A handpicked library of cookbooks I return to for inspiration and joy. Each one has taught me something – whether it’s technique, flavour, or storytelling – and I’m sharing them here so they can inspire you too.
The Pantry
Cookbook Library
Culinary Foundations
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Julia Child
A timeless guide to French cooking, making classic techniques approachable for the home cook.
The Flavor Thesaurus
Niki Segnit
Creative flavour pairings to spark inspiration in any kitchen.
The Art of Simple Food
Alice Waters
Seasonal, thoughtful approaches to everyday home cooking.
The Oxford Companion to Food
Alan Davidson
An encyclopaedic guide to ingredients, dishes, and culinary history worldwide.
On Food and Cooking
Harold McGee
The definitive guide to the science and techniques behind food.
Larousse Gastronomique: Culinary Encyclopedia
With entries on cooking, ingredients, recipes, and more.
The Joy of Cooking
Rombauer family
comprehensive, all-purpose guide for everyday cooking and baking adventures.
Professional Cooking
Wayne Gisslen
A trusted resource for aspiring chefs and serious home cooks.
Tartine
Elisabeth Prueitt & Chad Robertson
A go-to classic for home and professional bakers.
Tartine Bread
Chad Robertson
A bread bible teaching how to make exceptional bread using just flour, water, and salt.
Home Cooking & Everyday Recipes
Smitten Kitchen Keepers
Deb Perelman
Reliable, comforting recipes that feel like home on a plate.
Nothing Fancy
Alison Roman
Effortless, stylish recipes for weeknight dinners and casual entertaining.
Cook This Book
Molly Baz
Modern, approachable recipes designed to make cooking fun.
26 Grains
Alex Hely-Hutchinson
Wholesome, hearty, and nourishing grain-based meals.
A Week in the Kitchen
Karen Dudley
Salad and veg-led recipes with Mediterranean and Oriental flavours.
Plenty
Yotam Ottolenghi
Inventive, vegetable-forward dishes that let produce shine.
Plenty More
Yotam Ottolenghi
Additional vibrant, playful recipes celebrating vegetables.
Simple
Yotam Ottolenghi
Quick, flavourful recipes designed for everyday home cooking
Shelf Love
Yotam Ottolenghi
Short, story-driven recipes with a playful, accessible approach.
The Family Meal
Ferran Adrià
Inspired by the dishes eaten by the staff of the legendary elBulli.
Desserts & Baking
Sweet
Yotam Ottolenghi & Helen Goh
Inventive, achievable desserts with refined flavour combinations.
Ballymaloe Desserts
JR Ryall
Classic, charming desserts with timeless appeal.
Dessert Person
Claire Saffitz
Fun, creative baking that inspires home cooks.
Bouchon Bakery
Thomas Keller
Sophisticated, approachable pastry and dessert inspiration.
Momofuku Milk Bar
Christina Tosi
Innovative & addictive recipes from Momofuku Milk Bar
Cultural & Regional Exploration
The Spanish Pantry
José Pizarro
Essential Spanish flavours and pantry-focused recipes.
Mangia!
Maria Pasquale
A warm, story-driven celebration of Italian food and family.
Jerusalem
Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi
Vibrant Middle Eastern recipes full of flavour and tradition.
My Paris Kitchen
David Lebovitz
Memoir-meets-recipe book offering approachable French cooking.
The Nordic Cookbook
Magnus Nilsson
A deep dive into Nordic flavors, traditions, and seasonal cooking.
Food Stories & Memoirs
Kitchen Confidential
Anthony Bourdain
Unflinching, captivating tales from professional kitchens.
The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry
Kathleen Flinn
A personal journey through Le Cordon Bleu and beyond.
Blood, Bones & Butter
Gabrielle Hamilton
Passionate memoir of life, food, and the restaurant world.
Yes, Chef
Marcus Samuelsson
Inspiring story of culinary ambition and cultural journey.
Sous Chef
Michael Gibney
Behind-the-scenes life in professional kitchens.
Tender at the Bone
Ruth Reichl
A charming memoir of growing up with food and finding a voice as a critic.
Eat, Pray, Love
Elizabeth Gilbert
Culinary adventures woven into a life-affirming travel memoir.
Butter
Azoko Yuzuki
A novel infused with food, murder, and identity set in Tokyo.
Taste: My Life Through Food
Stanley Tucci
Warm, humorous anecdotes about food, family, and Italian heritage.
Heat
Bill Buford
A writer’s funny, immersive journey apprenticing in high-pressure Italian kitchens.
Films & Series
Handpicked must-watch movies, shows & doccies that celebrate food, culture, and creativity.
