Love food and miss travel? What destination do you miss most? 2020 dealt a huge blow to the travel industry, and especially to those who love to explore. Thankfully the publishing industry came through with somewhat of a solution to all of our wanderlust with a great lineup of internationally inspired cookbooks this fall. We’ve rounded up our favorites below - just in time for holiday gifting. Which trip do you want to take most?
The French Country Escape
Bisous and Brioche: Classic French Recipes and Family Favorites from a Life in France by Laura Bradbury and Rebecca Wellman
Bisous & Brioche has been one of our go-to cookbooks this year for authentic everyday French dishes. The recipe for her French Onion Soup is featured in the fall/winter 2020 issue of The Taste Edit’s digital magazine. Download your copy to get cooking now while you wait for your copy of the cookbook to arrive.
Recipes to try: French Onion Soup, Gratin Dauphinois, and French Green Beans that will turn even the pickiest palate onto the haricots verts.
The New York Minute
Xi'an Famous Foods: The Cuisine of Western China, from New York's Favorite Noodle Shop by Jason Wang
Xi’an Famous Foods cookbook may look intimidating, but you really only need a few basic ingredients that you’ll use over and over again like fish sauce and spicy sambal. Order the book and supplies on Amazon and you’ll be cooking up New York’s best takeout in less time than it takes to walk to the subway.
Recipes to try: Pineapple chicken, Spicy and Tingly Beef, or if you’re adventurous try Spicy Cumin Lamb and make your own hand-ripped noodles.
The Cotswolds Cottage
A Year of Good Eating by Nigel Slater
Nigel Slater’s recipes are simple, easy, and honestly pretty inexpensive. Very clean food with only a few ingredients. If you love wandering through a market to buy things that are seasonal and then don’t know what to do with them - Nigel will help you figure it out. You won't find a ton of photos in his cookbooks but you’ll read a recipe and think, wow that’s so easy, why didn’t I think of that first? Put on your wellies, head to the market, then curl up in a club chair with a glass of Claret and get inspired!
Recipes to try: Ham and Stilton Crumpets, Brown Butter, Rosemary, and honey Frozen Yogurt, or Port-braised Venison with Oat Dumplings
The Highlands Roadtrip
Aran: Recipes and Stories from a Bakery in the Heart of Scotland by Flora Shedden
Aran is full of sweet and savory Scottish comfort food. Perfect for cold days, these recipes from Great British Bake Off star Flora Shedding come with a side of stunning photography from the Scottish Highlands. She even has two buttery shortbread cookie recipes because they’re both so good they couldn’t decide which was better. Wrap this up with some plaid ribbon and make the baker in your life chuffed on Christmas morning.
Recipes to try: Shortbread, Iced Gingerbread, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Pork Apple Sage Sausage Rolls.
Paris Fashion Week
Drinking French: The Iconic Cocktails, Apéritifs, and Café Traditions of France by David Lebovitz + La Buvette: Recipes and Wine Notes from Paris by Camile Fourmont and Kate Leahy
If everyone is going to be at home on New Year’s Eve, why not make your own over-the-top celebration with French Cocktails from this book and snacks from this favorite Parisian wine bar. Flower shops are open, so grab a bouquet of resplendent red roses, arrange them low and tight in a vase, and put on the pair of Louboutins you haven’t worn since March. Très chic et facile. Bon soirée!
Recipes to try: The Champs-Elysees, Sidecar, Baked Camembert with Walnuts, Figs, and Whiskey Gastrique, and Giant Beans with Citrus Zest