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4 Color Books

mission

4 Color Books collaborates with the most forward-thinking and groundbreaking BIPOC chefs, writers, artists, activists, and innovators to craft visually stunning nonfiction books that inspire readers and give rise to a more healthy, just, and sustainable world for all.

Read our press release.

about bryant terry

Bryant Terry

Bryant Terry is the founder and editor-in-chief of 4 Color Books. An NAACP Image Award Winner and James Beard Awardwinning chef and educator, Bryant is renowned for his activism and efforts to create a healthy, equitable, and sustainable food system. Bryant is also the author of Afro-Vegan and Vegetable Kingdom. He is currently the chef-in-residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, where he creates programming that celebrates the intersection of food, farming, health, activism, art, culture, and the African Diaspora. His work has been featured in the New York Times and Washington Post and on CBS This Morning and NPR’s All Things Considered. San Francisco magazine included Bryant among the 11 Smartest People in the Bay Area Food Scene and Fast Company named him one of 9 People Who Are Changing the Future of Food.

books

The Scarr's Pizza Cookbook by Scarr Pimentel

The Scarr's Pizza Cookbook

Scarr Pimentel

“Scarr is a great human who has dedicated himself to the art of making perfect pizza. With The Scarr’s Pizza Cookbook, he shares his elite New York–style knowledge and wisdom.”—Matty Matheson, producer and actor on The Bear

“More than recipes, more than a story, this book is full of wonderful moments captured in time.”—Danny Bowien, chef

After working at some of New York’s most iconic pizzerias and restaurants, Scarr Pimentel opened Scarr's Pizza to put his own healthy spin on the classic New York-style pizza slice. Now, in a debut cookbook using all-natural and organic ingredients with 30 recipes and step-by-step photos, he shares his ethos alongside the techniques and recipes you need to make great pizza at home.

Starting with round and square variations of his dough that includes the famous freshly milled grains—recommended, but not required—Scarr breaks down the anatomy of his famous pies. Learn the tips and tricks to mill your own flour, source the freshest ingredients, and make the best tasting sauce and toppings, all while being guided by Scarr’s unfussy, encouraging voice. Recreate your favorites from Scarr’s Pizza plus some new items, including:

  • Pizza pies like Original, Marinara, and Hotboi
  • Extras like Calzones, Vegan Garlic Knots, and Meatball Parm
  • Cocktails like DJ CK Lemonade, Guava Margarita, and Vegan Piña Colada
The Memory of Taste by Tu David Phu, Soleil Ho

The Memory of Taste

Tu David Phu and Soleil Ho

A playful collection of over 85 Vietnamese and Viet American dishes and immersive travel photography from Top Chef alum Tu David Phu that blends the Oakland native’s modern culinary style with the food wisdom from his refugee family.

“Stripped of Oriental exoticism, this is a cookbook infused with the intense flavors of refugee kitchens and the inauthentic authenticity of the diaspora.”—Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of Pulitzer Prize winner The Sympathizer

Tu David Phu trained in the nation’s top restaurants only to realize the culinary lessons that truly impacted him were those passed on by his parents, refugees from Phú Quôc. In his hometown of Oakland, California, his parents taught him hard-won lessons in frugality, food-covery cooking, and practical gill-to-fin eating.

Centered around Tu’s childhood memories in the diverse Bay Area and family stories of life on Phú Quốc island, The Memory of Taste explores the Phu family’s ability to thrive and adapt from one coastal community to another. With tried-and-true tips like how to butcher a fish, tastebud-tingling flavor combinations, and stunning photographs, Tu guides both novice and experienced chefs alike in his take on Viet cooking, including:

• Staples in every Vietnamese kitchen like Cơm Tấm (Broken Rice), Dán Sả (Lemongrass Paste), and Nước Mắm Cham (Everyday Fish Sauce)
• Seafood dishes that utilize the less “desired” parts like Huyết Cá Tái Chanh (Tuna Bloodline Tartare), Canh Chua Đầu Cá Hồi (Hot Pot-style Salmon Head Sour Soup), and Xương Cá Hồi Ghiên Giòn (Fried Fish Frames)
Fine-dining dishes from Tu’s pop-up days like Gỏi Cuốn Cá Cornets, Mì Xào Tỏi Nấm Cục (Truffled Garlic Noodles), and Bánh Canh Carbonara
• Adapted recipes from new traditions like Bánh Ít Trần (Sticky Rice Dumplings), Cơm Cua Hấp (Dungeness Crab Donburi), and Phở Vịt Nướng (Roasted Duck Phở)

The Memory of Taste is Tu’s story of returning to his roots and finding long-hidden culinary treasure. In his debut cookbook, Tu offers readers a chance to enjoy the bounty of his parents’ lessons, just as he has.

The Black Yearbook [Portraits and Stories] by Adraint Khadafhi Bereal, Kiese Laymon

The Black Yearbook

Adraint Khadafhi Bereal

A gripping exploration of the joys, hardships, and truths of Black students through intimate, honest dialogues and stunning photography, with a foreword by Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy

“A radical, reverential, and restorative document of community.”—Rebecca Bengal, author of Strange Hours: Photography, Memory, and the Lives of Artists

When photographer Adraint Bereal graduated from the University of Texas, he self-published an impressive volume of portraits, personal statements, and interviews that explored UT's campus culture and offered an intimate look at the lives of Black students matriculating within a majority white space. Bereal's work was inspired by his first photo exhibition at the George Washington Carver Museum in Austin, entitled 1.7, that unearthed the experiences of the 925 Black men that made up just 1.7% of UT's total 52,000 student body.

Now Bereal expands the scope of his original project and visits colleges nationwide, from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to predominantly white institutions to trade schools and more. Rather than dwelling on the monolith of trauma often associated with Black narratives, Bereal is dedicated to using honest dialogue to share stories of true joy and triumph amidst the hardships, prejudices, and internal struggles. Using an exciting and eclectic design approach to accompany the portraits and stories, each individual profile effectively conveys the interviewee's unique voice, tone, and background.

The Black Yearbook reframes society's stereotypical perception of higher education by representing and celebrating the wide range of Black experiences on campuses.

Flavor+Us by Rahanna Bisseret Martinez

Flavor+Us

Rahanna Bisseret Martinez

A mouthwatering dive into cuisines from all over the world, featuring more than 70 recipes that teach need-to-know cooking techniques and build confidence for anyone who wants a seat at the chopping board, stove, and table—from a Top Chef Junior finalist.

“Rahanna Bisseret Martinez’s recipes are inspiring for the ways in which they approach, transcend, and unify cultural boundaries on page after delicious page.”—Hawa Hassan, James Beard Award–winning author of In Bibi’s Kitchen

AN EPICURIOUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

In this approachable cookbook, Rahanna Bisseret Martinez shares how to make food from around the world that respects the earth, workers, and consumers. A college freshman who has already cooked in the finest restaurants, she serves up lessons, tips, and tricks she has learned since her culinary career began at age thirteen, including techniques for everything from roasting and stir frying to pickling and infusing. The desserts and drinks chapters are perfect for hosting and making everyday meals special. Flavor+Us is filled with stories from Rahanna's experiences learning to cook in her family’s Californian kitchen, her time competing on Top Chef Junior, and the restaurants where she learned what cooking in community means.

Flavor+Us features recipes from:

• Mexico: Masa Doughnuts with Earl Gray Glaze
• Haiti: Makawoni au Graten
• Cuba: Frijoles Negros 
• Korea: Yachaejeon with Cho Ganjang
• China: Dry-Fried Green Beans
• The Philippines: Dungeness Crab Tinola
• Japan: Trinity Korokke
• Vietnam: New Orleans-Style Vietnamese Iced Coffee
• Ethiopia: Miser Wot 
• Jamaica: Jerk Eggplant Steaks
• And more!

This is the ideal resource for new cooks and anyone who wants to refine the basics. All are welcome at Rahanna's table.

Black Food by Bryant Terry

Black Food

Bryant Terry

A beautiful, rich, and groundbreaking book exploring Black foodways within America and around the world, curated by food activist and author of Vegetable Kingdom Bryant Terry.

In this stunning and deeply heartfelt tribute to Black culinary ingenuity, Bryant Terry captures the broad and divergent voices of the African Diaspora through the prism of food. With contributions from more than 100 Black cultural figures, the book moves through chapters illuminating parts of the Black experience from  Homeland to Migration, Spirituality to Black Future, offering delicious recipes, moving essays, and arresting artwork.

As much a joyful celebration of Black culture as a cookbook, 
Black Food explores the interweaving of food and culture through original poetry and essays, including “Jollofing with Toni Morrison” by Sarah Ladipo Manyika, “Queer Intelligence” by Zoe Adjonyoh, “The Spiritual Ecology of Black Food” by Leah Penniman, and “Foodsteps in Motion” by Michael W. Twitty. The recipes are similarly expansive and generous, including sentimental favorites and fresh takes such as Crispy Cassava Skillet Cakes from Yewande Komolafe, Meatballs with Egusi and Squash from Edouardo Jordan, Jerk Chicken Ramen from Suzanne Barr, Avocado and Mango Salad with Spicy Pickled Carrot and Rof Dressing from Pierre Thiam, and Sweet Potato Pie from Jenné Claiborne. Visually stunning artwork from such notables as Black Panther Party creative director Emory Douglas and artist Sarina Mantle are woven throughout, and the book includes a signature musical playlist curated by Bryant.

With arresting visuals and innovative design, 
Black Food is a visual and spiritual feast that will satisfy any soul.

submissions

Email submissions@4colorbooks.com for book proposal submissions.

Bryant Terry’s photo: © Adrian Octavius Walker

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