Cookbooks & Food Writing

No one makes better pasta than Italian grandmothers, but what happens when their skills are not passed onto younger generations? Vicki Bennison set out to record nonne from all over Italy making traditional, handmade pasta before their techniques were lost. The result is Pasta Grannies, a hugely popular YouTube channel, and now this new book—a collection of perfected Italian recipes from the people who have spent a lifetime cooking for love, not a living. Authentic and awesome! - SB

True to its name, this cookbook has taught me how to cook every kind of meatless delight, from homemade veggie burgers that taste better than any restaurant’s, to pizza dough, stir fries, and stuffed zucchinis. I flip through this book whenever I need a little inspiration -- either for a quick dinner, or an entire dinner party menu. Great for beginner chefs and fledglings ready to stretch their wings! - Jess

In 2017, Hurricane Maria tore through the United States territory of Puerto Rico, destroying homes, power and water, ultimately causing 2,975 deaths. Chef Jose Andres vividly brings the disaster to life, depicting weeks of building a network of private chefs and restaurants that ultimately fed thousands a day, as the US government failed. Part memoir, part manifesto, reading this re-ignites outrage, but also provides guidance for a better way to help the survivors of future disasters. - Jocelyn

Ryan Jacobs takes the culinary grail of the black truffle, and lays out not only the the science behind the scarcity of this unique fungi, but also why those truffle fries probably have exactly zero truffle in them. Jacobs guides you on an evocative tour of the past and present world of the truffle trade, with stories exciting, hilarious, and heartbreaking, of the lives and crimes petty and pivotal seeking to grow rich off truffle. - Jocelyn

In this beautifully written food memoir, Thielen traces her journey from small town Minnesota to New York City. Thielen’s love of food transcends its usual function of taste and satiation, she uses is as a memory anchor and it serves as a deep connection to her family and her broader heritage. Heartfelt and often funny, this is a true love letter to food if there ever was one. - Jade

Queer Eye, for those not already completely obsessed like me, is the most wonderfully encouraging and radically empathetic makeover show to ever exist. Antoni Porowski, the resident Food & Wine Expert of the show, is best known for his quiet demeanor, intense love of guacamole, and modelesque looks. This book is full of wonderful recipes for any food lover in your life. Antoni has the incredible ability to teach even a novice chef how to make wonderful hors d’oeuvres and prove to more advanced chefs that even the simplest of dishes don’t have to taste simplistic. - Nicole

Rosenstrach knows and loves good food, but she is also a very busy working mom. Her cookbook is one of the few I’ve read (and used) that really gets how hard it can be to get a good dinner on the table every single night. She’s a huge advocate for family dinners, makes crowd-pleasing dishes, and likes a cocktail in the evening: In other words, she’s fantastic. - S.B.

I’m usually too busy to make a meal every night, so my slow cooker has become a godsend. Drew Maresco has made my life even easier with this cookbook, with recipes that are both delicious and extremely easy to prepare. This fantastic cookbook is packed with gorgeous, full-page pictures and covers a wide variety of culinary traditions, and includes vegetarian options. - Stuart

World-renowned chef and humanitarian José Andrés brings his boundless energy and curiosity to vegetables in his new book. Vegetables Unleashed is packed with vibrant, robust recipes—including Vegetable Paella and Catalan-Style Spinach—that will wake up your taste buds and make them sing. Andrés’s passion for produce is contagious and his inventive recipes will embolden any cook who feels stuck in a rut or is looking for adventure. - S.B.

Claire Thomson has managed to do something new yet obvious in bringing us New Kitchen Basics—a book of staples built around 10 key ingredients everyone will know, but for the 21st-century American kitchen, where comfort food includes tacos, curries, and pho’ as much as it does roast chicken, pancakes, and burgers. Written specifically for accessibility and accompanied by beautiful photos and clear, simple instructions, this is one you will start cooking from right away. - Jocelyn