In his cookbook called Mantra, which was released last month, Graffiti chef-owner Jehangir Mehta includes a recipe for a cocktail he calls “Barley Legal,” a cheeky mix of ultra-healthy barley water and Johnny Walker. "This drink is dedicated to all the young celebrities out there," the chef writes, introducing the recipe. And it’s probably a sincere note of acknowledgment, coming at the tail end of book filled with new and understated ideas about food. The recipes depict Mehta sneaking sweet Kahlúa into bitter chicory soufflé, loading Financiers with fenugreek, and reimagining Yorkshire pudding laced with duck fat and turmeric. In line with Mehta’s resume, most of the botanical-crazy recipes in Mantra are pastry chef centric, and many are vegetarian. The book carries a blurb from Mehmet Oz. more ›