Whether you're looking for a fresh read or a classic tome, there's a title here for every kind of food lover.
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Chances are, if I’m not eating food or writing about food, I’m most likely reading about food. It’s one of the true gifts of my life as a food writer: Scanning a new cookbook is both business and pleasure! And when so much of your life revolves around food, it’s easy to spot quality. I love finding the best avocados or pieces of fish, and looking for new recipes and insight.
So, I compiled a list of 12 books that I think any food lover would be thrilled to receive as a gift. From classic memoirs to cookbooks fit for a queen (and everything in between), there’s definitely something on this list that will make gifting even more special. After all, the secret ingredient in both cooking and gift-giving is the same: love.
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Be Ready When the Luck Happens, Ina Garten
Oh, this book is good. Whether you’re a die-hard Barefoot Contessa fan or simply love learning about how famous people got to where they are, this book does not disappoint. It’s full of joy, hard-earned lessons and a particularly entertaining story about a dinner party gone wrong. While Ina Garten’s thirteen(!) cookbooks always make great gifts, this one is a fun peek behind the curtain. How easy is that?
Sure, Kitchen Confidential achieved cult status in the foodie world. And with good reason: Its unflinching portrayal of restaurant work put Anthony Bourdain on the map. But I have a special place in my heart for his second book, which was written 10 years later. Medium Raw gives plenty of insight into what a life of fame in the food world is like, full of that signature Bourdain vulnerability and bite.
Any fan of the royal family will absolutely adore this book. Written by Darren McGrady, a former royal chef in Buckingham and Kensington Palace, it’s part memoir and part recipe collection. Divided by seasons, he details the kinds of foods the British royal family eats for every occasion. He even includes fun photos of old menus for each member of family. All of the recipes are accompanied with amusing anecdotes and stories. One of my favorites involves Queen Elizabeth’s corgis. The book seems to be out of print, but used copies can be found online—some of which fetch a premium worthy of the royal family.
There’s a chance you might have come across Nisha Vora—aka RainbowPlantLife—on social media. Her fun recipes are full of color and flavor, and so is her cookbook. Big Vegan Flavor is basically the bible of plant-based eating. It’s an absolutely perfect gift for the vegans and vegetarians in your life, as well as anyone who loves experimenting with different cuisines. This book will make you look at your pantry like it’s full of art supplies just waiting to be used in creative, delicious ways.
If you have a friend or family member who never misses an episode of The Great British Baking Show, then this is the gift for them. Paul Hollywood’s latest cookbook, Celebrate, is a joy to read. It has a good selection of recipes based on skill level, so whether you’re a novice or experienced baker, there’s a recipe in here for you. It’s organized by season, so it’s easy to find a perfect baked good for any occasion year-round. Hollywood handshake sold separately.
Of all Joanna Gaines’ cookbooks, I think that this one best captures the spirit of what it’s like to actually be at Magnolia Table in Waco, Texas. Every recipe is chosen with care, and the book is full of that signature Joanna Gaines charm. There are updates to classic Southern and Korean recipes, and plenty of baked goods, of course. It’s also one of those cookbooks that looks pretty when it’s sitting on your kitchen countertop or stacked on your cookbook shelf.
I will buy pretty much anything Padma Lakshmi is selling. The former Top Chef host took her culinary television skills in a new direction in 2020 with her Hulu series Taste the Nation. This cookbook is the physical companion to that show, combining recipes and knowledge into nine different categories for you to explore. It’s an impressive but approachable cookbook, perfect for Bravo fans to read during commercial breaks.
Chances are that someone in your life is obsessed with Max Miller’s wildly popular YouTube channel, Tasting History. His cookbook of the same name follows the same basic structure: Max finds a very old, sometimes ancient recipe, then prepares it and gives you the story behind how it was made. It’s a perfect gift for any history nerd who loves to do YouTube deep dives—the more obscure, the better.
How do you cook when you live in the middle of a conflict zone? Michael Shaikh’s incredibly evocative book has been on my mind constantly since I read it earlier this year. He spends time breaking bread with people living in refugee camps or who have otherwise been displaced, and learns their culinary traditions. Equally devastating and heart-warming, this book is a must-read for any cooking enthusiast. The book contains recipes for the meals that Michael eats during his travels, which is a really special bonus.
Anyone will enjoy this book, but no one will appreciate it quite like Audrey Hepburn fans. Written by her son, it contains 50 recipes and plenty of exclusive photographs that pull back the curtain on one of the biggest movie stars of all time. From her upbringing in the Netherlands to her star-studded Hollywood life, this book is totally immersive. It’s a rich compilation of anecdotes, photos and hand-written recipe cards.
This has been a favorite of mine since 2017, and not just for its bright pink spine! This book is a must-have for any Reese Witherspoon fan, or anyone who loves good Southern cooking. It’s partially a narrative of Reese’s childhood in the south, and has a lot of insight from her grandma, Dorothea. The recipes are simple and easy to follow, and there’s a lot of really great advice on how to show your guests classic Southern hospitality.
Is there anyone who has made a bigger impact on American cuisine than Julia Child? It’s hard to say. She was a larger-than-life personality who led an absolutely fascinating life, and this memoir is a joy to read. Julia Child changed the course of cooking history, and did so with unwavering style and humor. It’s really a perfect gift for anyone, not just cooking enthusiasts. Best paired with a plane ticket to France.
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