THE BOOKS THAT COOKS LOVE
6 foodies share their all-time favourite culinary titles
Words
OLIVIA DURIE
There seems no better place for culinary inspiration than to peek at shelves of a food lover’s kitchen. In particular, at the recipe books they’ve thumbed through, cracked the spines of, and splotched with sauce as they bring to life the dishes within. So, we asked six of our favourite foodies to tell us about their most treasured (and used) cookbooks: some old, some new, all deeply sentimental to our line-up of chefs, bakers and authors. Here’s what they had to say about them.
 The Taste of Country Cooking, Edna Lewis“I am completely in love with The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis. It’s a book full of such gentle, evocative prose, you can almost hear the sizzle of the chicken as she slips it into the skillet. The book is full to the brim with not just a way of cooking, but it celebrates a way of living that from this vantage point feels romantic and poetic and just what my heart needs. Edna revolutionised the way soul food is valued, and the way that African American culinary heritage is codified. This book holds the power and beauty of that between its covers. There is something about the colours, the soft green edges, a beaming picture of Edna herself, her kind eyes, and then her name emblazoned in red that just feels so elegant and considered; I think it’s a perfect manifestation of the woman herself. Her inspiration is with me every time I step foot in a kitchen. If you’ve never read any Edna Lewis books, do yourself a favour and get this one.” – Andi Oliver, chef and broadcaster |  Bethlehem: A Celebration of Palestinian Food, Fadi Kattan“To me, a great cookbook should be more than just a collection of zeitgeisty dishes but rather, a tome of memories that tell us about a place and a people. Chef Fadi Kattan has done this for Palestine and the people of Bethlehem. This book is a celebration of Palestinian cuisine – a rich, heritage-steeped journey that highlights the importance of keeping Palestine alive within our hearts and within our kitchens. Fadi writes beautifully on his hometown, on the difficulties his producers face living under Israeli occupation, and on the historical significance of the dishes, in this beautiful book that’s rich in portraiture and evocative travel photography. I’ve made his mother’s spiced lentil soup on multiple occasions and adore how the most simple ingredients come together and sing with surprising combinations of spices and herbs and fruit.” – Anastasia Miari, author and foodie |
 Nose to Tail Eating: A Kind of British Cooking, Fergus Henderson“I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks but there are two that sit firmly on my bedside table. Nose to Tail Eating by Fergus Henderson and its companion book Beyond Nose to Tail. They are two small, white and starkly printed bibles that defined British food and put us firmly on the culinary map. The recipes are inspiringly simple, the photographs rare and the writing unmatched. If I’m ever in a creative slump and feeling in need of something hearty, they never fail to get the juices flowing. And an honorary mention to Jeremy Lee, Rachel Roddy, Nigel Slater and The River Café… their books are also utter magic.” – Julius Roberts, cook and farmer |  The Prawn Cocktail Years and The Woks of Life“It's so difficult to choose between the two books I most frequently turn to for inspiration. One we reference a lot at the restaurant and the other is a book I constantly come back to at home. The Prawn Cocktail Years by Lindsey Bareham and Simon Hopkinson is a perfect distillation of the food I love to cook and want guests to appreciate – classic, nostalgic, slightly outdated but most importantly GOOD. While The Woks of Life (by Bill, Judy, Sarah and Kaitlin Leung) is such a joy to cook from at the end of the day. Every page is enticing and delicious – one of those rare finds where you’ll want to make everything – and it always feels like a treat to come home and eat different food to what I’ve been cooking in the restaurant. I only bought it recently and I'm already using it regularly!” – Anna Tobias, chef at Café Deco |
 Plentiful: Vegan Jamaican Recipes to Repeat, Denai Moore“Plentiful by Denai Moore feels like a personal invitation into a world of imaginative, plant-based cooking that I absolutely adore. It’s a celebration of flavours that are close to my heart – bold, soulful, and deeply rooted in Denai’s Jamaican heritage. I love how she combines creativity with simplicity and every recipe feels like a new adventure. From cover to cover, it’s a cookbook that sparks joy. The baked plantain is one of my all time favs!” – Liv Little, author and foodie |  Pastry Love, Joanne Chang“One of my favourites is Pastry Love by Joanne Chang. It’s a book that brings me a lot of joy, but also came to me at a very memorable time in my life. My Dad’s former boss had watched me on The Great British Bake Off and was so thrilled that he shipped me this book all the way from America. It arrived soon after the show ended, which was perfect timing as (unknown to me) it was the start of my career in food. The book is a journal of Joanne’s favourite recipes – some classic, others unique creations – that she describes as ‘not just a cookbook but a baking journal’. I love it because it’s all about the warmth and comfort of baking, and how to care for others by sharing something special. Every recipe is carefully written – with tips to help you along the way – and for someone like me (who didn’t have many years of experience at the time) it really was the perfect start to my baking journey.” – Crystelle Pereira, cook and baker |