Now that it’s November, I’m finalizing my gifting plans for the holiday season. Every holiday season, without fail, I’m gifting one of my favorite cookbooks. I ADORE cookbooks and books about food culture and history. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite food books that might be perfect for the food lovers on your list.
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So, let’s jump in with new books!
Bookish Goods
Written in the Stars Reading Journal by Stella Bookish Art
This cover! This particular reading journal is a favorite that I have seen circulating around the bookish internet for the last couple of years. I love the metallic details on the cover. $22
New Releases
Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook by Sohla El-Waylly
Sohla El-Waylly gives new cooks the confidence to advance their skills in the kitchen. Start Here is the perfect starting place for cooking 101.
Kung Food: Chinese American Recipes from a Third-Culture Kitchen: A Cookbook by Jon Kung
Jon Kung’s cooking is rooted in his diasporic identity. Using his third culture perspective, he introduces home cooks to a wide range of delicious recipes they won’t be able to find anywhere else.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat, Illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton
I’ve given Salt Fat Acid Heat to everyone I can think of, even going to the length of buying several copies to have on hand just in case I need a last-minute gift. Nosrat walks readers through concepts around cooking, particularly around ideas about the elements of salt, fat, acid, and heat. She doesn’t just tell you what or how to cook; she describes WHY we cook in certain ways. This gives home cooks the tools to create their own delicious dishes without having to follow a recipe from someone else.
Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ by Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Elie
Rodney Scott took over his parents’ barbecue place and wanted to take it to the next level. Scott began trying new things with barbecue and worked through the logistics of cooking a ridiculous amount of it. Eventually, Scott received a James Beard Award for his mastery of BBQ, establishing himself as a legend of South Carolina BBQ traditions. His cookbook delves into his story and shares some of Scott’s favorite recipes.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy Reading, Friends!
~ Kendra