If you’re anything like me, 90 percent of your time on social media is spent watching and saving recipes that you absolutely love the idea of, but never really get around to trying. I’ve found that I’m more likely to try a recipe that I can physically reach out, turn, and check.
And if you need extra accountability, why not start or join a cookbook book club! Grab a few friends, choose a cookbook, and set a date for each person to prepare a recipe so you can have a potluck-style book club meeting.
Whether you’re looking for a media-focused meal, an evening of Southern comfort, a movable Parisian feast, or an immersive English afternoon tea, this list has a cookbook for every kind of book and food lover!
The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book
This book is perfect for the chef with a literary bent. The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book is part recipe collection, part memoir. Toklas, the life partner of Gertrude Stein, hosted such legendary figures as Pablo Picasso, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway at their home in Paris during the 1920s. Her passion for cooking developed over the course of her Parisian residency.
While Toklas didn’t consider herself much of a writer, the conversational tone of her anecdotes draws the reader in and immerses them in her vibrant experiences. The cookbook features a variety of French recipes, as well as a number of exotic dishes, including the infamous Hashish Fudge.
Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties
It’s well-known that hosting is an art, and Reed’s book infuses hosting tips and recipes with a healthy helping of Southern charm. She covers a range of hosting scenarios from casual gatherings to formal, sit-down dinners, and provides practical advice on how you can throw a memorable party.
The recipes themselves are a testament to the rich culinary heritage of the South, featuring classic dishes such as ham biscuits, cheese straws, and shrimp and grits. Reed’s love for her Southern roots is evident in every page, making the book not just a guide to entertaining, but a homage to a way of life that values connection, celebration, and good food.
The Little Paris Kitchen
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the photography in The Little Paris Kitchen will leave your eyes the size of dinner plates. Khoo, a British chef with a love of French cuisine, helps the average cook demystify French cooking. The book is equal parts personal culinary journey and instructional guide.
Khoo emphasizes the use of local and seasonal produce, echoing the French tradition of respecting and showcasing seasonal flavors. Her recipes are suitable for chefs at all levels, with clear instructions, personal, encouraging narratives, and gorgeous photography.
The Forest Feast
Gleeson’s The Forest Feast: Simple Vegetarian Recipes from My Cabin in the Woods, is a visually stunning cookbook that has over 100 vegetarian recipes. They range from appetizers and cocktails to main courses and desserts, offering a well-planned guide to vegetarian cuissine. She also intertwines the recipes with warm, inviting anecdotes and tips for a more mindful approach to cooking and eating.
Tokyo Cult Recipes
Tokyo Cult Recipes offers an immersive journey into the heart of Tokyo’s diverse food scene. Murota combines her deep understanding of Japanese cuisine with a passion for sharing her culture, creating an informative and visually captivating cooking experience. Murota explores the different types of meals and dishes that define Tokyo's culinary landscape, across street food, home cooking, restaurant fare, and traditional festival foods.
Each category is examined with meticulous detail, presenting recipes that are both authentic and approachable. The recipes cover a wide spectrum of Tokyo's expansive offerings, including sushi, ramen, tempura, bento boxes, and lesser-known dishes like monjayaki and taiyaki. Each recipe is designed to be accessible to home cooks, with clear instructions and readily available ingredients, ensuring that readers can recreate the flavors of Tokyo in their own kitchens.
The Vintage Baker
Fans of B. Dylan Hollis’ Baking Yesteryear, and his vintage recipe reels on Instagram will enjoy Sheehan’s The Vintage Baker: More Than 50 Recipes from Butterscotch Pecan Curls to Sour Cream Jumbles. A seasoned baker, Sheehan draws inspiration from vintage recipe booklets dating from the 1920s to the 1960s, reviving nostalgic flavors with a contemporary twist. The collection spans a variety of baked goods celebrating the rich baking traditions of mid-century America.
Sheehan preserves the essence of vintage recipes with the use of nostalgic names like Jelly Jammers and Chocolate Malted Milk Cake. Her inviting writing style makes readers feel as though they’re having a conversation with a knowledgeable friend that’s enthusiastic about sharing the joys of vintage baking.
Antoni in the Kitchen
Widely known for the tasty and attainable dishes showcased on Netflix’s Queer Eye, Porowski infuses his writing with charm, offering home cooks accessible and delicious recipes. His enthusiasm for cooking invites the reader to explore a full range of possibilities in their kitchen.
Porowski’s writing style is warm, approachable, and encouraging, making the book accessible to cooks of all skill levels. Porowski’s clear instructions and helpful tips ensure that even the newest cooks can achieve success in the kitchen.
The Official Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea Cookbook
This expertly curated book transports readers to the opulent world of the Crawley family, offering a collection of recipes and tips for creating an elegant afternoon tea experience reminiscent of those enjoyed by the characters on the show. It features a wide array of recipes that capture the essence of Edwardian British tea traditions. These include classic sandwiches like cucumber and smoked salmon, an assortment of scones, and an impressive selection of cakes, pastries, and biscuits.
In addition to the recipes, the Afternoon Tea Cookbook offers practical advice on how to host an afternoon tea, including tips on brewing the perfect cup of tea, setting a beautiful table, and planning a balanced menu. These insights make it easy for readers to create an authentic Downton Abbey-inspired tea party!
The One with All the Recipes
This unofficial cookbook is perfect for fans of the show Friends! Each chapter features recipes that capture the essence of the show’s culinary highlights, from Joey’s beloved meatball sub to Ross’s Thanksgiving leftover sandwich.
Finney’s creative interpretations and adaptations of these dishes ensure that fans can experience the show in their own kitchens. Finney also provides background information and fun facts related to the show, including trivia, and quotes that enrich the culinary experience with a deeper appreciation for the series.
Binging with Babish
Known for his meticulous recreations of iconic dishes from movies, TV shows, and video games, Andrew Rea is a well-known culinary Youtuber. Rea’s approach to recreating these 100 recipes is not just about replicating flavors, but understanding the cultural and emotional connection that audiences have with these fictional foods.
Rea’s enthusiasm for recreating these dishes resonates throughout the book, making it both a collection of recipes and an examination of the cultural impact of food in media.
Featured image: Jason Briscoe / Unsplash
