[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #9b9b9b;”] O[/dropcap]ne of my favourite times of day is in the evenings.
The boys are in bed.
The kitchen is clean.
And I can snuggle into the couch with a cup of tea and a good book.
Bliss.
Especially when said book is an inspiring cookbook.
I love reading them cover to cover.
Beats a novel any day!
My 8 Best Cookbooks for 2018
1. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
by Samin Nosrat
Whiles there are plenty of delicious recipes in this book, the thing I really enjoyed was delving into the food science. Always good to revisit the basics and Samin is an excellent guide. So much to learn! There aren’t any photos though so if you like your images this might not be the best book for you. My Irishman and I have also been loving the Netflix documentary based on the book.
2. Finding Fire
by Lennox Hastie
This was a ‘bowling ball‘ present from my Irishman (who is obsessed with cooking with fire). But to be honest I was inspired by it just as much! Sydney chef Lennox Hastie’s whole restaurant, Firedoor uses only wood and charcoal as heat sources. The electricity is just for the lights. Simple food brought to life by smoke and fire. Although not the best book if you’re looking for something quick on a Monday night!
3. Tasting Paris
by Clotilde Dussoulier
I’ve cooked so many things from Tasting Paris and been inspired by my lovely friend Clotildes relatively simple approach to great food. I equally enjoyed the armchair travel aspect of seeing the Parisian food scene through the eyes of a local. A must if you’re a Francophile like me. For more on this see the interview I did with Clotilde earlier in the year.
4. Cornersmith Pickles & Salads
by Sabine Spindler & Alex Elliott-Howery
Love love love this second books from one of my fave Sydney cafes. Some lovely new ideas for pickling, fermenting and making a meal out of a salad.
5. Simplicious Flow
by Sarah Wilson
I love Sarah’s philosophy of simple + delicious and zero waste. Really a girl after my own heart! I also love the unusual approach in this book where she guides you through ‘capsule cooks’ to prep big batches of ingredients and then use them in different ways during the week. Great minds definitely think alike. I think this has only been published in Australia so far though so have linked to her original Simplicious book with is also worth checking out.
6. Grown & Gathered
by Matt & Lentil
Speaking of people with a similar philosophy to food. I couldn’t put down this brilliant first book from fellow Australians Matt & Lentil (who has the coolest name ever!). If you’re into cooking from scratch, using local ingredients and growing your own food, this is the book for you! For more see the quick interview I did with Lentil over here.
7. The Village
by Matt & Lentil
Yes the second book from these two! While I’ve cooked more from their first book, I’ve used The Village more as a gardening reference. The Seasonal Planting Guides which detail what you could be planting each season are worth it alone.
I’ve linked directly to Matt & Lentils website so you can buy the books from them. They ship anywhere in the world and you get to really support the authors! These aren’t affiliate links (as opposed to the other ones on this page :)
8. The Christmas Chronicles
by Nigel Slater
Still my favourite, favourite food writer of all time. I gifted this to myself last Christmas and had a wonderful time getting into the festive season while we were in Ireland. So lovely to have a rainy, cosy Christmas for a change. If you’re after some inspiration for some new food-centered Christmas traditions for your family, this is the book for you!
My Christmas Cookbook Wish List
Just in case Santa / a certain Irishman happens to be reading this ;)
The Noma Guide to Fermentation
by Rene Redzepi
Can’t believe it’s been 6 years since I had the most amazing lunch at Noma in Copenhagen (when it was the best restaurant in the world). Beyond excited to explore what Redzepi has to say about fermentation!
The Karen Martini Collection
by Karen Martini
One of my all-time favourite cookbooks is Karen’s first called Where the Heart Is. I’ve recently been delving back into it and re-cooking lots of old favourites like her Harissa Chicken and her Spinach Lentil & Yoghurt Salad. I don’t have any of her other books so excited to be able to get them all in the one volume! Thanks Santa :)
Milkwood
by Kirsten Bradley & Nick Ritar
Love the instagram feed of the guys from Milkwood Permaculture. Planning on doing one of their courses when my dependents are less dependent. Until then looking forward to learning all I can from their book!
The Food of Morocco
by Paula Wolfert
This classic Moroccan cooking bible has been on my wishlist for a while now (like since last year!). Hoping Santa decides to pick up a copy for me this year :)
More Cookbook Love…
- 8 Best Cookbooks for 2017
- 13 Favourite Cookbooks of 2015
- 10 favourite cookbooks for 2012
- 5 of My Favourite Things!
- 14 Fun & Random Facts About Me
- The cookbooks archive
Your Best Cookbooks for 2018?
I’m always on the lookout for new cookbooks. If you have any favourites please let me know in the comments below!
Have fun in the kitchen (and reading on the sofa)!
With love,
Jules x
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ps. Looking for a Simple Cookbook gift idea?
Then check out my print book
‘5-Ingredients 10-Minutes‘.
It’s as easy as cooking can get without sacrificing flavour or resorting to processed ingredients.
More details at:
www.5ingredients10minutes.com
NOTE: This post contains affiliate links so if you buy you’ll be supporting Stonesoup in a small way too. Thank you!