Forget best-selling novels, everyone we know is reading cookbooks before bed!
Whether you’ve got a few avid homecooks on your Christmas list this year or simply a few restaurant addicts, we’ve been sure to include something for everyone on this list of essential cookbooks from our November Guest Editor, Daphne Oz. With a few cookbooks of her own under her belt (we’re obsessed with The Happy Cook!) and a day job as full-time foodie, Daphne is something of a cookbook aficionado and we’re loving everything on her list.
Find something classic for your mom and photography-rich for your bff – or vice versa, we’re adding a couple of these picks to wishlists of our own…
Daphne Oz’s Essential Cookbook Gift Guide
For The New Cook:
Nigella Lawson’s How To Cook and Julia Turshen’s Small Victories.
Timeless Classic:
The Silver Palate Cookbook and, of course, all of Alice Waters’ and Julia Child’s (this two-part series is a classic!).
For Inspiration:
The Happy Cook! Cooking should be easy, intuitive and flexible to your needs, and eating together should always be a celebration! That’s what the recipes in my book are here to help you achieve.
For The Vegan:
Clotilde Dusoulier’s The French Market Cookbook – great vegetarian food (not vegan). I’m obsessed with The Oh She Glows Cookbook, too.
For Mothers:
My mom Lisa Oz’s book The Oz Family Kitchen is all about fast and flavorful food made healthier and even more delicious, what every mom needs! I also love Gwyneth Paltrow’s It’s All Easy; Catherine McCord’s Weelicious books are great for cooking with kids.
For Beautiful Photography:
Mimi Thorrison’s books, like French Country Cooking, are breathtaking. What Katie Ate is a trip for the eyes. Honestly, I read cookbooks like novels, so the pictures set the whole tone of the author’s world for me – I just love them! I could spend hours pouring over every photo and detail shot.
For Travel Inspo:
Any of Yotam Ottolenghi’s books: Jerusalem, Plenty, Plenty More, Ottolenghi, Nopi… it’s my favorite way to eat.
Chefs To Obsess Over:
I just bought Deep Run Roots by Vivian Howard and Prune by Gabrielle Hamilton – love both these ladyboss chefs!
For The Restaurant Lover:
Gjelina. So good. Love all the condiment recipes too; so great to give an otherwise simple homemade dish some spark!