My son got me this book for Mother's Day. I took it into work to share with my other Top Chef fans and didn't see it for a month. We all loved it. It was very interesting to be behind the scenes of the show. I've tried some of the recipes and feel that I had to take creative license in preparing them. Zahtar? Not available in Tucson, Arizona. Would a teaspoon of it make a difference in taste? I have no idea. That's what I mean. But it's all good fun and if you are a TC fan, buy the book.