2021 has been great for cookbooks

Each year I wonder how cookbook authors could top the fantastic books they have already written, yet I keep being pleasantly surprised at the quality of cookbooks that are released. Not every volume is a home run, but it is amazing that authors continue to innovate and find fresh takes on a variety of subjects. I own dozens of baking… read more

Dorie Greenspan wants to send love letters to you

"Come on in, pull up a chair, grab a cookie." Dorie Greenspan, beloved cookbook author and all around wonderful person, is launching a newsletter and wants to share it with you. From Dorie: I'm so glad that you're here and I'd love for you to be here every week, twice a week. If you want to sit around my table… read more

Cooking with Marilyn Monroe (or at least her cookbooks)

If you have a spare $50,000 to $75,000 lying around, you can own a piece of history. Two cookbooks owned by Marilyn Monroe are going up for auction on June 22nd. The cookbooks are: The New Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking School Cook Book and The New Joy of Cooking were both published in the early 1950s and said to be… read more

Learn about the world of art cookbooks

When people see my bookshelves during Zoom meetings only a few notice that they are filled with cookbooks. Most of the books are ones that I use or consult with some regularity, although I keep several books for sentimental reasons or because they are just so gorgeous I can't part with them. I view the latter as works of art,… read more

It might be time to listen to your cookbooks

Audiobooks make wonderful road trip companions and are also a wonderful way to wind down at the end of the day. Fiction and autobiographies are the top sellers in this category, and you might not think that a cookbook would do well an audiobook. However, some of them translate exceptionally well to the genre as The New York Times' Jennifer… read more

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett’s cookbook collection will amaze and inspire you

There are cookbook collections and then there are cookbook collections - numbers that boggle the mind and a depth that astonishes. Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett has the latter type of collection, with over 14,000 volumes including a noteworthy subsection of Jewish cookbooks that numbers over 1,200. “I collect absolutely everything, I’m indiscriminate,” she recently explained to Tasting Table. “The issue isn’t whether… read more

Preorder Cookbook Perks: Spring 2021

Earlier this month, I shared some highlights of the cookbooks being released this Spring. I noticed a few cookbook perks that you may want to jump on. I will be updating this post as I learn of more offers. As always, please email me at jenny@eatyourbooks.com if you have information about a cookbook preorder perk, author event or something cookbook… read more

New UK cookbook provides chefs’ favorite lockdown dishes

Gordon Ramsey, Tom Kerridge, Jamie Oliver, and 51 more of the UK's top chefs have collaborated on a new cookbook to be released next month in support of Hospitality Action, the charity that supports struggling hospitality workers. Available on March 18, which marks the anniversary of the first lockdown, Chefs at Home includes 54 recipes from culinary stars including the two mentioned… read more

Spring 2021 Cookbook Highlights

As most of you are aware, I continually update the 2021 Cookbook Preview post with additions each week. Working on the EYB Library and adding new cookbooks is one of my favorite jobs. Adding these soon-to-be released titles to our preview post gives me the same feeling of excitement as Christmas morning to a child. Today, I'm going to share… read more

The best selling books of 2020

Last month our friends at cookbook stores around the world gave us their picks for their favorite books of 2020 which we then included in our Best of the Best of 2020. Now we asked them for their top sellers of 2020. In past years we have compared the lists from specialist stores in the USA to that for all US sales from… read more

Two women, 8000 cookbooks

Cookbooks continue to buck the trend of faltering sales in the publishing industry. Last year, London's fastest selling nonfiction book since records began was a cookbook. For cookbook lovers, few things bring us as much joy as cracking open a new volume to explore the world within its pages, or thumbing through a well-worn copy of a favorite book. That… read more

Best of the Best of 2020

Despite the stresses of the worldwide pandemic, there has been no shortage of wonderful new cookbooks this year. And no shortage of best food and drink book lists celebrating the cream of the crop. We have assembled 285 lists from around the world to create our 12th annual Best of the Best. It will be no surprise to anyone who… read more

The best cookbooks of 2020 by the experts

Who knows cookbooks better than the owners of specialist cookbook stores? They stock and sell thousands of cookbooks and because their stores are focused on food and drink books, they are true experts. They read the books, cook from them and then share their knowledge with their customers. When shopping for cookbook gifts this holiday season, please think about supporting… read more

Worldwide Bookstore Global Events, Discounts and More

During December a number of our favorite cookbook stores are featuring specials, online events, and more. If you are aware of any holiday events, discounts please email jenny@eatyourbooks.com and I will update this article. Our worldwide listing of cookbook stores can be found here. Now Serving LA, Omnivore Books, Kitchen Arts & Letters, and Book Larder December 5, 11 a.m.… read more

2020 Gift Guide for the cookbook lover and cook & an Emile Henry tagine holiday giveaway

Several times a year, I put together a gift guide of great products and cookbooks that would make a special gift for the cook/cookbook lover in your life. My 2020 gift guide for the baker can be found here. For sake of brevity, I will refer you to my Best Books of Fall/Autumn 2020 and Best Books of Spring 2020 for cookbook… read more

2020 Gift Guide for the Baker

Several times a year, I put together a gift guide of great products and cookbooks that would make a special gift for the baker or cook in your life. My cookbook lovers/guide for the cook is coming soon. Today is all about the baker. First, let's talk about baking all-star titles from 2020: Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: Iconic… read more

Cookbook preorder perks and cookbook subscription boxes for Fall and Winter.

Often authors offer special perks for preordering their books and this post will cover a few of those. Also, I wanted to let you know about Hardcover Cook's Fall and Winter cookbook boxes - they are exciting! Peabody Johanson of Sweet Recipeas' first cookbook will be released November 17, 2020. You can check out a preview here . Peabody is… read more

Cookbooks can be life-changing

I do not have to work very hard to convince readers of our blog about the magic of cookbooks. They have woven a spell over our lives, enchanting us with their descriptions of faraway lands, mesmerizing us with detailed scientific explanations of baking chemistry, and wowing us with evocative images and stories. It never gets old seeing others discover the… read more

Guild of Food Writers announces 2020 winners

Last month we reported on the finalists for the 2020 UK Guild of Food Writers Awards. Today the Guild has announced the winners in the various categories. Highlighted winners are listed below, and you can visit our 2020 Guild of Food Writers awards page to see the complete list. The big winner for 2020 is The Vinegar Cupboard by Angela Clutton,… read more

The stories behind the scribbles

When I spy a used cookbook I am interested in buying, the first thing I do is skim the pages to see if anyone has written any notes inside. Early in my cookbook collecting, if I saw writing in the margins I would put book back on the shelf. I was only interested in pristine volumes, as years of working… read more

2020 James Beard Cookbook Award Nominees announced

Originally slated to be announced in March, the nominees for the 2020 James Beard Awards for cookbooks were revealed today via Twitter. This comes on what would have been the 30th Anniversary James Beard Awards in Chicago. The JBF chose to put the nomination announcement on hold and focus on supporting relief efforts for the restaurant industry. To date, the… read more

Food writers and chefs on their favorite cookbooks

It's always fun to learn which cookbooks famous food writers and top chefs find useful or inspirational. Today our insight into this arena comes via Eater London, where they have polled several food writers and chefs (in addition to Eater staff members) on which cookbooks are their favorites. EYB Member favorites Ruby Tandoh, Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, and Nigella Lawson… read more

We will always need cookbooks

More now than ever, the cooking community is coming out in full force. Everyone is live-streaming a dish, recipe and offering their advice on all things cooking. For those of us who know how to make a sourdough starter or transform a can of beans into a feast, it is our time to shine. Over the years, people have asked… read more

Jenny’s Best Cookbooks of Spring 2020

We are all looking for some semblance of normalcy during this difficult time. I will continue to write and share about cookbook news in the hope that it brings our members some distraction. We are all in this together. I suffer from an affliction which many of you can relate to - I obsessed about cookbooks. I am continually updating… read more

‘Classic Indian Cooking’ turns 40

We live in what has been described as a golden age for cookbooks. There are thousands of cookbooks published each year, and of those thousands, hundreds are noteworthy. But will they still be discussed after forty years has passed? Only the best and brightest books can claim to be relevant and inspiring decades after their release. Julie Sahni's Classic Indian… read more
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