Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Irresistibly Vegan: Gourmet Dining by Elvira Rodriguez Alonso is a full-color cookbook with a wealth of recipes. The book offers a virtual encyclopedia of incredible eats that are vegan but will genuinely appeal to a broad audience given its diversity of choice and exceptional offerings. The layout of the cookbook is as to be expected, with an introduction to the chef, a bit of backstory, some helpful tips and tricks, and recipes broken down by traditional categories: appetizers, mains and sides, and desserts. The author also provides complete three-course menus for optimal pairings and notations on recipes that are gluten-free or accommodate similar food intolerances.

I remember a dinner at my father-in-law's house where two of his daughters had returned from college and told him that they were now vegan. His response? “You never think it will happen in your own family.” Fast forward ten years and he is a vegan too, which is why Irresistibly Vegan by Elvira Rodriguez Alonso piqued my curiosity. The recipes are incredible and the full-color, full-page spread photography enhances the reading experience and, mercifully, shows us how the result should look. The standouts to me were the Broiled Asparagus with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes, Lemony Rice Bread Crumbs, and Tarragon Butter, and the Moroccan Orange-Cardamom Cake. I have made both with rave reviews from even the pickiest little eater in my home. This is the vegan cookbook for everyone and will no doubt have pride of place on the most respectable countertops. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Seafood by Johanna Harlen is a full-color cookbook that zeroes in on the delights of the sea, complete with crisp and glossy photography by both the author and her son, Chef Craig. The cookbook begins with an overview of Harlen's inspiration and how the composition came to be. Readers and aspiring seafood home chefs are then given a spectacularly detailed recipe collection that is broken down into several parts and includes items most might not anticipate in a seafood cookbook, such as cocktails, alongside a bounty of dishes as wide-ranging as the sea itself. These include recipes such as conch fritters and fish pies, lemon coconut squares, and mojitos.

I feel like I hit the cookbook lottery with Seafood by Johanna Harlen for a couple of reasons. The first is that I live in the British Isles and seafood is not only one of the most plentiful proteins available but also because I am South Asian and was wonderfully surprised to find dishes that tasted like home to me. The first thing I made, before I'd even gone through Seafood in its entirety, was Paratha. For those who do not know, it is a pastry-like flaky 'tortilla' that we use as a 'scooper', as my wife likes to say. The recipe is simple but the execution has always eluded me, and Harlen made my heart and belly happy when I finally made my first homemade Paratha! Another we quickly whipped up was the Mauritian fish samosas, perfectly seasoned exactly as the recipe called for and so good that we made them two nights in a row. The recipes are perfect. The writing is exceptional. The photography is smart and, overall, this is a cookbook worthy of pride of place on any countertop.

Reviewed by Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite

Yvonne's Cookbook Let's Eat! by Yvonne Hendricks is a book that will delight all those who love to cook and eat. In this book, the author shares her recipes and tips with readers, but in addition to this, she tells personal stories and introduces us to some family members. Richly illustrated, Yvonne's Cookbook Let's Eat! includes appetizers, baked goods, entrees, homemade wine, and drinks. Hendricks also provides recipes for the most significant holidays —Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. The recipes are inspired by the Polish and Italian traditions of the author's family and her travels worldwide.

I am not a great cook, but I always look for easy-to-prepare dishes, which I found in Yvonne's Cookbook Let's Eat! I liked that Yvonne Hendricks has included dishes for all tastes, even indicating when they suit people with food intolerances. Besides the variety, I appreciated the quality of the recipes; some are delicious just by reading the ingredients. I also liked that the author shared stories of her family and explained when a dish is linked to a specific episode. This makes the book even more enjoyable to read (as if the many beautiful images were not enough!) and much more personal. I highly recommend Yvonne's Cookbook Let's Eat! to those interested in cooking and who like to make their dishes from scratch. I am sure they will find something to their liking.

Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

The Kitchen and the Studio: A Memoir of Food and Art is a fascinating memoir by Mallory M. O'Connor and John A. O'Connor. It is about the authors' experiences in the world of food and art. Mallory is a food writer and art historian, while her husband John is a painter and professor of fine arts. It is divided into two parts, People, Places and Parties, and The Ancestors. It also has a hundred recipes, each illustrated with John’s paintings. The story unravels with Mallory and John's meeting at the University of California, Davis, in 1962. The couple fell in love and got married. What follows is a meaningful journey that spans fifty years as they share their life and celebrate with family and friends.

Mallory M. O'Connor and John A. O'Connor’s The Kitchen and the Studio is a unique memoir about a couple with a healthy dose of passion for art, good food, and life in general. It is a beautifully written story that celebrates creativity and family tradition. Narrated in the first-person point of view, we get an intimate glimpse of Mallory's and John’s lives where food and art are woven together. I find the illustrations visually pleasing and effective tools in relating to the narrative on a deeper level. This is a wonderfully written memoir that celebrates the joys of creativity, relationships, and lives filled with passion. It is a must-read for those who appreciate the connection between food and art and it should inspire us to create our memories and follow our hearts’ desires.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

What is your specific health goal and what are you willing to do to reach your mark? Tough questions? Well, we always need a plan in life, that is if we want to live a healthy, sustainable life. Simple S.A.L.A.D.S.: A Salad Recipe Book with a Twist by Bridget McCray shows that it all starts with the food we eat. After all, the proverbial saying says it all: we are what we eat. If you’re looking for a healthy change of diet, perhaps you need to consider eating fresh, wholesome vegetables and fruits. What better way than to create a tasty salad! Have you considered making a salad with spinach, blueberries, and celery? It may sound like an unusual combination; it certainly did to me. But think of all the health benefits packed into each one of the ingredients: antioxidants, fiber and so much more.

Bridget McCray’s cookbook, Simple S.A.L.A.D.S. is a creative and innovative collection of some pretty snazzy salad recipes. Packed with lots of helpful (and healthful) advice, this book will lead readers on the path to a sustainably healthier diet. Each section is introduced with some key points to consider. The recipes are accompanied by a mouth-watering photograph, an orderly list of ingredients, instructions on how to ‘toss’ the salad, and some health-wise tips on the ingredients. The author doesn’t claim medical expertise. She insists everyone consult with a medical professional before making a drastic dietary change. Her recipes, stories, and insight are well thought out from years of experience and experimentation. This makes an interesting recipe book to inspire readers to think creatively while preparing healthy foods.

Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite

Fresh by Johanna Harlen is an extraordinary cookbook since it incorporates an incredible amount of health information. The pictures are absolutely beautiful and make your mouth water. We would like you to cook for us, Johanna! The dedication is very moving and everything that the author shares about her own reasons for writing these books and about her own life is interesting. The various parts complement each other and we are given thirty days of healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas. What else could we ask for?

Fresh by Johanna Harlen is indeed a gem and a book I am going to use regularly (even though I hardly ever use cookbooks!) because my husband’s and my own health do matter to me too! I have already perused most of the recipes and feel inclined to test quite a lot. They are part of an alkaline diet which is based on the idea that replacing acid-forming foods with alkaline foods can improve your health. In fact, we all know that acid-forming foods are bad for us but we always find good reasons (lack of time mostly) not to address this essential issue. Having a whole book of perfect (alkaline) recipes and not having to worry about which types of food we may or may not eat is a real gift and I could not be more grateful to Johanna. I am going to treasure it and advise readers on my blog with pleasure. Thank you so much. We'll never forget again that "we are what we eat."

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Marcela Benson’s Love, Peace, and Vegetables: Recipes for Conscious Living is an enticing, appetizing, and visually appealing cookbook that promotes healthy eating and the healing properties of a well-structured meal. This is a collection of 150 recipes that are conceived from the heart with the intent to provide healthier alternatives to the common meals we have been accustomed to consuming. Benson has mastered the craft of low-glycemic cuisine through her understanding of Live-Food preparation that brings us to a profound understanding of the vegan lifestyle. The book begins with the story of the author’s personal life and struggles, and how it led her to discover the merits of a healthy diet. Moreover, the book also shows you how to willingly choose the path toward positive change and adapt transformational steps to health according to your own pace.

With her devotion to Live-Food and veganism, Marcela Benson is revolutionizing the cookbook industry with recipes that are not only honest but are prepared with love as seen through her artistic and scientific details. Having a sweet tooth, I particularly enjoyed preparing two of her Live-Food desserts—the vanilla thumbprint cookies and spice chocolate cream pie. The preparation of these recipes feels like a sacred act in itself. Try the recipes for yourself and you realize that you are experiencing the fusion of science, art, and love through eating. Love, Peace, and Vegetables is an indispensable reference for any culinary scholars, chefs, homemakers, and even food critics, as it strongly weighs in on recognizing the role of food in our holistic view of the human body. Reassuring and easy to follow, this is the cookbook to consider for healthy appetite and pleasure.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Sassy Food by Ja-ne de Abreu is a self-help guide for those who are ready to begin or want to learn more about “How to Grow Food with Your Own 'Farm" Any Size Anywhere/Any Time of Year with Any Budget and How to Cook It”. Ja-ne uses her vast experience as a photographer to create a pictorial book that would be at home on a coffee table with full color, glossy images of the Hawaiian landscape, plentiful harvests, and a variety of women of all ages clothed only in the earth's bounty. Alongside the photography is a comprehensive tutorial on all things gardening, complete with instructions on different sizes and types, environment, timeframes, hydroponics, cultivating, harvesting, and recipes, among many, many other things.

I went into Sassy Food thinking that, despite the 'any size anywhere,' a shoebox home in central London was probably not what Ja-ne de Abreu had in mind. I was proven wrong, and a micro-tent with potted herbs is currently housed on my 3ft terrace. Ja-ne gifts us with such an incredible wealth of information and does this with a palpable sensitivity to compassion, love, and oneness. In the chapter covering Peaceful Pest & Disease Control, she describes a heartbreaking loss after months of care, stating, “I lost a quick battle of disease with my Kajari melon. It felt like a real death.” The photography is raw and moving, without the use of manipulation to really show the landscape and the women who grace it in gorgeous, realistic imagery. This is a book that nurtures the heart and soul of a reader in the same way Ja-ne teaches us to care for the bounty. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite

Press for Champagne is a very special book. Christopher S. Ruhland researched a complicated subject and explained it simply. First, he tells us about his interest in the topic, then he tells us about the history of champagne in a very entertaining way. The description is amazing. Later, when we already have a clear context, the author explains the process and characteristics of champagne. But that is only the beginning of the book. The more we read the more we learn. Christopher S. Ruhland gives explanations for all audiences, and there are even descriptions of French terms to understand the bottle labels. With the information that the author gives us, we can more easily choose champagne according to our tastes. Press for Champagne is a book that everyone should read.

I loved how Press for Champagne explains some myths and corrects information because many ideas about champagne are confused. The narration is very entertaining. Christopher S. Ruhland speaks to us from his experience. Reading this book feels like having a conversation with a man who knows what he's talking about. The amount of information is amazing. I liked how the author expresses all his arguments. This book is a very useful guide because it teaches us to see champagne from a different perspective. Champagne doesn't have to be just for celebrations; champagne is a drink made to be appreciated. The important thing is to have a good time with champagne if we have a chance. Christopher S. Ruhland enjoyed writing this book, and that enjoyment comes through in every word of it.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Sophisticated Palate: A Taste of Northern California is a nonfiction cooking/food book written by Johanna Harlen. Harlen’s love affair with the culinary arts and writing about food began when she submitted a recipe to the Service Inspired Restaurants Corporation of Ontario’s contest. Even better news awaited her, however, when she learned that she had won the contest. Her prize was a course at the Culinary Institute of America’s Northern California campus. The course, The Sophisticated Palate: A Taste of Northern California, was presented by Chef John Ash. Ten years later, Harlen decided that the coursework from that 2010 program could be the basis for an amazing cookbook. Chef John Ash agreed and offered to help her in any way he could. Sophisticated Palate immerses the reader in the intensive and inspiring Culinary Institute of America course that is still taught by Chef John Ash. Harlen’s eloquent and inspiring introduction sets the stage for her experience, and her presentation of the coursework covered by Ash offers the reader far more than a simple collection of recipes. Each recipe is updated for 2020 and offers detailed information on alternative ingredients and techniques. As I read through this book, I felt as though I was indeed in a Culinary Institute class, and I loved learning about the courses -- and how I could adapt and make them my own.

There’s something for everyone in this work; I even discovered, to my delight and surprise, a recipe for Avocado Fries. Another plus is that the chef’s notes at the bottom of each recipe are those of Chef Ash, unless otherwise noted, furthering the feeling one gets of being a privileged student as well as a reader. Harlen also includes an article by Chef Ash on souffles that offered me the necessary confidence and boosted my enthusiasm for trying my hand at what I had always considered a formidable task. I especially liked Harlen’s suggestion for a Citrus Souffle. Harlen was the photographer for all but the dessert recipes, which were photographed by her son. Her pictures are eye-popping and mouth-watering. Textures, colors, and ingredients all work together very well to make each dish a visual masterpiece. Sophisticated Palate: A Taste of Northern California is more than a cookbook -- it provides the reader with a learning experience that will have them considering coursework at the Culinary Institute themselves. It’s most highly recommended.