March 2020 New Cookbook Review

With the world in a state of flux, I have been able to distract myself (as much as possible) in the world of cookbooks. Recently I prepared my Best Cookbooks of Spring and I am always scouring the internet for new cookbook releases. The looking forward to 2020 cookbooks post provides an outline of what this year has in store for us. This post will continue to be updated with new additions, edits to titles and publication dates and more! 

March and April are exciting months for releases! This month we have a worthy selection of cookbooks ranging from the long-awaited Falastin and new titles from Melissa Clark, David Lebovitz, and Susan Spungen.

Be sure to follow us on social media (buttons located on right lower sidebar on the home page). If you would like to order any of these titles, using our affiliate links (right beneath the social media buttons) or the BUY BOOK button on the book details page, will help to support EYB and our indexing efforts (as well as help us to include worldwide options in some promotions). Most of our titles are released in multiple regions and are available locally and through worldwide sellers such as the Book Depository that make global titles available to more members with free international shipping.

If there is an  available for a cookbook, look for the orange icon in the blurb. Clicking on that icon will take you directly to the preview. Also, please note that author events are indicated at the end of each paragraph where applicable but as I have mentioned in other posts many of these events have been canceled or postponed.

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United States

Open Kitchen: Inspired Food for Casual Gatherings by Susan Spungen shares simple, stylish recipes for fearless entertaining from the renowned food stylist, New York Times contributor, and founding food editor of Martha Stewart Living. I received this book on Saturday and can’t put it down. With recipes such as Rosey harissa chicken, Twice-baked celeriac, Ribollita en croute, and pages devoted to a Mezze feast – there is something for everyone. Events

A Feast of Serendib: Recipes from Sri Lanka by Mary Anne Mohanraj is a beautiful book that shares the author’s personal food journey. Mary Anne introduces her mother’s cooking and her own American adaptations, providing an introduction to Sri Lankan American cooking that is straightforward enough for a beginner, yet nuanced enough to capture the unique flavors of Sri Lankan cooking.

Faith, Family & the Feast: Recipes to Feed Your Crew from the Grill, Garden, and Iron Skillet by Kent & Shannon Rollins invites readers to sit awhile at their table. The stars of the YouTube channel Kent Rollins Cowboy Cooking, authors of the hit cookbook A Taste of Cowboy, serve up spins on southern and western favorites, with a side of spiritual values Events

Eat Something: A Wise Son’s Cookbook for Jews Who Love Food and Food Lovers Who Love Jews by Evan Bloom and Rachel Levin is packed with homey recipes and relatable humor; it is as much a delicious, lighthearted, and nostalgic cookbook as it is a lively celebration of Jewish culture from the folks behind Wise Sons.

Drinking French: The Iconic Cocktails, Apéritifs, and Café Traditions of France, with 160 Recipes by David Lebovitz features 160 recipes for everything from coffee, hot chocolate, and tea to apéritifs such as Kir and Lillet, classic and modern cocktails from the hottest Paris bars, and creative infusions using fresh fruit and French liqueurs. And because the French can’t imagine drinking without having something to eat alongside, David includes crispy, salty snacks to serve with your concoctions. Each recipe is accompanied by David’s witty and informative stories about the ins and outs of life in France, as well as photographs taken on location in Paris and beyond. Events

The Phoenicia Diner Cookbook: Dishes and Dispatches from the Catskill Mountains by Mike Cioffi, Chris Bradley, and Sara B. Franklin shares 85 comfort food recipes, including classic Americana dishes and reimagined favorites, from the celebrated Phoenicia Diner in New York’s idyllic Catskill mountains.

Dinner in French: My Recipes by Way of France by Melissa Clark breaks down new French classics with 150 recipes that reflect a modern yet distinctly French sensibility. We are working on a promotion with Le Creuset but as most offices are working in a state of flux that will be coming when things are better.  Events 

Bake from Scratch: Volume 4: Artisan Recipes for the Home Baker shares all the recipes from the Bake from Scratch magazines and a title I look forward to every Spring. It is always a must-have for every baker and even owning the magazines – I value their addition to my library every year.

Rika’s Japanese Home Cooking: Simplifying Authentic Recipes by Rika Yukimasa, internationally celebrated chef and TV personality, offers simplified, often healthier versions of popular Japanese dishes and also introduces less-well-known ones. Sauteed chicken with teriyaki sauce, Wagyu with steak sauce, and Kinpira carrot and potato stir fry are just a few examples. Rika has written dozens of cookbooks and this is her first in English.

The Baja California Cookbook by David Castro Hussong and Jay Porter is a joyful exploration of the cuisine of Baja California (Mexico’s Napa Valley) with 60 recipes celebrating the laidback lifestyle found right across the border. Inspired by the local landscape and his food from the award-winning restaurant Fauna, David offers such dishes as Honey-roasted duck, Duck sopes, Potato empanadas with ground beef, and Honey semifreddo with raw milk ice cream and caramel crunch.

The Outdoor Kitchen: Live-Fire Cooking from the Grill by Eric Werner, chef and owner of Hartwood in Tulum returns to the fire and delivers 80 plus recipes in his second cookbook. His first cookbook Hartwood is a thing of pure beauty. With recipes that include Marinated chicken breasts with grilled pineapple relish, Black peppercorn panna cotta with stewed plums, and Grilled banana trifle with toasted peanut streusel, you will understand why people line up in the jungles of Tulum to eat Werner’s food.

My First Cookbook: Fun Recipes to Cook Together…with As Much Mixing, Rolling, Scrunching, and Squishing As Possible! by America’s Test Kitchen will inspire the youngest chefs to enter the kitchen, empower them to cook, and engage their creativity – plus they’ll have fun doing it. From simple after-school snacks to holiday celebration recipes, each beginner recipe is developed by the experts at America’s Test Kitchen Kids before being kid-tested and kid-approved.

Pierre Hermé: Chocolate by Pierre Hermé displays his artistic mastery in this homage to chocolate through recipes that highlight the diversity of the world’s favorite ingredient in all its forms.

Bakerita: 100+ No-Fuss Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Refined Sugar-Free Recipes for the Modern Baker by Rachel Conners offers recipes for everything from breakfast treats, pies and tarts, and updated all-time favorites like chocolate chip cookies, all made without any hard-to-find ingredients.

Always Home: A Daughter’s Recipes & Stories by Fanny Singer (Alice Waters’ daughter) is a cookbook and culinary memoir about growing up as the daughter of revered chef/restaurateur Alice Waters: a story of food, family, and the need for beauty in all aspects of life. Events

Flavors of the Southeast Asian Grill: Classic Recipes for Seafood and Meats Cooked Over Charcoal by Leela Punyaratabandhu delivers 60 vibrant recipes proving that Asian roadside barbecue is just as easy, delicious, and crowd-pleasing as American-style backyard grilling. Look for a promotion on this book along with a chef’s knife from Schmidt Brothers Cutlery.

Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible by Erin Gardner provides the ultimate guide to procrasti-baking with pride and purpose in this inspired collection of 100 recipes. Now that we all are staying home Erin provides easy one-hour projects to weekend affairs. Erin’s books are always fun, innovative and delicious! Events

Fresh From Poland: New Vegetarian Cooking from the Old Country by Michal Korkosz brings us the very best of the Polish kitchen, inspired both by the food of the author’s childhood and by the new wave of flavors to be found in the trendy restaurants, cafes and farmers markets of modern Poland. He showcases the beautiful fruits and vegetables of his homeland, while evoking the nostalgia of the beloved cuisine of his mother and grandmother.

Beyond Borscht: Old World Recipes from Ukraine and Eastern Europe by Tatyana Nesteruk, author of The European Cake Cookbook is back sharing the food from her native Ukraine, which includes dishes from Russia and other Eastern European countries. This is the food she loves to cook at home – delicious, hearty and comforting meals. I’ve made her braised pork several times already and can’t wait to try other recipes! Tatyana is an author to watch.

Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails: Prohibition Centennial Edition: From the 1920 Pick-Me-Up to the Zombie and Beyond – 150+ Rediscovered Recipes … With a New Introduction and 66 New Recipes by Ted Haigh is a new, expanded edition of Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails – issued for the 100th Anniversary of National Prohibition.

Venetian Republic: Recipes from the Veneto, Adriatic Croatia and the Greek Islands by Nino Zoccali (published in November in Australia) and will be released in the US this month. This book brings the beauty of this area and its cuisine to our kitchens offering us a reprieve from the stressors we are all facing. Filled with gorgeous imagery and recipes such as Veronese beef and cherry pastissada with celeriac and pancetta gratin, you will fall in love with this book as much as I have. Pasta Artigiana: Simple to Extraordinary is Nino’s first cookbook and another must-have!

Easy Everyday Keto: Healthy Kitchen-Perfected Recipes by Alicia A. Romano and America’s Test Kitchen Editors is a meticulously tested, must-have collection of recipes for regular meals that anyone would enjoy, skipping the gimmicky ideas and seeking nourishing healthy fats and low-carb vegetables in recipes.

Week Light: Super-Fast Meals to Make You Feel Good by Donna Hay shares the beloved author’s collection of weeknight meals. This title was previously published in Australia last year. See our review for more information.

Other titles of interest include:

• Fast & Flavorful Paleo Cooking: 80+ Easy, Delicious Recipes for the Weeknight Chef by Amanda Torres
• Rocco’s Keto Comfort Food Diet: Eat the Foods You Miss and Still Lose Up to a Pound a Day by Rocco Dispirito
• A Parisian Bistro: La Fontaine de Mars in 50 Recipes by Cécile Maslakian
• Traditional Meals for the Frugal Family: Delicious, Nourishing Recipes for Less by Shannon Stonger
• The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners: Easy, Foolproof Recipes for Your Air Fryer by Laurie Fleming
• Plant-Based Gourmet: Vegan Cuisine for the Home Chef by Suzannah Gerber
• A Blissful Feast: Culinary Adventures in Italy’s Piedmont, Maremma, and Le Marche by Teresa Lust
• Notes from a Maine Kitchen: Seasonally Inspired Recipes by Kathy Gunst (paperback edition of 2011 title)
• The Boba Book: Bubble Tea and Beyond by Andrew Chau and Bin Chen
• My Rendang Isn’t Crispy and Other Favourite Malaysian Dishes by Zaleha Kadir Olpin is being published in Singapore and available in other regions.
• Made Whole Made Simple: Learn to Heal Yourself with Real Food and Healthy Habits by Cristina Curp
• The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook: Elevated Recipes for Your Favorite Meats and Sides by Jenna Passaro
• Paleo Baking at Home: The Ultimate Resource for Delicious Grain-Free Cookies, Cakes, Bars, Breads and More by Michele Rosen
• Wildcrafted Fermentation: Exploring, Transforming, and Preserving the Wild Flavors of Your Local Terroir by Pascal Baudar
• Japanese Cookbook for Beginners: Classic and Modern Recipes Made Easy by Azusa Oda
• 101 Incredible Gluten-Free Recipes by Jennifer Bigler

Canada

Gather at Home: Over 100 Simple Recipes, DIYs, and Inspiration for a Year of Occasions by Monika Hibbs, popular blogger, and lifestyle influencer, shares her favourite recipes and crafts to bring thoughtful touches to all of life’s moments – big or small.

The Long Table Cookbook: Plant-Based Recipes for Optimal Health by Amy Symington puts a gourmet spin on healthy ingredients with recipes that are made to share. Recipes are satisfying and simple to prepare, they are also crafted to offer a balanced, nutrient-rich menu of whole foods.

United Kingdom

Everyday BBQ: All Year Outdoor Grilling by Andreas Rummel is a new reference work on barbecuing – now the BBQ season can last all-year! Learn how to prepare perfect meats, fish, and vegetables and discover creative marinades and dips that will stun your guests. Vegetarians, too, will have plenty to love in this sumptuous volume. From straightforward to imposing, the recipes in this book will keep your grill BBQ every day – no matter whether gas or charcoal.

Carpathia: Food from the Heart of Romania by Irina Georgescu is the first book from the food stylist and cooking enthusiast that introduces readers to Romania’s bold, inventive and delicious cuisine. Bringing the country to life with stunning photography and recipes, it will take the reader on a culinary journey to the very heart of the Balkans, exploring its history and landscape through its traditions and food. Next month this title will be released in the US by Interlink Books.

Storecupboard Vegan by Laura Veganpower and Sébastien Kardinal provides 300 easy, fast and inexpensive recipes that use ready-made vegan preparations. Almost all the vegetables and herbs used in this book are frozen. The first obvious advantage of using frozen is time-saving! No cleaning, no peeling, no cutting – and available in small quantities, without waste. The second advantage is having on hand the basics for an instant meal. So the aim of this book is to provide recipes for real cooking every day using mainly products that are easily found in local neighbourhood shops and supermarkets. The idea is to use what you have on hand, stored in your kitchen cupboards or at the bottom of the fridge

Stork – The Art of Home Baking: 100 Years of Baking Memories by Stork celebrates one hundred years of baking with Stork, Britain’s best-loved margarine brand. Stork is a favourite with both the Queen and the Queen of Baking: Mary Berry, who has been singing the praises of this timeless brand for years. After a century at the heart of British baking, Stork shares their tips for bringing out the best in your creations, with recipes for cakes, biscuits, and other delicious teatime treats!

Everyday Bakes to Showstopper Cakes by Mich Turner delivers a collection of recipes to take you all the way from the delicious every day through to the spectacular. Starting out with simple cakes, biscuits, and cupcakes, the author then provides you with a few extra steps to turn these into fabulous creations. If you’re looking for more of a challenge these bakes are easily adapted to create a true showstopper cake.

Entertaining with Mary Berry: Favorite Hors d’Oeuvres, Entrées, Desserts, Baked Goods, and More by Mary Berry and Lucy Young is an extra-special updated edition of Mary Berry’s popular entertaining cookbook, Mary makes cooking for gatherings of family and friends easy, with over 160 recipes that work well for both small and large parties. Lavish new photography and bonus festive recipes make this edition a precious self-purchase or an ideal gift for any Mary fan.

The Pastry School: Master Sweet and Savoury Pies, Tarts and Pastries at Home by Julie Jones (author of Soulful Baker) will unleash your inner pastry chef. Just as stunning as her first title, this book provides all the know-how to make pastry right every time and includes both sweet and savory, gluten-free and vegan pastry as well as hot water, puff, choux, suet and leavened options.

Vegan JapanEasy: Classic and Modern Japanese Recipes to Cook at Home by Tim Anderson is the latest from a master of modern Japanese cooking. Find out more about this title in our promotion/giveaway.

Simple Spice Vegetarian: Easy Indian Vegetarian Recipes from Just 10 Spices by Cyrus Todiwala demonstrates that with a spice box of just 10 favourites, you can whip up simple home-cooked dishes such as Spiced aubergine and tomato frittata; Sweetcorn, celery and coconut chowder with almonds; and Baked tandoori-style cauliflower with couscous and spinach & garlic in no time at all.

Frances Mayes Always Italy by Frances Mayes is a lavishly illustrated and gift-worthy guide from the world’s most beloved expert on la dolce vita. This title takes readers on the ultimate insider’s tour of Italy’s 20 iconic regions, revealing little-known gems, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and one-of-a-kind experiences.

James Martin’s Islands to Highlands: 80 Fantastic Recipes from Around the British Isles is a new celebration of the unique food of the British Isles. James travels from islands to Highlands, cooking and eating everywhere from Cornwall to Scilly, Jersey and Guernsey, Isle of Man to Shetland, the Peak District, Lake District, and Yorkshire Moors, and from Wales to Skye.

Giffords Circus Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from a Magical Circus Restaurant by Nell Giffords and Ols Halas is a celebration of the food that brings the circus and its audience together, alongside the story of the circus itself and its vibrant community. Full of colour, personalities, stories and images of the circus and its slow journey through the English summer countryside, the book’s 100 recipes are nothing but delicious, joyful and hearty.

Falastin: A Cookbook by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley is as magnificent as we thought it was going to be. Filled with stories, photographs, and recipes that provide comfort and inspiration. This title is published in the USA in April. Events

Table Manners: The Cookbook by Jesse and Lennie Ware shares delicious, easy dishes that are designed for real people with busy and sometimes chaotic lives with the ultimate goal of everyone eating together so unfiltered chat can flourish.

Ana Ros: Sun and Rain by Ana Roš is a personal chef monograph, and the first book, from the globally-acclaimed chef of Hiša Franko in Slovenia. Set near the Italian border in Slovenia’s remote Soca valley, in the foothills of mountains and beside a turquoise river full of trout, Ana Roš tells the story of her life. Through essays, recollections, recipes, and photos, she shares the idyllic landscape that inspires her, the abundant seasonal ingredients from local foragers, the tales of fishing and exploring, and the evolution of her inventive and sophisticated food at Hiša Franko – where she has elevated Slovenian food and become influential in the global culinary landscape. Please remember that Eat Your Book members receive 30% off Phaidon titles when using the link provided.

The Curry Guy Light: Over 100 Healthy Indian Restaurant Classics and New Dishes to Make at Home by Dan Toombs shares a lighter version of his classic base sauce, and lower-cal versions of curry house classics, including starters like Onion bhajis and Spicy hot chicken wings. Toombs also brings us our favourite sides such as Tarka dhal and Coconut rice, plus chutneys and snacks. All the recipes have clear, step-by-step instructions, and are guaranteed 100% delectable.

Ainsley’s Mediterranean Cookbook: 100 New, Easy Recipes Inspired by the Med by Ainsley Harriott includes all the recipes from his major 10-part ITV1 series. Journeying through Spain, Sardinia, Morocco, Corsica and Jordan, Ainsley shows how easy and enjoyable it can be to make fresh, healthy, delicious meals.

Grow & Cook: The Ultimate Kitchen Garden Guide by Mark Diacono is a reprint of The New Kitchen Garden published in 2015. Diacono has distilled years of knowledge into this pocket-sized book. Whether you are new to gardening and only have a small window box or you are much more experienced with the space to experiment, this user-friendly handbook will inspire and help you. You can learn more about the author’s cookbook Sour in our giveaway post.

Other titles of interest include:

• Share: Delicious Platters and Boards for Social Dining by Theo A. Michaels

Australia

Beatrix Bakes by Natalie Paull, baker extraordinaire of Melbourne’s Beatrix Bakes Bakery, is a dreamy book filled with delightful bakes. Natalie has worked for Maggie Beer and Stephanie Alexander before opening her own bakery in 2011. She shares instructions from assembling a layer cake, pages of crusts and dough recipes and so much more. Recipes such as Pillowy peach and polenta pie, Cocoa meringue roulade with mascarpone and toffeed figs, Bananingtons, and Honeyed peanut beesting buns are sure to excite bakers everywhere. 

The Pie Maker: Quick and Easy Recipes for Pies and Other Creative Creations by Australian Women’s Weekly celebrates all things pastry pies as well as a host of clever creations you’d never expect. You’ll love these inspired recipes for mac and cheese bites, muffins, scones, bacon and eggs, fritters, pancakes and so much more. All quick and easy to make, they take no time at all to cook – perfect for the whole family.

Vegan Junk Food: A Down & Dirty Cookbook by Frankie Aoki is the anti-vegan cookbook for vegans. Almost every vegetarian and vegan cookbook focuses on the whole wheat/kefir/green cleanse/salt lamp/lentil aspect of living a cruelty-free diet.

F*ck That’s Hot: A Spicy Guide to Upping the Heat in the Kitchen by Billy Law features seventy spicy recipes that will blow your head right off. We recommend having some palliative milk at the ready.