Life
Reading List: Winter 2023
February 1, 2023 @ 10:00am
The start of a new year is the perfect time to establish better habits. It’s difficult to find habits more positive than reading more and eating better. So, we asked Bold Fork Books owner Clementine Thomas to recommend some cookbooks she’s most excited about for 2023. You may not read or cook as much as you’d like, but there’s nothing stopping you from looking at gorgeous photos of food and vicariously living an aspirational eating lifestyle.
“Yogurt & Whey: Recipes of an Iranian Immigrant Life” by Homa Dashtaki
We’re beyond excited for the first book from the founder of White Moustache yogurt (iykyk). Dashtaki has grown a cult following for her delicious, artisanal yogurt which she produces using the same traditional Iranian methods her family has used for generations. Her new book is a celebration of whey, yogurt’s oft-overlooked byproduct, with recipes ranging from ancient see-rogh to rum cocktails. It’s sure to turn even the most skeptical home cooks into ardent lovers of this tangy, liquid gold. Pub date: March 7.
“Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit” by Abra Berens
“Pulp” is a celebration of fruit in both sweet and savory forms. Berens has a knack for crafting books that are both beautiful and practical. (“Ruffage,” Berens’ first cookbook, is a true workhorse in my home kitchen.) “Pulp” promises to keep a delicious thing going. Pub date: April 4.
“More Than Cake: 100 Baking Recipes Built for Pleasure and Community” by Natasha Pickowicz
The much-anticipated debut cookbook from the celebrated baker, activist and Cherry Bombe cover star, Pickowicz draws on her Chinese and Californian roots to offer fresh and uncomplicated recipes that promise to get our tastebuds singing — think nectarine and miso tarte tatin and black cardamom pecan sticky buns. Pub date: April 11.
“Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling” by Bricia Lopez with Javier Cabral
In their follow-up to 2019’s “Oaxaca,” Lopez and Cabral have written the ultimate guide to creating a Mexican-style grill feast at home with more than 100 recipes ranging from aguas frescas and appetizers to side dishes, seafood and, of course, carnes. I have a feeling this one is going to be on repeat all summer long. Pub date: April 25.
Chef and author Klancy Miller founded For the Culture during the height of the pandemic. The magazine’s deep dive into the stories of Black women and femmes in food and wine was a shot across the bow of traditional food media. Her book promises an even more expansive exploration of these stories with profiles of contemporary entrepreneurs, chefs, food stylists, mixologists, historians, hoteliers and others alongside recipes and essays illuminating the stories of Black women who paved the way. Pub date: May 2.
“Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds” by Hetty Lui McKinnon
“To Asia, with Love” is an absolute favorite here at the shop. Hetty’s newest book is a homage to her father, a Chinese immigrant to Australia, told in more than 180 vegetarian recipes. McKinnon, who is also the founder and editor of Peddler magazine, has a wonderful ability to find beauty in the everyday actions of cooking. Her newest is sure to be a love letter to food and family as only McKinnon can write. Pub date: May 30.
All the aforementioned books can be purchased at Bold Fork Books.
3064 Mt Pleasant St. NW, DC; boldforkbooks.com // @boldforkbooks
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