Great list of books! Thank you! However, you omitted one of my favorites, "Tender At the Bone". I loved that book, and recently managed to get a copy at the Strand and I gave it to my daughter in law. I always recommend "My Year of Meats" also.
Some wonderful book recos! Fun fact: the mother of the author of Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking, Larisa, teaches classes for League of Kitchens. I took a wonderful online class from her and learned how to make borscht and pampushkis. League of Kitchens classes (online or in person) make a great gift, too…
Ruth! You’re killing me! Already I have anxiety about all the best books of 2024 lists and now this? Love your posts and love your books, waiting for the next one. Happy whatever you celebrate. Write on!
This spaghetti and meatball recipe has been a family favorite for years! I think I got it from a Gourmet list of "Ruth's Favorite Recipes" over the years, or something like that. Yes, it takes a good while to make, but it makes a lot of delicious sauce and meatballs, and is totally freezable. Thank you for the reminder -- and how wonderful that I am able to thank you for the recipe directly!
Blue Trout and Black Truffles! So underrated. That, along with any one of Calvin Trillin’s books in the Tummy Trilogy, are always in my vacation rotation.
I agree with Ellen above that “Tender” is a great read. And I loved Ruth’s recent “The Paris Novel” so much! And also “Comfort Me with Apples,” and “Garlic and Sapphires.” I’m looking forward to reading some of these others on the list!
Your book suggestions are excellent. May I be so bold as to add Stanley Tucci's What I Ate in One Year. I listened to the audiobook, and it far exceeded my expectations. It's not just about eating - it's about cooking and family and friends and was a particular joy as I pattered around the kitchen. I was sorry when it ended.
I do love Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries. I have made a few changes to his Really Good Ragu, and it is one of our favorite dinners around here.
Happy Holidays and a Good New Year to you and all your lovely readers, whose comments I so enjoy. You have created a nice safe community. Good for you!
Great list of books. I’ve read a lot of them but now I have more to discover! I loved The Apprentice by Jacques Pepin and Laurie Colwins book and I will read anything by Calvin Trillin and Nigel Slater. And the Ludwig Bemelmans story was a pleasant surprise. Books about food are books about life.
I didn’t know John Haney wrote a book! His memoir in Gourmet about post-war English food still resonates with me (I lived in England in the 70s and not much had changed).
The book began with that memoir in Gourmet. John expanded it into this extraordinary book. He's such an amazing person: total grammar nerd, first person in his family to go to college, drummer in a punk band - and a big part of what made Gourmet's final years so special.
Great list! So many books so little time. Where to start? I feel lucky to have already read a few but there are some real winners here I can't wait to get my hands on.
This list is a gift in and of itself. So many I still need to read!
I came here to say the same thing!
Great list of books! Thank you! However, you omitted one of my favorites, "Tender At the Bone". I loved that book, and recently managed to get a copy at the Strand and I gave it to my daughter in law. I always recommend "My Year of Meats" also.
Some wonderful book recos! Fun fact: the mother of the author of Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking, Larisa, teaches classes for League of Kitchens. I took a wonderful online class from her and learned how to make borscht and pampushkis. League of Kitchens classes (online or in person) make a great gift, too…
Ruth! You’re killing me! Already I have anxiety about all the best books of 2024 lists and now this? Love your posts and love your books, waiting for the next one. Happy whatever you celebrate. Write on!
This spaghetti and meatball recipe has been a family favorite for years! I think I got it from a Gourmet list of "Ruth's Favorite Recipes" over the years, or something like that. Yes, it takes a good while to make, but it makes a lot of delicious sauce and meatballs, and is totally freezable. Thank you for the reminder -- and how wonderful that I am able to thank you for the recipe directly!
Blue Trout and Black Truffles! So underrated. That, along with any one of Calvin Trillin’s books in the Tummy Trilogy, are always in my vacation rotation.
I agree with Ellen above that “Tender” is a great read. And I loved Ruth’s recent “The Paris Novel” so much! And also “Comfort Me with Apples,” and “Garlic and Sapphires.” I’m looking forward to reading some of these others on the list!
I've been looking for this fantastic list my whole life! Thank you.
Your book suggestions are excellent. May I be so bold as to add Stanley Tucci's What I Ate in One Year. I listened to the audiobook, and it far exceeded my expectations. It's not just about eating - it's about cooking and family and friends and was a particular joy as I pattered around the kitchen. I was sorry when it ended.
I do love Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries. I have made a few changes to his Really Good Ragu, and it is one of our favorite dinners around here.
Happy Holidays and a Good New Year to you and all your lovely readers, whose comments I so enjoy. You have created a nice safe community. Good for you!
Great list of books. I’ve read a lot of them but now I have more to discover! I loved The Apprentice by Jacques Pepin and Laurie Colwins book and I will read anything by Calvin Trillin and Nigel Slater. And the Ludwig Bemelmans story was a pleasant surprise. Books about food are books about life.
I didn’t know John Haney wrote a book! His memoir in Gourmet about post-war English food still resonates with me (I lived in England in the 70s and not much had changed).
The book began with that memoir in Gourmet. John expanded it into this extraordinary book. He's such an amazing person: total grammar nerd, first person in his family to go to college, drummer in a punk band - and a big part of what made Gourmet's final years so special.
Great list, thank you so much!! I just finished Butter by Asako Yuzuki and now eat only the finest butter!! Looking forward t biting into your list!
Ugh. All these vintage menus just make me jealous of the prices. And hungry. And I thought cookbooks were enough food porn.
Great list! So many books so little time. Where to start? I feel lucky to have already read a few but there are some real winners here I can't wait to get my hands on.
Thanks for the interesting list._2 books that I regret leaving behind somewhere in life; Vibration Cooking and the Hashish Cookbook by Panama Rose
Thank you so much for the book recommendation. I love reading about food. That's why I love your substack.