Jeremy Scheck taught himself to cook in his early teens by reading classic cookbooks he’d scavenged from the one-dollar bin at his school’s used book fair and watching videos to help him understand the science behind the recipes. He honed his skills at a local bakery, gave baking demos at Williams-Sonoma, and in 10th grade began posting his best experiments in a blog called “The After School Bakery.”
At Cornell University, he took courses in food science while majoring in Italian and Spanish. When the pandemic forced him to return home his sophomore year, he started a TikTok channel, ScheckEats, where he demonstrated easy tricks for making creative meals with simple ingredients. Millions of page views followed, as did recognition in major media outlets from People magazine to “Access Hollywood.”
Now 22, he’s a published author living in Brooklyn.
Don’t assume, however, that the appeal for “ScheckEats — Cooking Smarter: Friendly Recipes with A Side of Science” (Harvest, $35) is generational.
“I may come from Gen Z, but this book is for all ages, from curious kids to busy parents, empty nesters and single adults,” he writes. “No experience? No problem. Decades of experience? I bet I can still pique your interest.”
A full-page brown butter explainer (”the simplest way to visualize the Maillard reaction is the difference between a piece of bread and a piece of toast”) precedes recipes for sauteed zucchini topped with almonds and lemon juice-soaked cranberries, as well as a signature chocolate chip cookie. He offers multiple ways to marinate, glaze and broil salmon fillets, and turn the leftovers into rice bowls. He explains why heating pans before sauteing can avert a sticky mess.
Through these appetite-inducing culinary lessons, Scheck has managed to pique this Boomer’s interest.
AUTHOR APPEARANCE
6-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Free. Jeremy Scheck will conduct a live cooking demo and sign copies of “ScheckEats — Cooking Smarter.” Williams-Sonoma Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. Register online at https://cookingsmarterbooktour.squadup.com/.
Susan Puckett is a cookbook author and former food editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow her at susanpuckett.com.
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