July always reminds me of fresh produce at farmer’s markets and barbeques in the summer heat. I always tend to cook more in the summer as I try to figure out clever new ways to not turn my oven on. I’m much more of a baker than I am a chef so I need some help with my cooking creativity. Here are a few of my favorite foodie books that helped me to cook more creatively and learn more about the cooking field.
You can find these books at your local library, using our Bookshop Store or save these items to your To Be Read list using the links below.
What Did You Eat Yesterday by Fumi Yoshinaga
This sweet manga tells the story of Shiro Kakei, a lawyer with a passion for food, and his boyfriend, Kenji Yabuki. Each chapter has a new recipe shared through the panels as the two men go over their work and their relationship. If you want a break and to read something that will remind you of the softness of life, this is a great manga to relax and learn new recipes with.
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Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
I’ve been excited about Crying in H Mart for what feels like forever! It was one of the books that I was most looking forward to in 2021. Naturally, it did not disappoint at all. Zauner writes a blistering memoir about her relationship with her mother as she dies of cancer. Each page is filled with imagery of the Korean food that shaped her life and her relationship with her mother. It’s guaranteed to make your mouth water in some parts and have you crying in others. The audiobook is read by Zauner and I couldn’t recommend it more highly!
Also, check out Michelle Zauner’s band called Japanese Breakfast out! They are a favorite of mine.
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Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwauchi
I’m a huge fan of the tv show Top Chef. I’ve watched every season but Kwame Onwauchi is by far my favorite person to ever be on the show. When his memoir came out, I was elated to get the chance to read his story. Kwame’s drive and heart fills these pages with his story of resilience. He truly did anything he could to be a chef and he is now a restaurateur, author, designer and so much more. It makes me so happy to get to read his story and celebrate his well deserved success.
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Buttermilk Graffiti: A Chef’s Journey to Discover America’s New Melting-Pot Cuisine by Edward Lee
Another one of my favorite Top Chef contestants, Edward Lee’s memoir highlights the way that a recipe always contains a history. Lee navigates his life through the recipes that have helped to shape him. This unique and frank look into the culture surrounding recipes makes this memoir a special experience, especially on audio!
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Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Kinsley
If you haven’t yet been lucky enough to read any of the wonderful works by Lucy Knisley, I hope you’ll check out Relish! Lucy loves food and it’s always been central to her life as the daughter of a chef and a gourmet. This graphic novel traces her life through the food and cooking that influenced her. It truly is a foodie graphic novel for everyone!
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Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat
It’s hard to talk about this book since it’s been so pivotal to my own cooking. Everytime I cook or bake, I go back to Samin’s words and the balance of flavors she writes about. If you haven’t checked out her Netflix series with the same name, it’s an incredible look into the very basics of cooking and reminds us to slow down when we are preparing a meal. Also, her video on Bon Appetit about Focaccia Bread is as informative as it is chaotic!
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The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt
I don’t even know where to begin with Kenji, he is truly my culinary inspiration. I started to watch his videos during lockdown in 2020 and I have learned most of what I know from him. His scientific based cooking is easy to follow and amazingly accurate. The Food Lab is nearly 1000 pages and has a recipe for everything. If you want to spend money on one cookbook, this would be the one.
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Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol by Mallory O’Meara
Mallory O’Meara’s first book The Lady from the Black Lagoon was a fantastic and engrossing look at the life of Milicent Patrick and after reading it, I knew that I would be reading anything that O’Meara put out. Once again, O’Meara’s wit, researching capabilities and storyteller prose enchant readers with the history of women in alcohol. Whether it is female distillers, drinkers or brewers, this book looks into the place that women have in the history of alcohol.
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The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks with 150 Recipes by Megan Krigbaum
After being stuck inside for many months, I decided it was time to learn how to mix my own drinks. It always seemed like a complicated task but after getting some basic ingredients and tools, I’ve come to realize that making drinks is just an easy ratio. When I was trying to learn, this book gave me history, recipes and tips in a readable manner that made me seem like much more of a bartender than I actually am.
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Did we miss your favorite foodie book? Let us know!
