The Best Books to Gift Food Lovers

They’ve seen the movie, devoured the hit TV series - now grace their kitchen shelf with the two volumes of the classic cookbook that turned the California native into an international food world legend. "What a cookbook should be: packed with sumptuous recipes, detailed instructions, and precise line drawings. Some of the instructions look daunting, but as Child herself says in the introduction, 'If you can read, you can cook,'" declared Entertainment Weekly.

This famed chef’s two-volume set is the tastiest gift they’ll open this year, with a combined 280 recipes for vegetarians and omnivores alike that showcase his widely-admired Middle Eastern-inspired, vegetable-centric cuisine.

Named a Best Cookbook of the Year by the New Yorker, who lauded this Chez Panisse alum's gorgeously photographed "sweet, serious, clever little book" for its "philosophy of beauty and simplicity that, despite emerging from a restaurant, feels far better scaled to a home kitchen." And we should probably talk about that whiskey-spiked chocolate cake...

Circle the world with the best travel and food writing of the year that (almost) was, compiled by the New York Times bestselling author and Emmy-nominated host of Taste the Nation and Top Chef. From Dakar in Senegal, to Michoacán in south-central Mexico, to the Camino de Santiago in Spain, this brilliantly curated book makes for a delectable travel companion.

Written by an acclaimed chemical engineer-cum-prize-winning breadmaker, this ode to all things dough gives home cooks the tools to make everything from sourdough loaves, rolls and baguettes to entire bread-based meals like Everything Bagel Tuna Crunch, Tortillas with Pulled Pork and Salsa Ranchera, plus Pizza Margherita and more.

Get ready to cozy up this winter with the latest from the beloved London-based chef and bestselling cookbook author. Featuring 100 global recipes that redefine comfort food like Cheesy Bread Soup, Caramelized Onion Orecchiette and Garlicky Aligot Potato. The longtime Guardian columnist’s inventive dishes are heartwarming, satisfying, and perfect for the cooler months ahead.

The first cookbook from this chef and writer who hosts New York Times Cooking is a great guide for both beginners and more experienced home cooks looking to sharpen their skills. With chapters focused on techniques or ingredients like Getting to Know Dough or All About Butter, plus 200+ recipes like Charred Lemon Risotto and Masa & Buttermilk Tres Leches, it’s an accessible reference for those taking their first steps in the kitchen. "El-Waylly might be Julia Child for a new generation." -- The Boston Globe

"This cookbook will be your ticket to sanity this fall!" declared the Wall Street Journal. From the busy mom and author of the widely popular eponymous substack newsletter comes this life-saving guide to making delicious dinners in a hurry, with recipes like a 15-minute Peanutty Pork and Brussels to pantry-raiding recipe hacks like Cannellini Caprese with Burrata and more.

From the prize-winning food writer whose How to Cook Everything series has become an adult recipe staple, this version geared for 8-12 year olds features delights like Roasted Veggies, Chicken Mark Nuggets, and Banana Bread, using visual guides and kid-friendly instructions that turn the kitchen into a place of adventure and creativity. It's perfect for curious kids eager to master favorite foods and try new flavors!

This comprehensive baking guide offers 100 reliable recipes along with science-based tips and techniques, with the famed chef Jamie Oliver declaring, “Nicola has done something pretty genius here, breaking down the how, why, and what of baking. The back half of the book is filled with wonderful recipes organized by the time you have to bake—whether it's just an afternoon, a whole day, or even a weekend. The front half dives into the essential elements of baking...it’s a bit nerdy, and I absolutely love it."