Cookbooks are a lot more than recipes. If you ask Bruce, they are actually history books of sorts. Influences (not influencers or at least not the modern day kind) from other people that shape the way you think and the way you cook. Growing up, who cooked for you? How did they cook for you? What ingredients did they have? It might influence what you cook more than you realize.
As always would love for you to support your local bookstore by going to Park Road Books (each linked below), but Amazon certainly covers a broad range too.
Father’s Day is how we got started on this week’s blog. My mom always gives Bruce new cookbooks for Father’s Day a tradition he looks forward to each year.
Today I am sharing a few of my favorite cookbooks for some gift ideas for the Dads in your life.
Ina Garten – anything.
Always thoughtful, doable and shoppable. She has this down. Nothing worse than needing to source 27 ingredients 12 of which you have never heard of and will never use again. The recipes are fresh and delicious and relatively easy to accomplish.
Between Harlem and Heaven
This cookbook, relatively new to us, is rich in history and food. It is self-titled Afro-Asian American so has some really interesting twists on some classics. For some reason, we have been eating a fair amount of Asian-inspired food during the pandemic so this is a refreshing take.
Tartine
A little more complex but some of the best desserts going.
Ottolenghi anything.
All of his cookbooks are beautiful, interesting and the combinations inventive beyond. They not only taste delicious but the texture is meaningful as well. Bruce’s favorite cookbook for historical perspective and creativity is Jerusalem.
As many of you know, we had a major house fire several years ago and one of the things that did not survive were the cookbooks. A bunch of my girlfriend’s got together and each gave Bruce their favorite cookbook to help rebuild our collection.
Seems like an appropriate time to build your collection since we all could use a good old fashioned rebuild.!
Happy (almost) Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there.
