Winter 2023 Book Reviews

by Deb Perelman

This book technically came out near the end of last year, but I saved it for this column because it’s exactly the kind of thing I always need in January. If you’re like me, you’re mourning the end of a season of festivity and not thrilled about the interminable winter remaining. I’m always bored with all the meals I usually make and looking for some inspiration, but I’m not in the mood to do big kitchen projects. This book, the third by Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, is a book full of her “keepers.” Some are classics, like chicken and dumplings, others are things I wouldn’t have thought of, like a sesame, asparagus and carrot chopped salad. The emphasis is on recipes she and her circle love, and ones that are streamlined and easy to make. Perfect for January and beyond.

Knopf
November 15, 2022

By Raghavan Iyer

There’s nothing like a bright orange, beautifully illustrated book about the many varieties of curry to wake up your taste buds at the beginning of the year. This is a beautiful celebration of curry, even curry by other names, and the places in the world that celebrate it. You’ll find recipes here, of course, but also a fair amount of history. While some of the recipes will require some work, lots of them are very approachable, and you will benefit even if you gravitate toward the basics, like learning to make your own curry powder blend from whole spices.

Workman Publishing Co
February 23, 2023

by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman

This charming picture book is a wonderful look at the ways Augustus Jackson innovated how ice cream was made, and in the process made it more accessible to those who weren’t wealthy. Young readers will enjoy hearing about this enterprising boy who set off for Washington D.C. and started working in the kitchen at the White House, learning to make ice cream, and even creating the eggless version we know and love today, in that kitchen. Although Jackson was born free, there is some discussion of slavery, which is handled in an age-appropriate manner, in my opinion.

Crown Books for Young Readers
January 17, 2023

by Samantha Verant

This fanciful, funny book is filled with interesting characters and events just improbably enough to make for a delicious read. There’s a little bit of fantasy, a lot of France, and culinary delights undergirding everything. As if all this weren’t enough—there’s a love story.

Berkley
December 6, 2022

by Christina Tosi

You might know Tosi as the owner of Milk Bar, or the host of Netflix’s Bake Squad, but even if you don’t, if you’re a cookie lover, you’ll enjoy this vibrant, sprinkle-filled cookbook that both takes cookies very seriously and also keeps them really fun. Tosi is known for all kinds of combinations you might not find in every bakery, as well as adding pre-made ingredients like cereal, drink powders, and snacks like crackers and pretzels to the mix. The result is a substantial book with lots of flavors and moods to choose from but written in an approachable way.

Clarkson Potter
November 1, 2022

by Rochelle Bilow

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, you can escape to Scotland in this romance which follows an American food writer who moves abroad for a year to write a cookbook (and leave her disappointing life behind). Along the way, of course, she meets a hunky man with an accent. All this and whisky, too? Sounds like just the thing for February.

Berkley
February 14, 2023

by Ixta Belfrage 

Belfrage brings three cultures that shaped her into this beautiful, colorful book. Her mixture, or mezcla, of Italian, Brazilian, and Mexican food offers a fresh, inspiring perspective. Belfrage worked for Yotam Ottolenghi for five years, both in one of his restaurants and in the test kitchen, so you may imagine that you won’t find super simple or quick recipes here, though there is a range of difficulty, but I had a few ‘aha’ moments considering flavors I wouldn’t have thought to pair. Whether you’re ready to roll up your sleeves for a project or you’re more interested in the pictures—this book delivers.

Ten Speed Press
September 13, 2022

by Jackie Freeman

Jackie Freeman is an Issaquah author of three wonderful cookbooks (one about beans, one about sandwiches, and this new one). She has a knack for writing clear, interesting recipes that seem to be built for the real world many of us live in—one where busy schedules, kids and demanding work hours make cooking creativity less than abundant. This book is both a primer on cast iron—for the newbie, or the nervous, but also a celebration of one-pan meals. There are new flavors to discover here, as well as classic pairings that are just the right reason to pull out a cast iron skillet.

Sasquatch Books
November 1, 2022