Summer holidays are officially over, meaning the kids are back to school and you are once again stuck behind your desk, seemingly concentrating on your daily tasks. But really, you’re still dreaming of your marvellous summer break, filled with cocktails on the beach and a touch of sightseeing every now and then. And oh, the food, of course. When visiting a new city, a well-known region or an exotic country, one can’t but surrender to the local cuisine. A treat compared to what you usually make after an exhausting day at work. But what if you could invite some of those flavours into your own home? All you need is the right cookbook.
Even though it’s great to know a handful of recipes by heart to be able to quickly put something together, discovering new recipes can also be a way to relax and to take your mind off things. And luckily, there are many great cookbooks out there these days. Whether you’re in the market for Japanese fusion, French fine dining or even canned goods cooking, there’s a book to be found. Choosing those recipes carefully can also be a way to plunge yourself into well-known or new cooking cultures, a culinary escape without the actual travelling. That’s why we selected 5 new cookbooks that will make your summer last a little longer once you put them to good use.
1. Yiayia, Anastasia Miari
Yiayia means ‘grandmother’ in Greek and that’s how you already know beforehand that this will be a true treasure-trove. Anastasia Miari traveled through Greece, stopping every now and then at the home of a Greek yiayia to get to know their typical regional dish. All were cooked in their own kitchen, carefully photographed and then of course put to the test. The whole aesthetic of yiayia gives you a sense of nostalgia like not many other cookbooks succeed to do.
2. Recipes from Venice, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi
Italian cuisine might well be one of the most famous ones in the world but let’s be honest, not all recipes are created equally and there’s a lot of wannabe-Italian dishes out there. Recipes from Venice, written by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi, is a cookbook that would look great on your coffee table but that will also serve you the best the city has to offer. From the classic seafood recipes to the typical Spritz, this book makes you dive into the culinary culture of Venice and we’re all for it.
3. The Korean Cookbook, Junghyun Park and Jungyoon Choi
If you’ve ever been to New York and you happen to be in the market for some Korean food, you might’ve already visited one or more of the following restaurants: Atoboy, Atomix or NARO. All three belong to Junghyun Park, co-author of The Korean Cookbook, which will be released on October 4th. Together with Jungyoon Choi he bundled some of the best recipes straight from his restaurants, including multiple hotpot, noodle and dumpling dishes. Whether your creations will be as big a success as the ones served in his restaurants depends on you but whatever the outcome, you’ve been given the right tools.
4. Malta, Simon Bajada
If you’re in for a bit of Mediterranean sun on your plate, Simon Bajada’s Malta is the cookbook to go buy right now. The author and photographer in one seamlessly knows how to combine food recipes with landscapes, produce, architecture and people. As you would expect from an island cuisine, the recipes are full of fresh fish, sunny tomatoes and salty olives. Bajada even tells you which canned and dry ingredients to buy in Malta when visiting, so you’re always prepared to throw together a Maltese recipe.
5. Simply Scandinavian, Trine Hahnemann
Even though it started as a Scandinavian way of living, Hygge is now so much more since people from all over the world have started to adopt the philosophy. And in Trine Hahnemann’s book, you can expect a lot of those cozy vibes. Comforting dishes for both summer and winter, with fresh and healthy ingredients. Perfect to face the shortening days and to cuddle up under a blanket but also great if you already want to prepare yourself for next year’s Midsommar.
