How to clean out the pantry, tastefully

The change of seasons, whether from summer to fall or winter to spring, is the perfect time to reassess the half-empty boxes and bags, close to 'best by' date tinned items, and the random items you purchased on a whim with no recipe in mind. It can seem like an episode of Chopped when you start to inventory the contents… read more

The science of cocoa powder

Not all cocoa powders are made the same. You might be familiar with the terms Dutch-process and natural, but beyond those two main characteristics lies another world of nuance. There are different "dutching" processes, as well as differences between the cacao bean varieties used to create the cocoa. Throw in divergent fat percentages and your head can spin trying to… read more

Everyday Entertaining Cookbook Giveaway

Enter our US giveaway to win one of three copies of Everyday Entertaining: 110 Recipes for Going All Out When You're Staying In by Elizabeth Van Lierde. Elizabeth van Lierde is a writer, photographer, recipe developer and food stylist. After starting a career in event planning, Elizabeth discovered her true passion: entertaining. She launched her blog The College Housewife as… read more

Tomato, tomahto

Here in the northern U.S., we have reached peak tomato. My garden is churning out ripe tomatoes at a frantic pace as the light gets shorter and shorter each day. I have already eaten more than my fair share of BLTs, tomato sandwiches, tomato tarts, tomato salads, gazpacho, and various other tomato-related meals. I have canned several quarts of crushed… read more

Food news antipasto

This week brings us plenty of news about several celebrity chefs/cookbook authors and their restaurant openings and closings. First up is that Gordon Ramsay is at long last opening another restaurant in Scotland, 17 years after his Glasgow eatery Amaryllis closed. The new outpost of Bread Street Kitchen & Bar will take over the former Refinery site at 4-8 St… read more

Father’s Day recipes

Sunday is Father's Day in Australia and New Zealand, but even if you don't live in those countries, it's a good excuse to celebrate the special men or father figures in your life. If you plan on making something special but are out of ideas, head over to Australian Gourmet Traveller, as they have assembled dozens of Father's Day recipes… read more

The last two weeks: A look inside Gastro Obscura, 2022 cookbooks, giveaways, recipes and EYBD Previews

This roundup has more links and information than usual as we skipped last week's post as we sent out the monthly newsletter. For brevity's sake, I will keep the topic short and sweet: a quick look at an amazing food title: Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventure by Cecily Wong, Dylan Thuras and Atlas Obscura. Gastro Obscura is one of those… read more

Michel Roux Jr’s new travel program showcases French country cooking

The past couple of years have been rough on Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux Jr. He lost both his father Albert Roux (early this year) and his uncle Michel (in 2020), in addition to the pandemic wreaking havoc on the restaurant industry. Instead of dwelling on those events, the chef is instead focusing on the positives, such as a new grandson… read more

My Cookbook Passion and Quick Bites with Pamela Grogan, the author

My Cookbook Passion: Culinary History and Adventure in Exploring My Collection by Pamela Kure Grogan is slated for publication in November and our members will definitely want to own this title. A cookbook with a historic recipe anthology does not easily define the wonder of tracking the evolution of the cookbook and the modernization of the kitchen. Pamela Kure Grogan's… read more

A new Oxford Companion is on the way

The Oxford Companion series offers authoritative, highly researched deep dives into subjects like cheese, wine, and beer. Next month we welcome a new volume to these reference works: The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails, edited by David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, hosts of the podcast Life Behind Bars. The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails is the first major… read more

Looking forward to 2022 cookbooks

Every September, I begin cataloging the following year's cookbook releases. I do this for several reasons: 1) so our members know what is waiting down the pipeline and 2) it makes the monthly new cookbook reviews a little easier for me as I keep the original post updated when changes occur. Preview posts for the second half of 2021 -… read more

The New Yorker special culinary archival issue

Run, don't walk, to your local newsstand and buy a copy of this week's The New Yorker (or sign up for a free trial). The current issue is a tantalizing smorgasbord of food and drink writing, culled from the magazine's long and storied history. There are throwback articles from Anthony Bourdain, Nora Ephron, M.F.K. Fisher, Calvin Trillin, Madhur Jaffrey, and… read more

Food news antipasto

From baking to operating a cookery school to writing several bestselling cookbooks, John Whaite is living his best life. He will soon add another accomplishment to his impressive career: the 2012 Great British Bake Off champion is slated to compete in Strictly Come Dancing’s first all-male partnership. Whaite said: “I’m so grateful, excited, and nervous to be joining the Strictly… read more

Emily Dickinson, food writer

Emily Dickinson was never famous in her lifetime, with only a handful of her poems published while she lived, and all of those anonymously. The prolific poet's works were only discovered and published after her death at age 55. Despite authoring over 1,800 poems, Dickinson did not occupy all of her time with writing: she was known for both her… read more

A simple cookie

A chocolate chip cookie, no matter how large, is not going to solve the world's problems. I know that it cannot fix the fact that I missed a meeting with my supervisor earlier today, much less undo the tremendous damage caused by a madman thousands of miles away. It is just a simple confection, composed of flour, butter, sugar, and… read more

Don’t say cheese, say formaggio

Assorted cheeses on a rustic wooden board
I'll never forget the first time I walked in to the Dean & Deluca in Georgetown (Washington, DC). I was at the beginning of my culinary awakening, when I first became aware of the vast world of food beyond what I had experienced in my small Midwestern community. In particular, the array of specialty cheeses floored me: I did not… read more

Baked to Perfection – Cookbook Giveaway

Enter our US/UK giveaway to win one of three copies of Baked to Perfection: Delicious Gluten-Free Recipes, with a Pinch of Science by Katarina Cermelj. Baked to Perfection: Delicious Gluten-free Recipes, with a Pinch of Science by Katarina Cermelj begins with a thorough look at the gluten-free baking basics: how different gluten-free flours behave, which store-bought blends work best, and how… read more

New wishlist feature

Many of you have been asking for this feature for a long time. We are delighted to announce that the Wishlist is finally here. Next to each book and magazine's indexing status in the EYB Library you will see a red heart outline. When you click it, the heart turns to a solid red - the book or magazine is… read more

A tart and a tale

As I doom-scrolled through Twitter today, a tweet about Mayukh Sen's recent column for The New Yorker caught my eye, and I'm glad I clicked through. In the article, Sen shares a recipe for a late-summer tart by the indomitable Madeleine Kamman, but the piece is much more than just a short blurb and a recipe. Sen has a gift… read more

August 2021 New Cookbook Review

As I mentioned in a recent weekly roundup, publishers are experiencing shipping delays and labor shortages resulting in books being moved further down the pipeline. Typically our August monthly review is far more expansive. However, this does not mean that there aren't some spectacular books to consider this month. If you would like to order any of these titles, using… read more

Even more delicious things I am adding to my list of baking intentions

My list of baking intentions continues to grow. I've been working on the usual end of the month posts, the new cookbook review and our EYB Cookbook Club summary, but needed to take a break last night to do something creative. My reasoning is that if there isn't a due date, it is creative. Plus if I document my baking… read more

Sur la table Online Cookbook Club – Ticket to Event & Dada Eats Cookbook Giveaway

Sur la table (SLT) has offered cooking classes for years and I've been fortunate enough to take two classes one on laminated dough and another on macarons. Since COVID, they have switched up their classes to an online setting. Credit: Julia Gartland Last month, SLT launched their online cookbook club. August's featured author was Hetty McKinnon and September's author will… read more

August 2021 EYB Cookbook Club Summary

Each month we offer at least four cooking options in our Eat Your Books Cookbook Club. This month we have been cooking from: Main option: Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus by Yasmin KhanBaking option: Nadiya Bakes by Nadiya HussainOnline option: Jamie Oliver Online Recipes or Yasmin Khan Online RecipesVeg option: Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone by Jamie Oliver For past EYB Cookbook Club… read more

Food news antipasto

Maggie Beer is an Australian national treasure. Her cookbooks have garnered numerous awards, and she has taken up the cause of trying to change the food in aged care through her eponymous foundation. The Sydney Morning Herald's Benjamin Law recently interviewed Beer, asking questions on a number of topics, including her life before her food career. (As a reminder, EYB… read more

This week: A look inside Jamie Oliver’s upcoming book, the art of creating canelés, cookbook giveaways, recipes and EYBD Previews

For this week's roundup, I will feature a look at Jamie Oliver's latest book and I plan to detail more titles next week. My preview for the second half of 2021 and other sneak peeks can be found at the links shared. I also wanted to revisit canelés as we were discussing this lovely pastry in The Cookbook Junkies. COVID's… read more
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