Books

Food Books for Your Holiday List

Kendra Winchester is a Contributing Editor for Book Riot where she writes about audiobooks and disability literature. She is also the Founder of Read Appalachia, which celebrates Appalachian literature and writing. Previously, Kendra co-founded and served as Executive Director for Reading Women, a podcast that gained an international following over its six-season run. In her off hours, you can find her writing on her Substack, Winchester Ave, and posting photos of her Corgis on Instagram and Twitter @kdwinchester.

The holidays are here, and I’m just finishing up my Christmas shopping. A lot of my family are huge food nerds—just like me—so I have assembled an all-star collection of food-related books that will end up in my family’s stockings.

There’s just something about sharing my favorite food books with people I love. Plus, we love making the same recipes from the books and comparing notes.

a graphic of the cover of What I Ate in One Year: (and related thoughts) by Stanley Tucci

What I Ate in One Year: (and related thoughts) by Stanley Tucci

I LOVED Stanley Tucci’s memoir Taste. The way Tucci described his life through food was captivating. So of course, his new collection What I Ate in One Year jumped to the top of my Christmas list. I saw a print copy at Costco the other day, and the endpapers are STUNNING. They have adorable illustrations of produce on them. In his new essays, Tucci describes his year of food day by day. And with great food comes great company, and Tucci shares these special moments with his readers.

a graphic of the cover of Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten

Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten

I grew up watching Food Network, so I’m always here for a celebrity chef biography. But Ina Garten, well she’s something special. She’s straightforward, practical, and her recipes are always delicious. She published a host of bestselling cookbooks, but now—for the first time—she’s here with her memoir. In it, she describes the beginnings of her career in entertainment, how she became a TV personality, and how she met her beloved husband, Jeffrey. As an audiobook girlie, I am over the moon that she performs the audio edition.

a graphic of the cover of Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts

Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts by Crystal Wilkinson

Crystal Wilkinson is a huge favorite of mine. Her novel The Birds of Opulence stands as one of my all-time favorite books. So when I heard that she had a culinary memoir coming out, I jumped on the preorder list. In Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts, Wilkinson shares the history of her family through the recipes they have passed down through the years. The book includes stunning photos and delicious recipes perfect for beginner and experienced bakers alike.


You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.

Happy Reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

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