June Cookbook Preview Post Part One

After the Spring’s huge crop of cookbooks, we are slowing down a bit in June but just in the number of new releases. There are still some great titles to be excited about as we go into summer. Most of the preview titles featured will be the subject of a promotion so check back! Following the Eat Your Books’ Facebook page will ensure you never miss a promotion.

Don’t forget to enter all the great giveaways we have open and be sure to please check your spam/junk email folders for notifications. Have you been reading Darcie’s spice support columns? They are informative and I’ve been learning something new with each post – you can teach an old cook new tricks. 

If you are planning to purchase any of these books for yourself or as gifts, please use the Buy Book link as we will receive a small affiliate fee that will allow us to index more books. 

Wabi-Sabi Welcome: Learning to Embrace the Imperfect and Entertain with Thoughtfulness and Ease by Julie Pointer Adams invites readers into artful, easygoing homes around the world – in Denmark, California, France, Italy, and Japan – and transforms the generous act of getting together into the deeper art of being together. This title shares thoughtful ideas and recipes from around the world; tips for creating an intimate, welcoming environment; guidelines for choosing natural decor for the home; and inspiring photographs from homes where wabi-sabi is woven into daily living. I’ve ordered this title and will be able to tell you more in our roundup. 

L.A. Mexicano by Bill Esparza is far more than a cookbook – it is an in-depth look into the Mexican culture of Los Angeles – including recipes, profiles of chefs, bakers, cocktail makers and vendors; along with neighborhood guides that point readers to the best markets, taco trucks, restaurants, bars and more. All this along with 100 stunning photographs of the people and food of Los Angeles. 


Eat Right: The Complete Guide to Traditional Foods, with 130 Nourishing Recipes and Techniques by Nick Barnard will show you how to find true nourishment and pleasure in the discovery, preparation and eating of real food. Techniques include making your own butter, yogurt, ghee, lard, broth, dairy and water kefir, kombucha, coconut water, kimchi, sauerkraut, sourdough, as well as sprouting grains and activating nuts and seeds. And there are also 100 wholesome recipes that encourage the use of good animal fats, well-fed meat, sprouted grains, local and seasonal produce. If you picked up this book without the cover, you wouldn’t think that it was a “health” focus title – it is packed with tempting photographs and dishes. 

Junk Food Japan: Addictive Food from Kurobuta by Scott Hallsworth (ex-Nobu head chef) showcases the food that is making his restaurant, Kurobuta, one of the most talked-about restaurants in London. He has reworked the “Iazakaya” Japanese pub style of relaxed eating and drinking serving both incredibly inventive yet comfortingly familiar food. The restaurant’s signature dishes – BBQ Pork Belly in Steamed Buns with a Spicy Peanut Soy Sauce, Tea Smoked Lamb and Kombu, and Roasted Chilean Seabass are shared. Here you will find 100 of the brilliant chef’s re-imagined classics along with new and exciting dishes. I am excited to get my hands on this book!

Julie Taboulie’s Lebanese Kitchen: Authentic Recipes for Fresh and Flavorful Mediterranean Home Cooking by Julie Ann Sageer shares 125 recipes including learning how easy it is to make such Lebanese staples as fresh labneh (strained yogurt) and how to put together your own delicious, multi-purpose spice mixes. Every chapter includes a multitude of dishes for eaters of all kinds and preferences, from meat-lovers to veggie-heads and everything in between. This is a fun and beautiful title that will please any level of cook – familiar with Lebanese fare or not. Julie has a few events planned and we will keep you updated if other events are scheduled.

Kitchen Matters: More than 100 Recipes and Tips to Transform the Way You Cook and Eat–Wholesome, Nourishing, Unforgettable by Pamela Salzman shares the recipes that have won the praise of Nicole Richie, Rashida Jones, Audrina Patridge, and other mega-fans. Customizable for vegetarian, vegan, and grain-free diets, the recipes rely on accessible veggie-forward ingredients that are anti-inflammatory and nutrient-dense. Both practical and elegant, this title offers a roadmap for new and busy home cooks to begin including more wholesome foods every day, for meals as nourishing as they are unforgettable. Pamela has a few events planned to promote her book.

Adventures in Starry Kitchen: 88 Asian-Inspired Recipes from America’s Most Famous Underground Restaurant by Nguyen Tran chronicles the evolution of the little underground restaurant that could. As the author tells his story, he also shares eighty eight easy-to-follow pan-Asian recipes including Claypot Striped Bass, Buttermilk Beer Beignets, Singaporean Chili Crab, Double-Fried Chicken Wings and, of course, Starry Kitchen’s trademark Crispy Tofu Balls. This book wowed me with recipes I’ve never come across to date: Pineapple Beer Chicken Wing Soup; Five-Spice Apple Fritters with Honey Bourbon Cream Sauce; and Salted Duck Egg Cereal Prawns for example. 

101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die: Discover a New World of Flavors in Authentic Recipes by Jet Tila shares the author’s best recipes to impress your friends and family, not to mention all sorts of chef-y tips on flavor, technique, history and ingredients that will make you a better cook. Here are some of the recipes you’ll learn to master Korean BBQ Short Ribs on Coke, Beef Pho, Sweet Chili Sriracha Hot Wings and it’s said that Jet’s killer Sriracha recipe will change your life. The photographs, the recipes – everything about this cookbook is uber cool.

It’s Always About the Food by Monday Morning Cooking Club is the third offering from the ladies of Sydney and shares the result of a two year search for recipes from the global Jewish diaspora – those much-loved dishes that have nurtured a community and have been feeding family and friends for years. This book is all about the food, flavours and the most delicious family recipes – not from a restaurant or a test kitchen, but from the heart of the home. This title continues the tradition of books one and two, Monday Morning Cooking Club and The Feast Goes On delivering quality, nurturing recipes wrapped up in a wonderful story. The ladies are in Los Angeles for a few more days and there are other events on our calendar for you to check out.