April 2024 New Cookbook Review

Welcome to April! You can keep track of what is coming this year with our 2024 Cookbook Preview and don’t forget that you can create a wishlist and share it with your loved ones. Our April 2024 EYB Cookbook Club Summary and May 2024 Great Big Cookbook Club Summary can be found at the links provided.

Last May we announced that we have connected the EYB database to ckbk’s library of digital cookbooks. ckbk is a cookbook subscription site where you can access the full content of more than 840 great cookbooks, the majority of which are indexed here on EYB (and more will be indexed every week). For all the details, please see Jane’s post. If any of this month’s books are a part of the ckbk library, we have identified them as such: ckbk.

If you would like to order any of these titles (or preorder/order any other books or items) using our affiliate links below or BUY BOOK button on the book details page, earns Eat Your Books revenue as an Amazon Associate from qualifying purchases when using our links:

USA * Canada * UK * Australia 

Please also remember your local bookstores – for preorders as well – authors state that preorders really help with their budgets for publicity, etc.

If there is an   available for a cookbook, look for the orange icon in the blurb. Clicking on that link will take you directly to the Preview.

Lastly, if events are planned for particular books/authors, I have included a link. Be sure to check our Calendar frequently for new entries there are loads of events around the world as more in-person and virtual events are being planned.

To jump to a particular country’s listing, please click on the links below.

United States

A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood by Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero: The authors are cofounders of Speed Rack, the international bartending competition for women where competitors must make classic and original cocktails as quickly as possible, only using the limited ingredients available onstage. Informed by lessons learned at Speed Rack, here they present a guide to making winning cocktails confidently and efficiently at home, based on what is in your bar cart and the ideal match for a particular craving or occasion.

A-Gong’s Table: Vegan Recipes from a Taiwanese Home (A Chez Jorge Cookbook) by George Lee is a rendering of food through the memories of family and of home with over ninety plant-based recipes from the creator of Chez Jorge, with Laurent Hsia’s images of Taiwan. While writing this book, George wandered all over Taiwan with his friend Laurent Hsia, who took photos along the way. Together, they sought out the foods and places tied to their memories growing up.

Around Our Table: Wholesome Recipes to Feed Your Family and Friends by Sara Forte is the third and most personal cookbook from the author. It comes from years of work on the Sprouted Kitchen blog and Cooking Club, which has provided insights into how people actually want to cook and what obstacles they face. This book is her answer to the question “What do I make for dinner when I feel overwhelmed?” And more importantly, “How do I fall in love in with cooking again?”. Sara shares her honest and unfussy insights from heavy lifting sauces that can work for multiple meals, to truly flexible meals (accommodating picky kids, dietary restrictions, and time limitation), tips on which dinners will travel well, feed a group, and freeze well. With ideas for all of life’s big moments; meals for birthdays, bridal showers, and meals to deliver to families with new babies, or sick relatives. Sara will be at Vivienne Kitchen & Pantry on May 3rd and Book Larder on May 6th.

Big Dip Energy: 88 Parties in a Bowl for Snacking, Dinner, Dessert, and Beyond! by Alyse Whitney: Dip is the world’s universal love language, and dipficionada Alyse is here to teach you how to be fluent in Big Dip Energy. In this personality-filled, outrageously fun book, she shares her MVDs (most valuable dips and dippers), tips for dipceptively easy entertaining, and styling inspiration for the best #DipPics. Dip can turn any moment into a party, and helps turn strangers into friends as they gather ’round the bowl and dip into her twists on classics and innovative transformations of popular dishes to dips.

Bourbon Land: A Spirited Love Letter to My Old Kentucky Whiskey, with 50 Recipes by Edward Lee: In this highly anticipated follow-up to the James Beard Award-winning Buttermilk Graffiti, Edward Lee examines his favorite libation – bourbon – with recipes, essays, history, profiles, distillery tours, and more.

Cook Simply, Live Fully: Flexible, Flavorful Dinner Recipes for Any Mood by Yasmin Fahr offers 120 recipes for taking the grind out of dinnertime, with dishes that span the range of “too tired to chop vegetables” to “up for a challenge but please make it snappy.” Yasmin’s approach is all about simplicity and flavor while keeping things nutritious and vegetable-forward. I want to make so many recipes from this book including: Garlicky ground chicken with ginger & scallions; Crispy & crunchy oregano chicken; and Vinegary winter pork chops with feta & Parmesan white beans. Events

Dessert Boards: 100+ Decadent Recipes for Any Occasion by Elizabeth Latham delivers the perfect blend of savory and sweet that combines the charcuterie board craze with decadent desserts. Enjoy a wide array of delicious flavors – from fruity to creamy to crunchy – with impressive presentations. Step-by-step instructions make it simple to craft stunning creations.

Elise’s Home Kitchen: Easy Family Recipes for Everyday Cooking by Elise Thomas, founder of Cookie Co., shares not only the delectable baked goods she is famous for but also the fast, easy, and delicious meals that have become staples for her own busy family. Recipes are broken into sections based on cravings: Burgers, Sandwiches and Tacos, Pasta, Soups, Salads, Side Dishes, Appetizers and Dips, Breads, Cookies, Cakes and Pies, Desserts and Treats, Breakfast and Brunch.

Everyday Delicious: 30 Minute(ish) Homecooked Meals Made Simple: A Cookbook by Rocco Dispirito: Finding himself at home more during the pandemic and in the hybrid world that followed, the James Beard Award–winning author and chef rediscovered for the first time in decades the joy of cooking for and savoring weekday meals with his family and friends, something that was not a regular occurrence when he was working in a busy restaurant or as celebrity chef on the go. Of course, as a home cook preparing nightly family meals, Rocco also experienced the fatigue of spending hours planning and cooking every night rather than sitting at the table enjoying family and friends. That’s what inspired this book: a collection of 100 no-fuss weekday meals to help you cook like a chef every night, in about thirty minutes or less. Every recipe is full of flavor and is sure to be a hit with the entire family. Rocco has events planned at Williams-Sonoma.

Fermented Vegetables, 10th Anniversary Edition: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 72 Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs in Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Kimchis, Krauts, Pastes & Relishes by Kirsten K. and Christopher Shockey: This updated and revised bestselling guide to fermenting vegetables shares 65 new recipes, 8 new vegetable and fruit entries, 12 new producer profiles, 4 new fermentation techniques, and a greater emphasis on zero-waste processes.

Flavors from the Farm: Vegetable-Forward Food to Share by Emma Hearst celebrates fresh food from her Upstate New York farmstead with 100+ flavor-forward recipes from the garden. Enjoy 100+ recipes that capture the seasons, emphasize eating well, and are suited for entertaining from garden-driven batch cocktails to shareable crudité platters, seasonal salads, pastas, meats, and more for eating and gathering with friends and family. The author will be at Union Square Greenmarket on May 18th.

Food Gifts: 150+ Irresistible Recipes for Crafting Personalized Presents by America’s Test Kitchen and Elle Simone Scott: Food fosters connection, and there’s no more meaningful way to connect with others than to give a personalized food gift that you’ve prepared and packaged yourself. Elle Simone Scott, food stylist, ATK cast member, and author of the bestseller Boards, turns her considerable talents to expanding the boundaries of what food gifts are (they’re endlessly customizable) and when they can be given (literally, anytime), proving along the way that food is one of the best (and best-looking) gifts you can give. This is a book that is filled with inspiration and delicious gifts! Fun promotion coming up. Events

Food. Family. Repeat.: Recipes for Making Every Day a Celebration by Keyshawn Hudson delivers delectable, soulful dishes tailored to beginner cooks. This book is simply a collection of what he does best. With chapters like Welcome to Jam Rock (Jamaican Classics), Family Dinner Time, Soul-Filled Holiday Favorites, Anytime Apps, and even Vegan Comfort Classics, Keysh has a recipe that will speak to every craving. Along with the recipes, you’ll find a selection of menus for entertaining, tips for throwing together a gathering on the fly, and meal-prep tricks to make sure you serve up dinner with a smile.

Forage & Feast: Recipes for Bringing Mushrooms & Wild Plants to Your Table by Chrissy Tracey takes you on a journey to discover and collect plants and fungi. Use the identification guides and nature photographs to help you forage, then cook your way through fall, winter, spring, and summer with recipes featuring the wild ingredients. No matter where you live, you’ll be able to find recipe inspiration and universally useful foraging advice. From urban magnolia blooms and easy-to-find dandelions to golden chanterelles and sweet pawpaws, Chrissy shows you how to transform nature’s treasures into vegan recipes everyone will love.

Forage. Gather. Feast.: 100+ Recipes from West Coast Forests, Shores, and Urban Spaces by Maria Finn features more than 100 recipes to show us what to do with the delicious foodstuffs you can dig, snip, or catch anywhere from Alaska to Northern California, then put it all together in homecooked meals best shared with friends and gorgeous sunset views or cooked in the wild over a campfire. Maria will be at Book Larder on June 5th,

Smokin’ and Grillin’ with Aaron Brown: More Than 100 Spectacular Recipes for Cooking Outdoors by Aaron Brown serves up more than 75 grilling recipes and 25 smoking recipes – including all kinds of meat and veggie main courses, and special chapters on sauces, sides, and desserts – that draw on Southern, Cajun, and African-American traditions and make weeknight and weekend grilling more exciting and rich in variety than you’ve ever known.

Homestyle Kitchen: Fresh and Timeless Comfort Food for Sharing by Julia Rutland is a nostalgic yet elevated nod to vintage recipes. The cookbook is both sentimental and aspirational, connecting home cooks with past generations through dishes they once made in their home kitchens while introducing new generations to meals you may have enjoyed as a child. The recipes draw on the simple goodness of fresh ingredients and love. Plus, the author is a professional writer, recipe developer, recipe tester, food stylist, and television/media demonstrator, so you can be certain that every dish offers the quality your loved ones deserve.

Indulge: Delicious and Decadent Dishes to Enjoy and Share by Valerie Bertnelli shares the author’s secrets for indulging in the kitchen so her fans can start living their best, most fulfilling lives too. Whether it’s splurging on some fresh produce at the farmer’s market, cooking an extravagant steak dinner for one, or serving up an ice cream sundae bar at a dinner party, this book is a reminder that indulging can take many shapes and forms.

Italian/American: It’s a QCP Cookbook, Betch! by Gianluca Conte: In Italian/American, QCP will take you on an cooking journey like you’ve never known before – one that explores the two distinct sides of his Italian heritage. Including 50 authentic Italian recipes and 50 Italian-American ones, plus deep-dives into topics like Italian bread-eating culture. Whether you want to recreate something your nonna taught you or fulfill your desire to modernize a classic Italian dish, Italian/American will provide all the inspiration you need. Warning – in every picture of the author he is shirtless while only donning an apron. The author has some events planned at Williams-Sonoma.

Kindred Spirits: Cocktails for Two by Stephanie Wahler: A delightful drinks book for couples, Kindred Spirits serves up 40 cocktail recipes to enjoy with your sweetie, 40+ photos, and creative date ideas that will add some spirited fun to your love life.

Koreaworld: A Cookbook by Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard is a vibrant exploration of Korean cuisine, both in Korea and in Koreatowns around the globe, with more than 75 bold, flavor-packed recipes and stunning photography from the New York Times bestselling authors of Koreatown. Events

Le Sud: Recipes + Stories from Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur by Rebekah Peppler is described as the definitive guide to the food, drink, and lifestyle of southeastern France, featuring 100 recipes that reflect the simple, seasonal, and multicultural French table from a modern perspective. This French cuisine cookbook and lifestyle guide shares sweet, savory, and cocktail recipes along with 100+ transporting photographs that expand our perception from lavender fields and afternoon pastis to a geographically and culturally diverse region of ocean, rivers, mountains, marshes, and plains and the delicious dishes that represent them. Events

Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year by Christopher Kimball shares 365 essential recipes and tons of foundational resources to make you a more confident cook from the James Beard Award winning team at Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street. This is a massive tome with both inspiration and reference for the contemporary kitchen, with recipes that will change the way you cook at home. Milk Street Kitchen is planning a launch party on May 1st.

Mexico in Your Kitchen: Traditional Home-Style Recipes That Capture the Flavors and Memories of Mexico by Mely Martinez: Starting her cooking journey from childhood, the author has rooted her expertise in family and culture. With her acclaimed cookbook The Mexican Home Kitchen, she successfully transported her fragrant flashbacks into the homes and kitchens of fans around the world. Mely continues her journey by capturing even more of her flavorful recipes in Mexico in Your Kitchen, including authentic dishes inspired by the states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Veracruz, Puebla, Estado de México, Tabasco, and Yucatán. In every section, she invites you to experience the taste of Mexico, providing tips and stories that will fill your hearts just as much as your stomachs.

Modern Asian Kitchen: Essential and Easy Recipes for Dim Sum, Dumplings, Stir-Fries, Ramen, Rice Bowls, Bibimbaps, Pho, and More by Kat Lieu is the second cookbook from the author of Modern Asian Baking at Home and owner of the Subtle Asian Baking Group on Facebook. In her new book, she serves up more than 80 inventive recipes for vibrant vegetable dishes plus quick noodle dishes for super-easy lunches. You can enjoy dim sum at home any day with tricks and food hacks like rice-paper shrimp dumplings; delight in quick-fix matcha ramen bowls and simple miso soups; or make street-food favorites like Taiwanese popcorn chicken in the air fryer, or highly customizable bibimbap bowls for busy-weeknight dinners. And there are Southeast Asian favorites like cold-papaya salads, streaming hot phos, and spring rolls with surprising things inside and punchy chile-crisp coatings on the outside.

My Life in Recipes: Food, Family, and Memories by Joan Nathan: Everyone must read this amazing book that details Joan’s life, loves and shares her favorite recipes. It is beyond fascinating. Enter our US giveaway for a chance to win a copy. Events

My Mexican Mesa, Y Listo!: Beautiful Flavors, Family Style by Jenny Martinez features 100 recipes ranging from breakfast and appetizers to tacos, tamales, and taquitos. The main dishes include mole negro, carnitas, chiles rellenos, and enchiladas. Jenny also covers kitchen basics for making tortillas and salsas from scratch—recipes that are sure to become staples in the home of anyone who enjoys the book. And let’s not forget her tasty desserts like churros, paletas, and Mexican bread pudding, and a few cocktails too. Sure to delight her avid fans and Mexican food lovers everywhere, this cookbook is a must-have for home cooks looking for their next delicious meal.

Newt: A Cookbook for All by Newt Nguyen: Newt’s relatable charm and uproarious cooking videos have taken the internet by storm and now, he invites you to step into his world, where cooking is an adventure. His debut cookbook is for everyone, with more than 75 beginner friendly, hugely satisfying recipes.

Niçoise: Market-Inspired Cooking from France’s Sunniest City by Rosa Jackson: At the foot of the French Alps, on the Mediterranean coastline, the city of Nice is sun-drenched, bursting with color, and replete with vibrant, full-flavored food. The author is the founder of the popular cooking school Les Petits Farcis and a resident of the city since 2004. Encouraging readers to follow the seasons, Jackson structures her delicious and easy-to-master dishes around the freshest ingredients and celebrates casual street food like the tuna, egg, and vegetable sandwich known as pan bagnat. Beautiful photography, visits to local shops and restaurants, and conversations with the mamies who keep traditions alive further transport readers to the hidden corners of this tourist mecca.

Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends by Benny Blanco is the debut cookbook from the pop music super-producer, artist, actor on FXX’s Dave, consummate food freak and boyfriend of Selena Gomez. Here he teaches you everything you need to know about cooking, enjoying life, and throwing the greatest dinner party of all time. Be warned of the language and “out there” oversharing (he likes sex) – if that is something you cannot ignore, this may not be the book for you. I have to confess I was certain I would not care for this title. But color me wrong – the recipes look fantastic and I can look pass his brazenness and the last recipe for Ed Sheeran’s Deep-fried Rolex – to see the value in his recipes. Many times those recipes have been shared by his chef friends and the book was co-written with  Jess Damuck which gives it even more merit. I will be holding onto this title to enjoy. On May 2nd, the author has an event at Kitchen Arts & Letters with Tieghan Gerard and Nadia Caterina Munno.

Perfectly Simple Ice Cream: 100 Recipes Anyone Can Make by Anthony Tassinello and Mary Jo Thoresen: Discover how easy it is to recreate recipes from your favorite ice cream shop at home in this irresistible celebration of all things sweet and frozen. Brought to you by two veteran chefs of Alice Waters’ famed Chez Panisse restaurant, this book shows you how to whip up the perfect scoop of ice cream, sherbet, granita, frozen yogurt, and other delightful treats – from the classic and nostalgic flavors to the surprising and festive.

Pizza Night: Deliciously Doable Recipes for Pizza and Salad by Alexandra Stafford is the second book from the author of Bread Toast Crumbs. In Pizza Night, the author presents four simple doughs – thin-crust, Neapolitanish, pan, and gluten-free (plus sourdough variations) – and easy techniques for perfecting your crust. From there you can make a variety of pizzas that you can make the same day or ahead; make it extra cheesy and decadent or go the healthy road – pizza-making easily adapts to busy schedules and tastes and requires little in special equipment. Events

PlantYou – Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet by Carleigh Bodrug, the author of PlantYou: 140+ Ridiculously Easy, Amazingly Delicious Plant-Based Oil-Free Recipes comes scrappy cooking to save money, reduce food waste and eat healthier. Scrappy Cooking not only puts the focus on eating a diet that’s more conscious for our environment (and our wallets) but our health as well. Every recipe in the book is vegan, almost entirely oil free, and focuses on whole, plant-based foods that are good for our bodies and the planet. 

Priya’s Kitchen Adventures: A Cookbook for Kids by Priya Krishna: From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of Indian-ish and Cooking at Home, comes an illustrated cookbook for kids and their parents that draws on Priya’s childhood experiences traveling the globe with her family. With delicious recipes and laugh-out-loud stories, Priya’s Kitchen Adventures will get kids cooking and expand their curiosity about the world. Events

Seriously, So Good: Simple Recipes for a Balanced Life by Clarissa Stanton shares 100 flavor-bomb dishes, which are approachable, nourishing, and always fun. Carissa describes them as healthy, but not too healthy because health isn’t just about being able to run a marathon or eating “clean,” it’s about living your life to the fullest. Clarissa has an event planned at Book Passage on April 25th and others at Williams-Sonoma.

Simple Country Living: Techniques, Recipes, and Wisdom for the Garden, Kitchen, and Beyond by Annette Thurmon: Join homesteader and founder of Azure Farm, Annette Thurmon, to connect with nature on a deeper level. In her debut cookbook, you’ll find a sampler covering homesteading techniques that can be put to work no matter where you live. Recipes, tips, tricks, and family activities will help you reduce waste, save money, and harness new skills.

Stuzzichini: The Art of the Italian Snack by Stef Ferrari: From the Tuscan countryside to Sicilian cafes, Italians enjoy their drinks with snacks called stuzzichini (“stoo-zih-ki-ni”). These small bites, skewers, dips, toasts, pastries and more are provided at no extra charge by the restaurant or bar and served alongside Negronis and Aperol Spritzes at aperitivo hour. Let this magical tradition of hospitality inspire your spread the next time you’re tempted to assemble a cheese board for a gathering or put out a bowl of chips for a snack.

Sugar Taco at Home: Plant-Based Mexican Recipes from our L.A. Restaurant by Jayde Nicole, Nia Gatica Campos and Alan Campos: Women-owned and 100% plant-based, Sugar Taco is an LA go-to for Mexican food, for good reason. The authors along with chef Campos launched Sugar Taco in 2019 with a vision for a women-owned business that championed traditional dishes in an eco-conscious and animal-friendly way. They ditched meat and dairy for juicy jackfruit, perfectly seasoned seitan, house-made queso, and more, and then paired this on-trend menu with vibrant Dia de Muertos–inspired decor. The restaurant has been thriving ever since, with two locations and a third in the works. Now with their debut cookbook it is possible for readers to bring the restaurant experience home.

Sweet Treats from Brownies to Brioche: 10 Ingredients, 100 Recipes by Mel Asseraf: The author is a two-time champion of Food Network’s hit show, Chopped, and was trained in classical French cuisine in Paris. Her simple yet elegant sweets have been a social media sensation – and now, she’s excited to bring the joy of baking to your home. Mel demystifies French techniques and shows you how to use them, along with ten basic ingredients, to make everything from simple cookies, biscotti, bars, and the best brownies you’ve ever tasted, to impressive French pastries and celebratory desserts. I was pleasantly surprised about how wonderful this book is with gorgeous photography and detailed instructions.

The Book of Pintxos: Discover the Legendary Small Bites of Basque Country by Marti Buckley: Nestled in the nine square blocks of Old Town in San Sebastian, Spain, is a culinary tradition unlike any other in the world: the pintxo. Ranging from a simple anchovy-and-pepper toothpick skewer to a decadent layered cheese, quince, and walnut spread on toast, pintxos are impressive, well thought-out dishes, distilling ingredient know-how and creative cooking techniques into one or a few bites. Bar owners take pride in their pintxo recipes, which are often closely protected and passed down through generations. In the first authoritative book on this subject, author and Basque transplant Marti Buckley defines what makes a pintxo, traces its history back several decades, and shares the recipes so home cooks can authentically recreate these tiny morsels in their own kitchens. Through 100 recipes, bar profiles, histories, and vivid photographs, this vibrant title unlocks a window into this dynamic Basque food culture for curious eaters everywhere.

The Cocktail Parlor: How Women Brought the Cocktail Home by Nicola Nice: Throughout American history, women have helped propel what we know as classic cocktails – the Martini, the Manhattan, the Old-Fashioned, and more – into popular culture. But, often excluded from private clubs, women exercised this influence from the home, in their cocktail parlors. Here, Nicola Nice, sociologist and spirits entrepreneur, gives women their long-overdue spotlight in cocktail history and shows how they still impact cocktail culture today. Journeying through the decades, this book profiles a diverse array of influential hostesses. With each historic era comes iconic recipes, featuring a total of 40 main cocktails and more than 100 variations that readers can make at home.

The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, 10th Anniversary Edition: 700 Recipes for Everything You’ll Ever Want to Make by America’s Test Kitchen is the 10th anniversary edition of the New York Times bestseller (almost 600,000 sold) updated with more than 100 new recipes, new photography, and updated equipment buying recommendations.

The Cook Book of All Time: Recipes, Stories, and Cooking Advice from a Neighborhood Restaurant by Ashley Bernee Wells and Tyler Jeremy Wells is the first cookbook from the husband-and-wife duo responsible for All Time, Los Angeles’ bustling, sought-after restaurant, that highlights the simple, delicious food that attracts guests from all over, alongside their intimate, hilarious, and tender stories.

The French Ingredient: Making a Life in Paris One Lesson at a Time; A Memoir by Jane Bertch is the inspiring and delicious memoir of an American woman who had the gall to open a cooking school in Paris – a true story of triumphing over French elitism and falling in love with a city along the way.

Nukazuke: The Japanese Art of Fermented Pickling by Nami Yamada: This book provides an exciting introduction to the Japanese method of pickling in a reusable bed of fermented rice bran – a medium that is easy to prepare and maintain at home. The author is a dietary expert, chef and herbalist, and she provides instructions for 60 fermented pickles including unusual ones made from ingredients like daikon radish, lotus root, shiitake mushrooms, apples, garlic and tofu!

The SalviSoul Cookbook: Salvadoran Recipes and the Women Who Preserve Them by Karla T. Vasquez is a beautifully photographed cookbook that celebrates the vibrant culture and community of El Salvador through 80 recipes and stories from twenty-five Salvadoran women. Karla has events planned at Omnivore Books on May 4th and Bold Fork Books on May 11th and 12th.

The Sea Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes for Memorable Meals on or near the Water by Sidney Bensimon: For ocean lovers and seafarers, this photo-rich cookbook features 65 vegetable-forward and pescatarian recipes to satisfy hungry sailors and surfers or to savor after a day of beachy languor. These recipes are easy enough to make in a galley kitchen on a sailboat or in a beach bungalow with limited equipment, and they all encourage seasonal, sustainable cooking. Eco-friendly travel and boating tips, plus vivid stories from the author’s far-flung nautical adventures, make this more than just a cookbook.

Thoughtful Cooking: Recipes Rooted in the New South by William Stark Dissen: Growing up in West Virginia, the author began his culinary journey in his grandmother’s kitchen. There, family meals were cooked with local ingredients, many from the home’s bountiful garden. In this ambitious debut cookbook, Dissen reinterprets the flavors of his youth, putting a modern spin on recipes grounded in the traditions of sustainable agriculture, local cuisine, and the hills and valleys of his Appalachian community. Thoughtful Cooking also represents a culinary vibe shift, as these recipes invite the reader to meditate on the importance of cooking through the seasons and considering the people who are growing, harvesting, fishing, and foraging the ingredients.

Other titles of interest:

Canada

Foraging as a Way of Life: A Year-Round Field Guide to Wild Plants by Mikaela Cannon: Nourish your family from nature’s pantry. Foraging as a Way of Life documents twelve months of wildcrafting, featuring five different plants each month for a full year of abundant local and seasonal eating. Enhance your sense of self-sufficiency while increasing food security, protecting habitat, and connecting with the land.

Good Food, Healthy Planet: Good Food, Healthy Planet: Your Kitchen Companion to Simple, Practical, Sustainable Cooking by Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: In this simple-to-follow guide for today’s households, the food writer and climate activist provides everything you need to prepare good-for-us, good-for-the-planet food. Beginning with a primer on “the big why” of eating with emissions and land-use in mind, and a comprehensive guide to stocking kitchen essentials and making the most of your pantry, Puneeta outlines the accessible, achievable framework she calls “Eating with Benefits.” The book’s 75+ recipes are climate-conscious, mostly meat-free, low-waste, and, of course, delicious!

Kitten and the Bear Cookbook: Recipes for Small Batch Preserves, Scones, and Sweets from the Beloved Shop by Sophie Kaftal and Bobby Zielinski: Artisanal jam makers and founders of the celebrated shop Kitten and the Bear offer over 90 recipes to create your own sweet world of preserves and baked goods. Inspired by turn-of-the-century American apothecaries, farmhouse living of the northern East Coast, and intimate British tea rooms, Kitten and the Bear is beloved for its cozy feeling of nostalgia, blue-ribbon collection of signature scones, and hand-crafted, small batch fruit preserves made using time-honoured cooking methods.

mmm… Manitoba: The Stories Behind the Foods We Eat by Kimberley Moore and Janis Thiessen: In 2018, the authors and collaborator Kent Davies refashioned a used food truck into a mobile oral history lab. Together they embarked on a journey around Manitoba, gathering stories about the province’s food and the people who make, sell, and eat it. Along the way, they visited restaurant owners, beer brewers, grocers, farmers, scholars, and chefs in their kitchens and businesses, online, and on board the food truck. The team conducted nearly seventy interviews and indulged in a bounty of prairie delicacies, from Winnipeg’s “Fat Boys” to Steinbach’s perogies to Churchill’s cloudberry jam. Thiessen and Moore serve up the results of this research in mmm… Manitoba. Mixing recipes, maps, archival records, biographies, and full-colour photographs with fascinating stories, they showcase the province’s diverse food histories.

Plant Magic: A Celebration of Plant-Based Cooking for Everyone by Desiree Nielsen shares approachable ways to incorporate plants into your meals, along with how to dial up your pantry and tricks for coaxing the best out of simple foods like beans, grains, and vegetables. Plant-based cooking doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming, or restrictive. Whether you’re craving morning things, stuff on bread, one pot (or pan) dishes, salads, tasty noodles, really good sweets, or everyday tonics and potions, Plant Magic makes cooking and eating joyful.

The Book of Sandwiches: Delicious to the Last Bite: Recipes for Every Sandwich Lover by Jason Skrobar shares sandwich recipes for every day of the week and every week of the year. Sandwiches for comfort food cravings, for quick meals to grab and go, even for high-impact (low-key) ways to impress your friends. Inside are sandwiches for late nights when the hunger hits, and for the next morning when your energy is low. Try the very best new versions of well-known sandwiches, plus tons of truly inventive ideas for sandwiches you’ve never thought of before.

The Krause Berry Farms Cookbook: Sweet and Savoury Recipes from the Fraser Valley’s Famous Farm and Bakery by Sandee Krause celebrates 50 years of cooking delicious food and delighting Fraser Valley locals and tourists alike. The beloved Krause Berry Farms brings a collection of farm and family favourite recipes to kitchens everywhere!

The Side Gardener: Recipes & Notes from My Garden by Rosie Daykin is the story of how Rosie Daykin – a bestselling and award-winning cookbook author who also happens to garden a little on the side – turned a languishing patch of land beside her home into an informal working garden.

The World’s Most Wanted Desserts – Part 1 by Harneet Jolly: In his debut cookbook, author and chef Harneet Jolly simplifies the process of making all kinds of desserts, from cookies to pies to tarts to cakes to beverages. In the ten sections, he addresses the most commonly occurring faults in any dessert and shows the reader not just the reasons for the said faults, but also suggests simple remedies.

United Kingdom/Ireland

A Nordic Feast: Simple Recipes for Gatherings with Friends and Family by Mikkel Karstad: In his book Nordic Family Kitchen Mikkel Karstad applied his culinary skills to easy family meals. Now here he offers the same impeccable flavors, practiced techniques, and laid-back style in a guide to effortless entertaining. Divided into six occasion-based menus, the book sets the stage for a summer barbecue, a formal Christmas dinner, a relaxed family lunch, a children’s birthday picnic, weeknight supper for friends, and Sunday brunch. Each setting is captured in elegant photographs that reflect an atmosphere of togetherness, friendship, and joyful community.
Karstad’s menus are packed with mouth-watering, vegetable- forward recipes using fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Between the Sheets: Easy and Inventive Layered Traybakes by Sarah Wordie delivers 60 ultra-tasty dishes that all use pasta sheets or other clever layering ingredients.

Big Mamma Italian Recipes in 30 Minutes: Shower Time Included by Big Mamma: The Big Mamma team shares its greatest chef secrets so you can make fast and authentic Italian dishes for all. Each member of the squadra has offered their top tips and anecdotes all straight from The Boot to make you a forno star. Crazy and naughty recipes for everything from Breaded ‘Burratina turner’ burrata to Hot spaghetti all’Arrabbiata, Focaccia alla Parmigiana to Tartufini al limoncello.

Bored of Lunch Healthy Air Fryer Super Speedy by Nathan Anthony: With dishes ready in 30 minutes or less (including prep time!), this is effortless cooking to maximise flavour while minimising cooking time. Every recipe is calorie counted, so you can have lighter versions of your favourites dishes on the table in just half an hour, making mealtimes and life that bit easier.

Buds and Blossoms: Delicious and Beautiful Edible Flower Recipes by Liz Knight: Though there has been somewhat of a renaissance for cooking with edible flowers, they have largely been relegated to adorning cakes and sweets; Buds and Blossoms shows that their culinary potential is so much greater than that. Liz Knight seeks to reinvigorate our love for cooking with edible flowers through her incredible recipes and engaging writing style. She includes 20 different flowering plants, all of which are easily sourced, and takes us on a delicious journey from mouthwatering dishes such as Rose arrabiata and Magnolia leaves with aubergine and Miso to lilac honey pannacotta as well as a Tulip and mint mojito.

Classic French Recipes by Ginette Mathiot is an elegant cloth-covered new collection of tried-and-tested accessible recipes, complete with two ribbon markers, and more than 170 of the finest French dishes have been selected from her works. With gorgeous, newly commissioned photography, an introduction by food writer Keda Black, and a fascinating foreword by the adopted Parisian pastry chef, cook, and writer, David Lebovitz, this book is the ultimate guide for all home cooks on how to prepare the most authentic and delicious French cuisine the French way.

Cocina de Andalucia: Spanish Recipes from the Land of a Thousand Landscapes by Maria José Sevilla is a selection of truly authentic recipes have been developed by the author during time spent in her house in Aracena near Seville. Each recipe will be accompanied by short histories relating to the character of a chosen locality, a particular dish or equally important, the people that grow and prepare the food. It would not be a book about the food loved by the Andalucians without including some local ingredients and regional specialties such as Iberico Hams from Huelva, olive oils from Cordoba or Jaen, olives from Seville, or Sherry vinegar, sea salt and shrimp in Cadiz.

Cookies & Crumbs: Chunky, Chewy, Gooey Cookies for Every Mood by Kaja Hengstenberg: Some like ‘em gooey and chewy, others chunky and crunchy, but everybody loves cookies. Whether it’s classics like Milk choc chip, Peanut butter and chunky double choc or new favourites like melt-in-the-middle S’mores, Coffee and cardamom or Banana and walnut there are endless delicious flavour combinations for baking cookies at home. Cookies & Crumbs is a fun-filled, fresh-out-of-the-oven celebration of everyone’s favourite sweet treat, packed with simple, unbeatable recipes you’ll make on repeat.

Doma: Traditional Flavors and Modern Recipes from the Balkan Diaspora by Spasia Pandora Dinkovski: Founder of London-based supper club and delivery service Mystic Borek, Spasia is on a mission to bring the rich flavors and traditions of North Macedonia to the masses. With 80 fresh and innovative recipes for unmissable dishes, Doma playfully experiments with traditional flavors while also forging a unique and modern take on the food of this hereto unexplored region. Alongside many recipes are poignant food stories from across the country offering a unique snapshot into the region’s vibrant culinary and cultural history, accompanied by vivid imagery of modern-day North Macedonia. With influences from the former Yugoslavia and Turkey, the food of the Balkans features flavors and textures that tantalize every palate—from sweet and salty pickles and crisp salads to deliciously savory, flaky pastries; rich winter warmers; and indulgent desserts.

Flayvaful: Spice Up Your Kitchen by Nathaniel Smith: Self-taught chef Nathan started uploading his delicious recipes on social platforms during the first lockdown in April 2020 and The Grub Works Kitchen was born. His Caribbean heritage influences many of his dishes, which are packed full of spice and big flavours. These are the sorts of dishes that reel viewers in on TikTok – Hot honey chicken sandwich, Jerk chicken quesadillas, Cajun roast potatoes, Shawarma spiced lamb – because they’re familiar and Nathan makes them so easy to recreate at home.

Fruitful: Sweet and Savoury Fruit Recipes Inspired by Farms, Orchards and Gardens by Sarah Johnson is a celebration of fruit, and all the glorious variety it can bring to our plates. From crisp apples to buttery pears, sticky peaches to plump berries, and zingy lemons to tart cherries. An introduction covers the key techniques for cooking with fruit, such as roasting, poaching and puréeing. Over 80 recipes follow in chapters on citrus, berries, stone fruit, orchard and vine fruits, pome fruits, shrubs and stalks. Plus plenty of jams, sorbets and ice creams. The author has an event planned at Omnivore Books on June 21st.

Gill’s Bakes and Cakes: Simple * Quick * Delicious by Gillian Cottell: The author is on a mission: to make the magical world of baking accessible to everyone. Her step-by-step instructions cater for all skill levels. Try sweet treats, like chocolate Florentines, a show-stopping vanilla funfetti birthday cake or baked caramel cheesecake. From cookies and snacks to breads and spectacular cakes, from no-bake treats to delicious desserts, Gill Cottell will have you producing mouth-watering bakes and cakes in no time!

Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion by Alain Ducasse is a memoir and manifesto from the world’s most Michelin starred chef, Alain Ducasse, with introductions by internationally renowned writer Jay McInerney and chef Clare Smyth.

Greekish: Everyday Recipes with Greek Roots by Georgina Hayden is brimming with vibrant, modern food that sings of the Mediterranean. The latest from Georgina Hayden is a must-have for 125 simple recipes that are perfect any day of the week. Georgina will be at Topping & Co. Bath on May 7th.

I’ll Bring Dessert: Simple, Sweet Recipes for Every Occasion by Benjamina Ebuehi showcases 70 sweet recipes to cater for any occasion. Being the designated ‘dessert person’ is often met with panic, but Benji is here to show you that not only is it fun, but it’s simple to create desserts with wow-factor all year round no matter the day, season or occasion. From recipes made in one dish or desserts that are easy to transport, to the perfect pud to feed a table of 4 all the way to simple recipes to please a crowd, this is a dessert book that will please any level of bakers. Benjamina has events at Kitchen Arts & Letters on May 3rd; Book Larder on May 7th; Vivienne Kitchen & Pantry on May 8th; and Ominivore Bookstore on May 11th (see our calendar).

Italian Coastal: Recipes and Stories From Where the Land Meets the Sea by Amber Guinness: The author has spent thirty years exploring the Tyrrhenian waters, from the Tuscan coast to Sicily and the Amalfi coast. She spends every summer on the tiny island of Salina. This new book is inspired by the markets and food of summer holidays by the beach. Guinness brings her lifelong connection to Italy together with her intuitive food, art, and knowledge of history. Filled with delicious and achievable recipes, as well as sumptuous travel and food photography, this book is a fusion of memoir, travelogue, and recipe book designed to transport readers to the sunny Mediterranean with 120 color illustrations.

Kith: Scottish Seasonal Recipes by Sarah Rankin: the MasterChef finalist has a passion for Scottish produce and flavours and for feeding people. Being a food lover encompasses not just a passion for the ingredients themselves, but also for the seasons and weather which nurture them, and the people who tend, harvest and prepare them. Taking those ingredients and creating something delicious for those you love is the highest compliment you can pay any vegetable, beast, fish or fowl. In Kith, Sarah shares stories on her family favourites, the inspiration for her recipes, and why food is the greatest way to show your love. Kith is a collection of practical and inviting seasonal dishes, mixing the traditional and the contemporary, and celebrating the extraordinary versatility of Scotland’s larder in a hundred recipes.

Last Minute Dinner Party: Over 120 Inspiring Dishes to Feed Family and Friends At A Moment’s Notice by Frankie Unsworth offers a hassle-free approach to entertaining, championing simplicity in favor of showiness, from quick post-work dinners all cooked in one pan to deceptively simple show-stopping suppers for a Friday night with friends. With tips and tricks from hosting expert Unsworth, learn how to pull off the perfect care-free dinner for friends through simple get-ahead hacks to prepare at the weekend, shortened shopping lists, and freezer shortcuts.

Love Vegetables: Delicious Recipes for Vibrant Meals by Anna Shepherd: Ingredients have a tendency to repeat themselves in our weekly menus, but the food on our plates can be varied and delightful. By making vegetables the main event in each of these dishes, Love Vegetables is your culinary reminder of just how easy and rewarding cooking with fresh produce can be. In this insightful book, Anna Shepherd shares the deep knowledge she has gained over years working with farmers, cooking professionally, and teaching everything from how to prep a potato, to how to shave a sprout. Anna will be at Topping & Co. Bath on June 11th.

Make More With Less: Foolproof Recipes to Make Your Food Go Further by Kitty Coles: Make your weekly shop go further – take core ingredients and transform them into flavour-packed, simple dishes. This title shares ways to eke your food out, with adaptable dishes that make your kitchen work for you. Each chapter features a core recipe, with clever ways to level-up any leftovers, alongside a handful of other exciting recipes to try.

Max’s World of Sandwiches: A Guide to Amazing Sandwiches by Max Halley and Benjamin Benton is broken into two sections: sandwiches and components. The sandwich recipes marry the elements in the components section, putting every tip and trick available into world-class sandwiches. The components section will include the key tenets of any sandwich – think bread, sauces, fillings and adornments. Max will be at Topping & Co. Bath on May 16th.

Microwave Meals: Delicious Recipes to Save Time, Effort and Energy by Tim Anderson teaches you how to raise your microwave game. From Prawn wontons with chilli oil and Steakhouse creamed spinach, to Japanese curry gratin and Philly cheesesteak, as well as desserts such as Miso maple caramel walnut brownies and Grapefruit and honey drizzle cake, there are 60 delicious recipes that can all be easily whipped up in the microwave. Full of tips and tricks, you will learn how to make the microwave your own little sous chef, expediting delicious meals in ways that may surprise and delight you. Tim will be at Topping & Co. Bath on June 21st.

Norteña: Authentic Family Recipes from Northern Mexico by Karla Zazueta shares delicious and authentic recipes from a Mexican home kitchen. Passed down through the generations of the author’s family, Karla explores cooking techniques and ingredients brought in from lesser explored regions. This is a true taste of Mexico using fresh produce, bursting with flavour, colour and history. Karla will be at Topping & Co. Bath on May 1st.

Plant Feasts: Recipes for slow living in a fast-paced world by Francesca Paz is inspired by the author’s journey of overcoming addiction. This is a nourishing plant-based cookbook that shows how slow living with easy food connects us to our planet, and also to ourselves. This journey of love through eclectic dishes draws influence from Frankie’s healing journey: from her grandmother’s knowledge of plants and folklore, to the indigenous wisdom of the Elders and plant-caretaking communities of Latin America, with whom the author lived, to the importance of sharing stories around the table.

The Hairy Dieters’ Fast & Fresh by Dave Myers and Si King is the brand-new collection of tasty, easy-to-prep, low-calorie dishes from the nation’s favourite cooking duo, The Hairy Bikers. Inspired by the ingredients of the Mediterranean, Si King and Dave Myers have developed over 80 delicious and nutritious recipes to help you move away from processed foods and ready meals to make the most of the fresh ingredients available throughout the year. Sadly, Dave Myers passed away earlier this year. We are unsure if this is the last cookbook coming from the pair or if another one had been in the works.

Rebel Bakes: 80+ Deliciously Creative Cakes, Bakes and Treats For Every Occasion by George Hepher shares 80+ step-by-step recipes to his most popular cakes, bakes and sweet treats as well as never-before-seen recipes. From showstopper layered cakes to his signature wagon wheels, the famous cornflake brookie to mouth-watering and inventive rocky roads variations – these recipes are easy to follow, and seriously good. The author will be at Topping & Co. Ely on May 28th.

RHS Greener Gardening Vegetables: The Sustainable Guide to Growing Planet-friendly Crops by Royal Horticultural Society: Build your vegetable garden on sustainable, eco-friendly foundations from the start with this new guide to growing your own fresh, organic food.

Salad Meals: Salads to Feed Body, Soul & Friends by Emily Ezekiel shows you how to eat the rainbow of fruit and vegetables throughout the year with delicious and all-around satisfying meals that are more sustainable to shop for and better for your overall health. In addition to delicious main course salads, this title introduces readers to the concept of salad boards (a riff on the popular snack and charcuterie boards), which are sure to impress at dinner parties. And for busy workdays, ideas for salad jars to take to work for desk lunches are healthy and time saving. Hearty salads use the addition of grains and proteins for the colder months, and lighter salads take advantage of fleeting spring and summer produce for the warmer months.

Scorched: The Ultimate Guide to Barbecuing Fish by Genevieve Taylor is a one-stop shop for recipes and practical advice that will help you get the most from cooking fish on your barbecue, beginning with the science of why we need to cook different types of fish in different ways and the physics of how fire works. Live-fire cooking expert Genevieve Taylor covers everything you’ll ever need to know about buying and cooking all kinds of fish, from whole fish, filleted fish, shellfish, stuffed & wrapped, fish on a stick, in the form of burgers & fritters, fish in a pan and smoked fish. Genevieve provides essential information about setting up your barbecue, sourcing your fuel and lighting your fire, and setting up your grill, with troubleshooting tips throughout. Full of succulent, colourful recipes, Scorched is the most useful, practical and comprehensive guide to grilling fish on the market. The author has an event at Milk Street Kitchen on May 18th.

Sebze: Vegetarian Recipes from My Turkish Kitchen by Özlem Warren: “Sebze” translates as vegetables in Turkish and so this cookbook is a collection of 90 vegetarian and vegan recipes celebrating Turkey and her food. Inspired by thousands of years of rich and diverse culinary heritage, Sebze champions dishes such as Stuffed flatbreads, Menemen, Baked fig and feta, and Baklava, with recipes that are easy, accessible, seasonal, and sustainable – not to mention utterly delicious. A passionate and skilled advocate for her national cuisine, Ozlem will show you how to make meals that you want to – and can – cook, making Sebze the perfect introduction to Turkish food for the home cook.

The Connaught Bar: Cocktail Recipes and Iconic Creations by Agostino Perrone: Recreate the Connaught Bar’s signature drinks at home, with over 200 recipes for cocktails and homemade ingredients. Step inside one of the best bars in the world and learn how the Connaught Bar’s virtuoso mixologists create 100 elegant cocktails – both contemporary and timeless classics – with easy-to-follow recipes and clear instructions on how to recreate them at home. Alongside expert guidance for essential bar tools, glassware, and spirits, there are 120 additional recipes for homemade syrups, infused spirits, and garnishes.

The Levantine Vegetarian: Recipes from the Middle East by Salma Hage covers vibrant vegetarian home-cooking recipes, capturing the essence of the Middle East, from the award-winning author of the best-selling The Lebanese Kitchen. This glorious celebration of a bold vegetarian cuisine features 140 easy-to-make, bright, uplifting plant-based recipes, including classics such as falafels, hummus, and tabbouleh, as well as unique dishes reflective of region, religion, and culture across the Levantine.

The Little Book of Chocolate Desserts: Make Your Own Desserts at Home by Melanie Dupuis: From learning where chocolate comes from to how it is processed, as well as featuring over 15 chocolate dessert recipes, you will master key skills to help you become a better at working with chocolate. This is a bite-sized masterclass in chocolate and every chocolate lover’s dream.

The Slimming Foodie Easy Meals Every Day: Healthy Dinners for the Whole Family by Pip Payne: Say goodbye to dinner time dilemmas with more than 100 simple, healthy and tasty recipes. Perfect for home cooks of all levels, this book will take the stress out of mealtimes, with recipes that are fuss-free and use everyday ingredients that won’t break the bank. Including a chapter for each day of the week, plus four weekly meal plans and shopping lists, it has never been easier to eat well after a long day!

Wild Figs and Fennel: A Year in an Italian Kitchen by Letitia Clark: Following the course of a year in Italy, this beautiful book is a joyous look at the Italian way of life centered around food. Diving into the seasonal produce and exciting traditional and fresh ways to cook these delicious ingredients; brimming with tantalizing flavors, warm, evocative stories and stunning location photography, this is a celebration of culture and flavor rooted in the Italian tradition of sustainability, simplicity and thrift. Letitia has events at Divertimenti on May 22nd and Topping & Co. St. Andrews on May 24th.

Pocha: Simple Korean Food from the Streets of Seoul by Su Scott: Pocha is short for pojangmacha, which literally translates as ‘covered wagon’; pocha is a tented or tarpaulin-covered stall, bar or market vendor serving up cheap and unfussy Korean comfort food, snacks and drinks. Following her debut book Rice Table, in Pocha Su Scott is going home to the streets where she grew up and the food that shaped her. From daybreak to sundown, 80 delicious and playful recipes take you on a journey through the narrow streets of Seoul and sheltered halls of tarpaulin-roofed markets where dust motes and steam glitter in the glow of orange tungsten lights. This is unfussy, easy, comforting food from a country that has perfected late night eating and drinking culture.

Zao Fan Breakfast of China by Michael Zee: Breakfast in China is an important affair. At dawn, the streets come alive with vendors setting up for the morning breakfast rush. Each will have their specialty that they make day in, day out, honing their recipe over years, and even generations. Locals are spoiled for choice, with a huge variety of spicy noodles, plump dumplings, and fluffy buns all made fresh to order right on their doorsteps. These are recipes devised for speed and convenience and so are also perfect for filling lunches, nourishing dinners, and quick and tasty snacks. Michael Zee will be at Topping & Co.  Bath on April 29th.

Other titles of interest include:

Australia

At Nonna’s Table: One Italian Family’s Recipes, Shared with Love by Paola Bacchia: Inspired by her mamma Livia’s cherished recipes, Paola presents 60 delicious dishes that celebrate the best of Italian home cooking. From soups and appetizers to main courses, sides, desserts, pickles, and preserves, this book is a treasure trove of traditional and contemporary Italian dishes made with love and care. Complete with beautiful photography to accompany each delicious recipe, this book showcases the fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and simple techniques that make Italian food so beloved. Paola has an event at Milk Street Kitchen on May 14th.

The Sweet As Baking Cookbook by taste.com.au: For the first time, from Australia’s #1 food site, here comes the ultimate baking companion with 250+ favourite recipes hand-picked by the taste.com.au experts.

Rice: 80 Nice Rice Recipes from Asia by Smith Street Books is a book brimming with 80 rice recipes, inspired by the best dishes from Asia’s kitchens. A collection of the best dishes of the rice world, from sushi to biryani to bibimbap. With beautiful photography and dishes that are as simple as they are packed with flavour, this book is (almost) as good as a trip across Asia. Each chapter features a different style of rice – steamed, fried, simmered, molded, and sweet – forming the base of some very good recipes. From the staples you’ve loved for years to contemporary creations that will have you cooking them again and again, Rice’s recipes include congee, onigiri, nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken, and sticky rice with coconut caramel and sesame.

The Mediterranean Cook: A Year of Seasonal Eating by Mary “Meni” Valle: Escape to the Mediterranean with The Mediterranean Cook, a cookbook that celebrates the fresh and flavourful cuisine of the region with more than 80 vegetarian recipes. From roasted eggplants and tangy artichokes to perfectly flaky pastry boats and juicy grilled plums and figs, each dish is an invitation to savor the sensational flavors of the Mediterranean.

On Sundays: Long Lunches Through The Seasons by Dave Verheul: The debut cookbook from the acclaimed chef of the groundbreaking Melbourne restaurant Embla (recently visited by Barack and Michelle Obama) presents a series of memorable feasts to be shared. It’s the day of the week when everything stops and we have more time to spend in the kitchen. But what should you cook on a Sunday at the start of spring, or Sunday after a tough week? A Sunday in the backyard, or a Sunday with strangers? This beautifully photographed book offers inspiring recipes and stories for every kind of Sunday, with 20 shared menus licked by flames. You’ll find innovative seasonal dishes, stylish salads, creative desserts and helpful tutorials on breadmaking, preserving and mushrooming. An evocative and original guide to weekend entertaining, On Sundays hums with energy, humour and casual elegance to help you close the week in style.

New Zealand

The Laden Table: Recipes to Share Infused with Spice by Ashia Ismail-Singer: The author draws on her family’s rich and diverse cultures to dish up an inspired banquet where spices are the heroes and food is designed to be shared. The Laden Table is the perfect cookbook for anyone who want to create a bit of magic for their next gathering – from canapes, drinks and summer salads to moreish side dishes, hearty mains and luscious cakes and sweet bites. Ashia knows exactly how to cook for a party, celebration or holiday picnic, and she has even included handy meal plans to help you curate the perfect menu, whatever the occasion or season. The Laden Table is the perfect cookbook for the ultimate entertainer, and Ashia’s food will surprise and delight your guests, and keep them taking about that party for months to come.

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