the book argues that hospitality is every bit as important as the food on the plate. Doug Crowell joins New Books Network to discuss the origins of Kindness & Salt, the legacy of Buttermilk Channel, the continued success of French Louie, and what he has learned about restaurants, hospitality, and community over nearly two decades in Brooklyn dining. Interview by Laura Goldberg, longtime food blogger at VittlesVamp.com, who enjoyed many wonderful meals at Buttermilk Channel and remains a regular at French Louie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

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