Recommendations based on "The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2026"

From the author of the brilliant A Modern Way to Eat, a new collection of delicious, healthy, inspiring vegetarian recipes – that are so quick to make they’re achievable on any night of the week.Many more of us are interested in eating healthier food on a regular basis but sometimes, when we’re home late, tired after work, and don’t have time to buy lots of ingredients, it can just seem too complicated.In this brilliant new collection of recipes, Anna Jones makes clean, nourishing, vegetable-centred food realistic on any night of the week. Chapters will be broken down by time (recipes for under 15, 20, 30 or 40 minutes) and also by planning a little ahead (quick healthy breakfasts, dishes you can make and re-use throughout the week). Anna’s new book will be a truly practical and inspiring collection for anyone who wants to put dinner on the table quickly, without fuss, trips to specialist shops or too much washing up, but still eat food that tastes incredible and is doing you good.

Author of the New York Times bestseller Present Over Perfect, Shauna Niequist provides the perfect read for those who love food and value the community and connection of family and friends around the table.Bread & Wine is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. This mix of Anne Lamott and Barefoot Contessa is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared, reminding readers of the joy found in a life around the table. It’s about the ways God teaches and nourishes people as they nourish the people around them. It’s about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two.With wonderful recipes included, from Bacon-Wrapped Dates to Mango Chicken Curry to Blueberry Crisp, readers will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life in Bread & Wine.

NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER • “Phenomenal . . . transforms the kitchen into a site for creating global culinary encounters, this time inviting us to savor Afro-Asian vegan creations.”—Angela Y. Davis, distinguished professor emerita at the University of California Santa CruzJAMES BEARD AWARD NOMINEE • IACP AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Vogue, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, Food & Wine, Salon, Garden & Gun, Delish, EpicuriousMore than 100 beautifully simple recipes that teach you the basics of a great vegan meal centered on real food, not powders or meat substitutes—from the James Beard Award-winning chef and author of Afro-VeganFood justice activist and author Bryant Terry breaks down the fundamentals of plant-based cooking in Vegetable Kingdom, showing you how to make delicious meals from popular vegetables, grains, and legumes. Recipes like Dirty Cauliflower, Barbecued Carrots with Slow-Cooked White Beans, Millet Roux Mushroom Gumbo, and Citrus & Garlic-Herb-Braised Fennel are enticing enough without meat substitutes, instead relying on fresh ingredients, vibrant spices, and clever techniques to build flavor and texture.The book is organized by ingredient, making it easy to create simple dishes or showstopping meals based on what’s fresh at the market. Bryant also covers the basics of vegan cooking, explaining the fundamentals of assembling flavorful salads, cooking filling soups and stews, and making tasty grains and legumes. With beautiful imagery and classic design, Vegetable Kingdom is an invaluable tool for plant-based cooking today.Praise for Vegetable Kingdom“In the great Black American tradition of the remix and doing what you can with what you got, my friend Bryant Terry goes hard at vegetables with a hip-hop eye and a Southern grandmama’s nature. To paraphrase Maya Angelou, Bryant wants us to know that once we know vegetables better, we will cook vegetables better. He ain’t lyin’.”—W. Kamau Bell, comedian, author, and host of the Emmy Award–winning series United Shades of America“[Terry’s] perspective is casual and family-oriented, and the book feels personal and speaks to a wide swath of cooks . . . each dish comes with a recommended soundtrack, completing his mission to provide an immersive, joyful experience.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The ninth blockbuster cookbook by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ree Drummond, featuring tested, perfected versions of her all-time favorite, most crowd-pleasing, and timelessly popular recipes--the classics that families turn to every day and year after year. Bestselling author, Food Network personality, businesswoman, and mother of five Ree Drummond has her fair share of dog-eared and oil-splattered recipes in constant rotation. She's learned a lot since she first started sharing recipes with the world almost twenty years ago, and now when she's in the kitchen, her main focus is finding ways to make her all-time favorite dishes even more delicious versions of themselves--and to ensure each method is absolutely foolproof. This is a book of everybody's tried-and-true Ree favorites, but re-examined, re-worked, and made even more perfect than the original, so that Ree's millions of fans (and their families) can share in the delicious results! Ree focuses on her can't-live-without dishes--those classic favorites that families turn to, week in and week out, no matter the era or generation--and including many dishes that are destined to be classics for years to come. Whether you're just starting out as a home cook or you're already a seasoned pro at feeding a family, you'll love this one stop shop for all the recipes Ree and her family have loved most for the past twenty-five years, made even better this time around. Because if a recipe is worthy of repeating, it's worthy of perfecting. The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes serves up dishes for every occasion, including: Even more perfect pancakes, for truly memorable breakfasts Macaroni and cheese, for an indulgent dinner or versatile side Meatloaf, mastered by Ree for a comforting supper Splendid, simple pot roast, the perfect Sunday dinner Chicken pot pie, for a taste of nostalgia Sublime scalloped potatoes with ham--rich, hearty, and so delicious Classic pies and cookies for every occasion Alongside these re-tested and revamped classics, you'll find variations to suit the pickiest palate and offer options for every occasion, like French Dip, Whiskey Carrots, and Chocolate Sheet Cake. And detailed instructions for Roast Chicken, French Fries, and Hard-Boiled Eggs Once and for All will give you the go-to methods you'll turn to time and again. To take away the guesswork, Ree presents all her recipes with step-by-step photos, her signature style from day one. There are also useful tips and tricks for home cooks who are looking to streamline their meal-prep efforts and revolutionize the time they spend in the kitchen, including Ree's failsafe tips for getting ahead. With all your very favorite tried-and-true recipes in one spot, figuring out your next meal has never been so easy. If there's ever been a cookbook Ree considers her recipe bible . . . this is the one!

#1 New York Times BestsellerMagnolia Table is infused with Joanna Gaines' warmth and passion for all things family, prepared and served straight from the heart of her home, with recipes inspired by dozens of Gaines family favorites and classic comfort selections from the couple's new Waco restaurant, Magnolia Table.Jo believes there's no better way to celebrate family and friendship than through the art of togetherness, celebrating tradition, and sharing a great meal. Magnolia Table includes 125 classic recipes—from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to small plates, snacks, and desserts—presenting a modern selection of American classics and personal family favorites. Complemented by her love for her garden, these dishes also incorporate homegrown, seasonal produce at the peak of its flavor. Inside Magnolia Table, you'll find recipes the whole family will enjoy, such as:Chicken Pot PieChocolate Chip CookiesAsparagus and Fontina QuicheBrussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Balsamic ReductionPeach CapreseOvernight French ToastWhite Cheddar BisqueFried Chicken with Sticky Poppy Seed JamLemon PieMac and CheeseFull of personal stories and beautiful photos, Magnolia Table is an invitation to share a seat at the table with Joanna Gaines and her family.

America’s love affair with Chinese food dates back more than a century. Today, such dishes as General Tso’s Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Egg Rolls are as common as hamburgers and spaghetti. Probably at this moment, a drawer in your kitchen is stuffed with Chinese takeout menus, soy sauce packets, and wooden chopsticks, right?   But what if you didn’t have to eat your favorites out of a container?    In The Chinese Takeout Cookbook, Chinese food blogger and cooking instructor Diana Kuan brings Chinatown to your home with this amazing collection of more than eighty popular Chinese takeout recipes—appetizers, main courses, noodle and rice dishes, and desserts—all easy-to-prepare and MSG-free. Plus you’ll discover how to   • stock your pantry with ingredients you can find at your local supermarket • season and master a wok for all your Chinese cooking needs • prepare the flavor trifecta of Chinese cuisine—ginger, garlic, and scallions • wrap egg rolls, dumplings, and wontons like a pro • steam fish to perfection every time • create vegetarian variations that will please everyone’s palate • whip up delectable sweet treats in time for the Chinese New Year  The Chinese Takeout Cookbook also features mouthwatering color photos throughout as well as sidebars that highlight helpful notes, including how to freeze and recook dumplings; cooking tidbits, such as how to kick up your dish with a bit of heat; and the history behind some of your favorite comfort foods, including the curious New York invention of the pastrami egg roll and the influence of Tiki culture on Chinese cuisine. So, put down that takeout menu, grab the wok, and let’s get cooking!Here for the first time—in one fun, easy, and tasty collection—are more than 80 favorite Chinese restaurant dishes to make right in your own kitchen:   • Cold Sesame Noodles • Kung Pao Chicken • Classic Barbecue Spareribs • Beef Chow Fun • Homemade Chili Oil • Hot and Sour Soup • Chinatown Roast Duck • Moo Shu Pork • Dry-Fried String Beans • Black Sesame Ice Cream • And of course, perfectly fried Pork and Shrimp Egg Rolls!“Diana Kuan chronicles America’s love affair with Chinese food. The Chinese Takeout Cookbook is the perfect reason to throw out those menus cluttering your kitchen drawers!”—Patricia Tanumihardja, author of The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook

Easy, healthy Instant Pot recipes from popular Pressure Luck blogger and YouTube star Jeffrey Eisner—lightening up comfort-food favorites for wholesome everyday eating   Jeffrey Eisner's internationally bestselling Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook was the easiest-to-follow set of Instant Pot recipes ever assembled—showing even the most reluctant cooks how to make magic in their pressure cookers.   Now, in this new cookbook featuring over 90 new simple and delicious dishes, Eisner shows how the Instant Pot can be a part of your plan to slim down and keep the weight off—without losing any of the flavor. We're talking a trove of lightened-up recipes, many of which fit easily into a variety of lifestyles including: Keto Paleo Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes are accompanied by nutrition information and a precise timing bar so you know exactly how long your meal will take from pot to table. Some of the light, simple, and delicious recipes you'll find inside are: Butternut Squash Soup Sun-Dried Tomato & Shallot Shells Greek Farro Feta Salad Eggplant Risotto Creamy Avocado Chicken Salt & Vinegar Pork Zucchini Chips & Tzatziki Dip Mug Cakes in Mason Jars & More  Building on the wild success of Eisner's popular Pressure Luck Cooking website and YouTube channel, every recipe in this book is illustrated with color photographs showing exactly what to do in each step, along with a beautiful shot of every finished recipe. There are no hard-to-find ingredients or fussy techniques, and each dish takes advantage of the time-saving benefits of the Instant Pot.

Garfield's back, and he's in the mood for food! In this collection of comics, the tubby tabby devours doughnuts, scours for snacks, and reveals his inner love for bacon. Prepare to pig out with the cat who truly believes that the best things in life are edible!

"We read a lot, perhaps too much about ‘X-treme’ food and macho food adventures these days, but this anthology calls to mind a better side of the subject: by showing us how food affects us in the most improbable and resistant circumstances, it reminds us again and again of why eating is one of the great continuities of life, even in scary places with scary people and scary-seeming plates." —Adam Gopnik, author of The Table Comes First“Compelling and powerful, these personal accounts by reporters assigned to hot spots from Haiti to Kosovo, from Rwanda to Kandahar, cut to the bone. They expose the hard truth that hunger for survival is as universal as battle, that food itself is a metaphor for war, and that eating is war by other means. This is a brilliant collection of stories that satisfies our hunger for words with the intensity of our hunger to live.” —Betty Fussell, author of My Kitchen Wars and Raising Steaks“These are powerful, intimate stories from some of the best war correspondents of our time--the kind of stories they tell each other about everyday life in some of the most difficult places on Earth. By seducing you with simple tales of food, your defenses are down, you get lost in a good tale, and then, suddenly, you realize that you are fascinated by and finally understand a part of the world that had previously just been confusing and overwhelming. With one great read after another, you will remember these scenes, these characters, for a long time.” —Adam Davidson, founder and host, NPR's Planet Money"The way to a nation's soul is through its stomach, and that is precisely the territory that these writers explore in this delightful anthology. Whether breaking bread with Palestinian militants, enduring army rations with US troops in Afghanistan or attempting to cook a turkey in Baghdad, they write with dollops of humanity, heapings of insight, and a dash of humor. Read this book but be forewarned: you’ll turn the last page hungry for more." —Eric Weiner, author of The Geography of Bliss

Winner of the 2017 IACP Award: Literary or Historical Food Writing Gourmand World Cookbook Award Winner: Culinary Travel Amazon Best Book of November (2016): Cookbooks, Food and Wine Financial Times Best Books of 2017: Food and Travel "Goulding is pioneering a new type of writing about food. His last book, Rice, Noodle, Fish, took an immersive approach to Japan that combined travel, social observation and food lore. His new book on Spain offers little cooking advice but an inquisitive foodie intellectual's experience." (Financial Times) Crafted in the same “refreshing” (AP), “inspirational” (Publishers Weekly) and “impeccably observed” (Eater.com) style that drove Rice, Noodle, Fish, Roads & Kingdoms again presents a book that will change the way readers eat and travel abroad. The second in their series of unexpected and delightful gastro-tourism books, Grape, Olive, Pig is a deeply personal exploration of a country where eating and living are inextricably linked. As Anthony Bourdain said: “Any reasonable, sentient person who looks to Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain, they’re gonna fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you.” Matt Goulding introduces you to the sprawling culinary and geographical landscape of his adoptive home, and offers an intimate portrait of this multifaceted country, its remarkable people, and its complex history. Fall in love with Barcelona’s tiny tapas bars and modernist culinary temples. Explore the movable feast of small plates and late nights in Madrid. Join the three-thousand-year-old hunt for Bluefin tuna off the coast of Cadiz, then continue your seafood journey north to meet three sisters who risk their lives foraging the gooseneck barnacle, one of Spain’s most treasured ingredients. Delight in some of the world’s most innovative and avant-garde edible creations in San Sebastian, and then wash them down with cider from neighboring Asturias. Sample the world’s finest acorn-fed ham in Salamanca, share in the traditions of cave-dwelling shepherds in the mountains beyond Granada, and debate what constitutes truly authentic paella in Valencia. Grape, Olive, Pig reveals hidden gems and enduring delicacies from across this extraordinary country, contextualizing each meal with the stories behind the food in a cultural narrative complemented by stunning color photography. Whether you’ve visited Spain or have only dreamed of bellying up to its tapas bars, Grape, Olive, Pig will wake your imagination, rouse your hunger, and capture your heart.