It would be a gross oversimplification of the culinary zeitgeist to say that The Bear has single-handedly re-ignited an interest in cookery. Rather, the phenomenal multi-award-winning show has built on something that has been swirling around the collective consciousness since Covid first hit.
The pandemic forced us to become intimately acquainted with our humble kitchens for the first time in a long time. Gone was the ability for instant, fast-food gratification and those taking personal protection incredibly seriously would have also avoided the likes of Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Instead, we took to online recipes and world-famous cookbooks to begin an ingredients-focused adventure into all things food.
Almost five years on, and there’s naturally been an uptake in culinary enthusiasts looking to try some of the best food in the world, cooked by the most renowned chefs globally. This isn’t just for the taste bud-tingling, mind-bending, in-person gastronomical experience – but because you simply never know when the opportunity might again, all of a sudden, disappear.
Other than eating marvellous food crafted by artistic geniuses, there’s no better way to appreciate the skill, creativity and innovation required to make award-winning dishes than by attempting to make them yourself. Practice makes perfect, and that’s why pragmatic, didactic and culturally fascinating cookbooks remain at the top of our wish lists every giving season.
Carmy Berzatto, the main character of The Bear, has a rather fascinating cookbook collection (pictured above). Set designers have since explained that their choice in both absurdly niche and some wildly popular, well-known cookbooks was curated to help explain Carmy’s own culinary journey; what he’s doing, and where he wants to be.
That’s why we haven’t simply provided a list of Carmy’s cookbooks below. Let’s be real, not only is the guy entirely fictional, but we don’t exactly want to get inside his head – even if it’d make us world-class chefs. Instead, we’ve curated a thoughtful, accessible selection of some of the best cookbooks to be published in the last few decades. Keep scrolling to dive in. Or as Carmy would say, let it rip…
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Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
One of the most important cookbooks to come out of the last century of culinary writing, Samin Nosrat masterfully distils the four main components which make up every chef’s innate cookery formula whether they know it or not.
Nosrat made the discovery while working at Chez Panisse at the beginning of her career and teaches us how to master the four variables – salt, fat, acid and heat – which, when perfectly aligned, never fail to make a dish delicious. Filled to the brim with 100 essential recipes that exemplify the chef’s thesis, it's a veritable home cooking bible.
Buy now £27.43, Amazon
Appetites by Anthony Bourdain
There is no one like the late, great Anthony Bourdain. A master of decadence, passion and hedonism, Appetites is an essential read for anyone who has even flirted with the idea of working in the culinary industry.
Beautiful and strangely grotesque, this phenomenal cookbook is filled with the recipes Bourdain goes to in a pinch, to please family members, or to craft the perfect late-night snack. Expect guilt-free eating.
Buy now £24.93, Amazon
Easy Wins by Anna Jones
Everybody needs an easy win during the week. Whether it be a delicious pasta, filling salad or delectable traybake, Anna Jones takes us through the 12 essential ingredients which make any meal taste fabulous. There are chapters on lemons, olive oil, mustard, tahini and more, as well as a whopping 125 recipes that you can cook on repeat and in which you’ll never tire.
Buy now £19.65, Amazon
A Year of Good Eating by Nigel Slater
One of Britain’s most preeminent food writers, a cookbook by Nigel Slater isn’t just a collection of recipes, but a veritable literary delight. A Year of Good Eating is the third in his beloved Kitchen Diaries series, it’s filled with the cook’s characteristically simple yet wholesome weeknight recipes, seasonal suggestions and insightful thoughts. Recipes include speedy baked eggs, salmon pie with herb butter sauce, asparagus and blue cheese tart and roasted summer vegetables with sausages.
Buy now £23.72, Amazon
The Ballymaloe Cookbook by Myrtle Allen
The founder of modern Irish cooking, Myrtle Allen was an Irish Michelin star-winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant The Yeats Room at her rural Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, County Cork. What began in 1964 with a sign hanging from Allen’s gate inviting people to dine in her home became the origins of true country house cooking made possible by using the best possible local produce.
This revised and updated version of the iconic cookbook features forewords by the likes of Yotam Ottolenghi and the founder of The Ballymaloe Cookery School (and daughter-in-law to the late chef) Darina Allen.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
How to Eat by Nigella Lawson
The cookbook that launched Nigella Lawson’s seismic career, How to Eat was first published in 1998 and has been described by renowned chefs and critics across the globe as one of the best cookery books ever written. It’s your favourite cook’s favourite cookbook, filled with Lawson’s signature witty writing, and a veritable passion for food which radiates from every page. No glossy photos in this one, we told you it was a classic.
Buy now £24.27, Amazon
The Secret of Cooking by Bee Wilson
Crafted for the home cook who is constantly stretched for time, Bee Wilson shows us how to get delicious, simple and beautifully flavourful meals on the table no matter the occasion. Beloved by the likes of Nigel Slater and Nigella Lawson, The Secret of Cooking is a veritable kitchen bible which reveals the surprisingly simple truths behind maintaining an active, clean and delicious kitchen, as told by someone with a lifetime of experience.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
Ottolenghi Simple
The platinum standard of Mediterranean-style cookbooks, Ottolenghi’s Simple is home to a diverse selection of native Middle Eastern recipes which promise to nourish body and soul.
Beloved for staying true to its title, the London-based chef talks readers through whipping up seemingly complicated meals with ease – whether you’re in a pinch or you’ve got time to kill. Indeed, the brilliant cookbook follows an acronymic structure: S is for short on time: less than 30 minutes, I is 10 ingredients or less, M is make ahead, P is pantry, L is lazy and E is easier than you think.
Simple is crafted around 10 basic pantry ingredients which, once you own, open a world of recipes beyond the realm of Simple alone; you can buy the ‘flavour bombs’ including black garlic, rose harissa and tahini via Ottolenghi.
Buy now £20.00, Amazon
Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook
Best for: Florentine cooking
“Brutto ma bono” is the ethos at the heart of the late, great Russell Norman’s cookbook. Meaning “ugly but good”, it is the rather relatable motto on which crafting authentic Tuscan cuisine is contingent.
Filled to the brim with the small plate recipes that Norman pioneered, Brutto is all about using simple, high-quality ingredients to craft excellent Italian food – from anchovy with cold butter and sourdough to penne with tomato and vodka.
Buy now £23.21, Amazon
Persiana: Recipes from the Middle East & Beyond
Middle Eastern food is synonymous with feasting and with that comes an array of amazing mezze dishes: small plates of food shared between people. In just six chapters, Persiana presents modern and accessible recipes of breads, salads and sharing plates that are impressive enough to serve at large gatherings, but also easy enough to rustle up on a weeknight evening for the family.
Alongside these recipes comes photography of dishes such as Walnut and Pomegranate Chicken and Bejewelled Rice, the sight of which alone will make your stomach grumble. Be prepared to have your house immersed in these bold smells as you try out cooking dishes fit for an Arabian king.
To begin, stock up your pantry on key Middle Eastern spices such as sumac, zaatar and cinnamon in advance as these recipes require a lot of them.
Buy now £20.18, Amazon
The Quick Roasting Tin
Is there anything easier than chopping up some ingredients and throwing them in the oven?
The Quick Roasting Tin is one-pot cooking at its finest and has over 75 recipes that provide quick weeknight dinners such as Kerala Prawn Curry, delicious lunches like Tenderstem, Black Beans and Avocado Salad and a Chicken, Leek and Chorizo Pie, perfect for batching cooking and freezing.
The variety in the recipes means there’s something for everyone regardless of dietary requirements, and you’ll be impressed with how many ingredients you already have in your store cupboard.
For more one-dish cooking try out other cookbooks such as The Green Roasting Tin and The Roasting Tin Around The World.
Buy now £10.00, Amazon
Comfort MOB
MOB is more than a social media sensation: it’s a movement. Comfort MOB pulls its viral videos together to create a guide to pure gourmet joy.
This book is stuffed with nutritious ideas and old-school recipes to provide both comfort and satisfaction, especially for anyone who needs to build confidence in the kitchen. The recipes are affordable and achievable for all levels.
Pasta fans will adore getting stuck into recipes like Ben’s Dad’s Puttanesca. Comforting and glorious.
Buy now £11.49, Amazon
Falastin by Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley
We’d be remiss not to introduce readers to Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley’s Falastin.
A true compendium of classic Palestinian dishes, it includes recipes handed down throughout generations which have been adapted to suit modern kitchens. With over 110 recipes to choose from, largely inspired by Sami and Tara’s collaborations with producers and farmers throughout Palestine, let your next home-cooked meal celebrate Middle Eastern tradition.
Buy now £19.15, Amazon
The French Laundry, Per Se
Ready to take your culinary skills to the next level? Learn from Thomas Keller, one of the best in the industry who has produced a cookbook with over 100 recipes that are as delicious as they are beautiful.
This is fine dining at its best, so be prepared to dedicate some serious time in the kitchen (and the supermarket as you shop around for the lengthy list of ingredients). The recipes require skill and precision, but it’s 100 per cent worth it when you’re able to present some of the most creative and visually pleasing dishes out there to your friends and family.
We recommend trying out the Butter-Poached Lobster and the Champignon De Bois (mushroom croquettes with watercress puree) that make perfect canapes. Alongside these dishes come some of the all-important basics of French cooking - learn how to make Parmesan Mousse, Tomato Water and various stocks.
Buy now £48.50, Amazon
Made in India by Meera Sodha
From classic street food recipes to fragrant curries, Meera Sodha covers it all in her critically acclaimed cookbook Made in India. The Guardian columnist introduces readers to proper British-Indian home cooking with over 130 different easy-to-follow recipes, collated from three generations of her family. As Sodha puts it herself in the introduction, “An Indian kitchen can be anywhere in the world. Mine just happens to be in London.”
We’re particularly fond of the ‘Cooking in Advance’ section which includes recipes like Slow-cooked Red Pepper and Paneer Curry, Mum’s Chicken Curry and Howrah Express Cinnamon Lamb Curry.
Buy now £18.01, Amazon
Dishoom: The first ever cookbook from the much-loved Indian restaurant
Transforming the Indian restaurant landscape in the UK, Dishoom’s homage to its Iranian version of Mumbai has won over those looking for affordable and delicious traditional Indian meals.
This cookbook finally spills the secrets of much-loved comfort dishes such as the Bacon Naan Roll, Okra Fries and Chicken Ruby. With recipes on how to make your own Garam Masala spice blend, ginger paste and Masala sauce, this cookbook is an absolute must for those who want to nail the basics of Indian cooking as well as create impressive dishes for their friends and family.
Alongside beautifully curated recipes comes a tale of eating and drinking in Bombay with beautiful photography, a pull-out poster and charming tales of such a culturally and culinary rich country.
Buy now £17.68, Amazon
Moro: The Cookbook
A beloved Spanish cookbook that has reigned supreme in kitchens for over twenty years, we’d be remiss not to include Moro in this round-up.
Detailing a myriad of recipes stretching from Spain to North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, Sam & Sam Clark’s accomplished, passionate and instructional cookbook teaches us how to replicate the distillation of authentic flavours from across the Mediterranean ocean achieved in their London restaurant of the same name at home.
Buy now £23.83, Amazon
The Mexican Vegetarian Cookbook: 400 authentic everyday recipes for the home cook
Best for: authentic meat-free recipes
We know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but this delightful neon cut-out design immediately caught our eyes. Yet upon delving into this fantastic-looking recipe book, we were pleased to learn that Margarita Carrillo Arronte’s collection of 400 authentic, everyday Mexican recipes scores highly on both style and substance.
So natural and nourishing are these recipes that you’ll forget you’ve delved into the pages of an all-vegetarian cookbook. With chapters on breakfasts, lunches, snacks, salads, sides, soups, entradas and more - you’ll be spoilt for choice when you next find yourself stumped on what to cook.
Not only are some of the dishes impressive enough to create a dinner party-ready menu, but on the flip side, many are simple enough to incorporate into your daily meal prep routines. Forget sad, English sandwiches every lunchtime until infinity, for your go-to basics are about to be authentic tostadas, corn soups and stuffed ancho chiles.
Buy now £24.49, Amazon
One: Pot, Pan, Planet by Anna Janes
Whip up an array of delicious dishes inspired from across the globe with the latest cookbook from award-winning chef Anna Jones. Featuring more than 200 innovative recipes, all veggie or vegan, try her all-in-one sustainable approach to cooking with one-pot soups, one-tray dinners and one-pan dishes to reduce waste - without holding back on flavour.
From African Peanut Stew to Korean Carrot and Sesame Pancakes or Baked Dahl with Tamarind-glazed Sweet Potato, give her mindful cooking a go, sampling the show-stopping tastes while using up leftovers and stripping back on unused ingredients.
Throughout the book, she also gives handy practical advice on how to go greener in the kitchen, including tips on planning ahead and shopping wisely to eliminate waste.
Buy now £18.13, Amazon
Nose to Tail Eating: A Kind of British Cooking by Fergus Henderson
At Fergus Henderson’s St John, the emphasis is firmly on meat. Exemplified by the restaurant’s logo and by the fact that its original location is a former smokehouse near Smithfield Market. Henderson pioneered a re-interest in all things offal – the meat which is often discarded or forgotten about, especially the internal organs. Nose to Tail Eating celebrates the transformation of discarded innards into delicious and sophisticated meals, with an introduction by the late and great Anthony Bourdain.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
