What’s one more book? It’s what many book lovers ask (and answer) as they pluck another title from the bookstore shelf, eager to add it to their home collection.
Minnesota is rich with both literary and culinary talent. And when those two worlds collide, we are treated not only to mouthwatering cookbooks, but also fascinating memoirs and inspirational messages for kids and adults. As we weather topsy-turvy temperatures, gray skies and winter doldrums, make time for these food-related books you might have missed over the past year and change.
After all, what’s one more book?
For the kitchen
“On the Curry Trail,” by Raghavan Iyer. The late author’s final cookbook traces the complex history of India’s spices and their effect on global cuisine, while encouraging readers to put their own stamp on the spice mixture. “I wanted to do a companion story to the ‘660 Curries,’” Iyer said last year about his 2008 groundbreaking cookbook. “I thought what better way to look at curries than through the lens of the Indian diaspora? It was propelled primarily through colonialism, with Indians as indentured servants and slaves.” The result is a fascinating read that’s part history lesson and part cookbook filled with colorful illustrations and recipes like Ethiopian red lentils with ginger and Prawn Curry With Darkened Cinnamon. Side note: If you haven’t explored the rich and saucy stews in his seminal “660 Curries: The Gateway to Indian Cooking” (it clocks in at an impressive 800 pages), what are you waiting for? (Workman)
“Smoke on the Waterfront: The Northern Waters Smokehaus Cookbook.” This North Shore gem marked 25 years of business with a new location and a cookbook, unlocking its culinary secrets by teaching the masses how to prepare their beloved Cajun Finn sandwich and make good use of a backyard smoker. “We’ve been talking about making a cookbook probably ever since the shop opened,” former general manager Mary Tennis told the Star Tribune at the time. “But like most food businesses, we didn’t have time to sit down and write this.” Thank goodness that changed. The result is a group project from the Smokehaus crew that touches on all manners of food preservation, from smoking to pickling and canning. There are plenty of recipes for those who don’t own a smoker (ham meatballs, Swedish meatball gravy), and it makes a great gift (or hint) for your favorite backyard chef. (University of Minnesota Press)
“At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe 20th Anniversary Cookbook,” by Jillian Forte. This Duluth gem has been a fixture in the city’s Chester Park neighborhood for more than 20 years, and it, too, celebrated the milestone with a cookbook, written by its executive chef. The book traces the “her-story” of the cafe and its current owners, Barb Neubert and Carla Blumberg, and features more than 90 recipes, from a long list of breakfast favorites to more global offerings like Moroccan Chicken Tagine. The cafe is known for its farm-to-table approach, working with area farmers and using produce from its onsite garden. The cookbook features culinary and illustrative contributions from Forte’s co-workers past and present. Cooking tips and trivia are sprinkled throughout, making it the cookbook version of a community gathering spot, just like the cafe. (Forte self-published the book in late 2022.)
“Company: The Radically Casual Art of Cooking for Others,” by Amy Thielen. The Park Rapids chef, Food Network personality and award-winning author is one of Minnesota’s treasures, so it’s no surprise that her book landed on several year-end lists across the country. Thielen’s welcoming words and comforting recipes make us feel right at home. Each of the four chapters — Saturday Night, Holiday, Perennial Parties, Casual Walkabouts — has several menus, encouraging cooks to try a new spin on Easter, make a fish fry an event or cook like she does for her brother’s annual birthday bash. Her tell-it-like-it-is approach to recipe writing makes for a breezy read, with tips and advice on equipment, entertaining costs and pantry staples. No need to earmark recipes; you’ll want to make them all. (W.W. Norton)
“100 Morning Treats,” by Sarah Kieffer. The fourth cookbook from the author whose pan-banging cookies went viral in 2017 is made for lovers of early mornings, quiet spaces and sticky fingers. Kieffer delivers recipes for tried-and-true classics with fresh verve and perspective. Instead of carrot cake, she offers a massive cinnamon roll drizzled with cream cheese icing. Savory sheet-pan breakfasts make an appearance, banana bread gets the scone treatment, and there’s a breakfast cookie, too. Followers of her other books or the Vanilla Bean Blog know her talents go beyond the kitchen — she takes her own photos, too. (Chronicle)