When Peter Som first made a name for himself, it wasn’t in the kitchen—it was on the runway. The San Francisco-born designer became known for his sophisticated yet playful fashion collections, with an eye for color and texture that earned him a dedicated following. But while the fashion world was his profession, food was always his passion.

With the release of his debut cookbook, Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage, Som brings his signature creativity to the table, blending flavors and cultural influences in dishes that are at once approachable and deeply personal. The book, which launches on March 18, is filled with vibrant, unfussy recipes inspired by his Chinese-American upbringing, his mother’s love of French cuisine, and his years spent cooking for friends and family.

From Fashion to Food: A Creative Evolution

Som’s love for food began in his grandmother’s kitchen, where he spent countless afternoons making wontons at the dining table or following her through San Francisco’s Chinatown. Those early experiences instilled in him an appreciation for food as a way to connect—with family, with culture, and with creativity.

“I was very close to my grandmother growing up,” Som says. “Food was imprinted in me from an early age as something important—something that meant being together.”

Despite his early love of food, Som pursued fashion, launching his own runway collection and designing for brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Anthropologie. But throughout his career, cooking remained a constant. In an industry that thrives on reinvention, food provided a sense of grounding. It was a creative outlet with a clear beginning, middle, and end—an art form that, unlike fashion, disappeared as soon as it was enjoyed.

Over time, Som began sharing his home-cooked meals on social media, posting colorful, stylishly plated dishes that naturally caught the attention of his followers. What started as a side passion soon turned into something bigger. “People would ask for the recipes,” he recalls. “And before I knew it, food became a central part of my life.”

The Making of Family Style

The journey to Family Style began with an unexpected discovery: Som found a worn spiral notebook in his grandmother’s apartment, filled with handwritten recipes spanning decades. The recipes, written in a mix of cursive English and Chinese characters, became a window into her world—one that he wanted to explore and share.

This discovery, combined with his own love of cooking, became the foundation for the book. The recipes in Family Style are a reflection of Som’s personal food philosophy: dishes that are simple yet elegant, deeply flavorful yet unfussy. “I want these recipes to be accessible, joyful, and full of big flavors,” he says.

Throughout Family Style, Som’s dishes seamlessly mix influences from his Cantonese roots, his California upbringing, and his love of global flavors. Dishes like Hong Kong French Toast Grilled Cheese and Matzo Ball Egg Drop Soup show his playful approach to fusion, while his One-Pot Sticky Rice and Chicken—a nod to his grandmother’s cooking—balances nostalgia with reinvention.

For Som, the debate over authenticity in food is less about rigid definitions and more about creativity. “Flavors are flavors,” he says. “Cooking should be about exploration, not rules.” He encourages home cooks to embrace unexpected combinations, using pantry staples like miso, gochujang, and anchovy paste to build complexity with minimal effort.

More Than a Cookbook, A Philosophy

At its heart, Family Style is about more than just recipes—it’s about the experience of cooking and sharing meals with others. Som wants readers to approach cooking with confidence and creativity, whether they’re preparing an elaborate dinner or throwing together a quick weeknight meal.

“I want my recipes to make people happy,” he says. “Cooking should be joyful, and if I can help someone create a meal that makes them smile—even on an ordinary Tuesday night—then I’ve done what I set out to do.”

With Family Style, Peter Som brings the same artistry that once defined his fashion collections into the kitchen. His dishes are stylish without being fussy, sophisticated without being intimidating, and—above all—designed to be shared.

Book Release & Where to Buy

Family Style: Elegant Everyday Recipes Inspired by Home and Heritage releases on March 18, 2025 and is available for purchase online and in bookstores nationwide.