2014 Winter Reading (or Gift!) Guide: Foodie Books

Food is a huge part of the holidays (why else would gym membership skyrocket in January?) so reading about food just seems like the right thing to do.

Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
I love Jim Gaffigan. And I think this book is even better than his first book, Dad is Fat. If you need something light-hearted that will make you cry with laughter, this is a surefire winner. And if you can get the audio version, which he narrates himself, all the better.

Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage by Molly Wizenberg
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to open a restaurant, this book is for you. And if you like pizza, this book is for you. And if you like excellent writing, this book is for you. And finally, if you like great recipes you can make at home, this book is definitely for you.

Make the Bread, Buy the Butter: What You Should and Shouldn’t Cook from Scratch by Jennifer Reese
This book is not only totally useful (hundreds of food items are broken down by cost, effort, and taste to help you decide what you should make and what you should just buy), but it’s hilariously funny too. For anyone who’s interested in from-scratch cooking, the slow food movement, or laughing.

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl
When Ruth Reichl takes over as the restaurant critic for the New York Times, she’s in for some exciting dining adventures. But since she wants to see what a restaurant is like for a regular person (aka, not the biggest restaurant critic on earth), she usually goes in disguise. My parents just recently read this one while they were on vacation, and they both loved it too. It also has some killer good recipes in it (including these pancakes which I make almost weekly).

 

Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach
If you’re overwhelmed by getting dinner on the table every night or dealing with picky eaters or tired of the same five meals over and over again, this book is for you. It’s inspiring, real, and totally readable. It’s such a beautiful book too, it makes a gorgeous gift. I need to get my hands on her latest book, Dinner: The Playbook.