If a good cookbook is something of a manual for life, then a good cookbook library is something of a tour of all the competing philosophies for living. Are you a head-to-tail type, rearing to tear into life, or more interested in the gentler footprint involved in sustainable grains and zero-waste, plant-based consumption? Does your table offer a first-class ticket to spicy destinations across the globe, or a comfortable sinking into recollected recipes from your mother? Of course, you never really have to pick, but adding a few of these books to your kitchen library will give you a taste (literally) of the various ways you might entertain your palate—and occupy the world.
The Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen
The best cookbook for… the discerning hippie.
If you haven’t yet experienced the satisfaction of whipping up an eggplant parm or a cardamom coffee cake large enough to feed an army from the pages of this cookbook, originally published in 1974 by members of Ithaca, New York’s Moosewood Restaurant, then you’re in for a real treat. The Moosewood Cookbook’s food is healthy without ever compromising on deliciousness, making it the perfect retro-classic gift for everyone from kitchen beginners to seasoned pros. —Emma Specter
Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed by Abi Balingit
The best cookbook for… dessert obsessives looking to add some Filipino flavor to their repertoire.
Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed
Fish sauce, frozen calamansi juice, shredded coconut, and minatamis na bao (coconut jam) are staple ingredients for those looking to master Balingit’s playful yet seriously delicious desserts. These recipes draw from the author’s California upbringing and adult life in Brooklyn, in addition to her Filipino-American heritage. From salty-sweet alfajores to the instantly viral adobo chocolate-chip cookies, every recipe in Mayumu is guaranteed to please a crowd—and familiarize you with the offerings of your local Filipino grocery store. —ES
Dining and Cooking