David Lebovitz on his favorite cookbooks

The Perfect Scoop and My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz grace many EYB member Bookshelves, and his indexed blog is also quite popular. If you’re curious about which cookbooks he turns to for his cooking and baking, look no further. Serious Eats sits down with Lebovitz to discuss his cookbook collection.

We learn that the perfect cookbook for Lebovitz isn’t just one with a lot of glossy photographs; rather, he feels that a “cookbook should have a reason to exist. I’m interested in the story of the book and the author. Why did they write this book? What is their unique perspective on the topic? What are they bringing to the subject that’s new, interesting, or relevant? What makes this person special? I want to hear the author’s voice when I read a cookbook.” 

Cookbooks that meet these criteria for Lebovitz include books by Yotam Ottolenghi, Sami Tamimi, Alice Waters, and Judy Rodgers. Currently he is inspired by books that explore different cuisines and cultures yet manage to make them accessible. This includes Pomegranates & Pine Nuts by Bethany Kehdy, Simple Thai Food by Leela Punyaratabandhu, and Coming Home to Sicily by Fabrizia Lanza.

When it comes to desserts, Lebovitz has been influenced by Maida Heatter, Nick Malgieri, Alice Medrich, and Renato Poliafito, among others. He notes they write with “the right amount of clarity, without making one terrified to bake something. I’ve learned a lot just reading their books, and have been inspired by them.”

Read the full article at Serious Eats.