‘Fresh Made Simple’ author Lauren K. Stein shares her shopping tips

When Bostonian Lauren K. Stein quit her day job in journalism to stay home with her newborn daughter Abigail, she had no idea what the future held. But faced with the never-ending tasks of making food and reading her daughter books, she found a way to combine the two: “Fresh Made Simple: A Naturally Delicious Way to Eat: Look, Cook, Savor,” a cookbook filled with 75 recipes composed of only a handful of ingredients, each featuring their own watercolor illustration by artist Katie Eberts. Now four years old, Abigail is often perched next to her mother on a kitchen stool, serving as chief taste tester for Stein’s recipes. We asked Stein to take us around the city to see where the local cookbook author buys ingredients for the various meals she cooks up in her Back Bay kitchen.

Seafood/Meat/Eggs

“For seafood I love Red’s Best, which is at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market and the Boston Public Market. For meat, I use Copicut Farms and Stillman Farms. And one place i love at the Boston Public Market for charcuterie is Daniele’s.”

Cheese

“Wolf Meadow Farm at the Boston Public Market for Italian cheeses that are out of this world, and I love a creamy Camembert from South End Formaggio. I like them for cheese and wine, and I always tell them what I’m cooking.”

Veggies/Fruits

“I love Siena Farms and I shop them at their South End storefront, which also has a wonderful cheese and butter section. Also, Atlas Farm at the Copley Farmers Market.”

Bread

“My favorite place right now is Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery at the Boston Public Market. They’re based out of Winchester, and their sourdough, French loaf, and baguette — I can’t get enough of it.”

Sweets

“Tatte Bakery for their cheesecake and their Morning Buns. It’s hard to go wrong at that bakery. And one we found recently that’s sort of family business is Yummy Mummy Brownies at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market.”

Chat with Lauren about her book and her fresh picks on Nov. 19th at Barnes and Noble in Framingham, and Dec. 4 at Wellesley Books. ​