Istanbul: A Culinary Journey Through Continents
Özlem Warren's third book, Istanbul (Quadrille, £28), captures the vibrant food scene of the city straddling two continents. Chapters are themed around different destinations within its ancient sprawl, from workmen's canteens serving hearty casseroles to Bosphorus seafood restaurants. Beautiful explanations and Sam Harris' photography evoke the city's lively history. Over half the recipes are vegetarian, reflecting the bounty of the pazar (farmers' markets), which Warren describes as some of her favourite spots. Each recipe has a story, from Noah's pudding (legendarily prepared after the great flood) to her mother's yoghurt-spiked cheese and courgette pasta bake.
The South African Cookbook: Celebrating Rainbow Nation Cuisine
Chef Nokx Majozi's first book, The South African Cookbook (Bloomsbury, £26), celebrates the culinary diversity of her homeland, which she says still largely slips under the international radar. Growing up in Dlangezwa township, KwaZulu-Natal, in a "typical, unapologetic and proud Zulu family," Majozi includes recipes like her father's curry with fresh fish from Richards Bay, boerewors rolls from childhood shopping trips, and a crowd-pleasing grilled corn salad with peri peri chicken. A Cape Malay potato pudding and an exceptional milk tart are also featured, alongside stunning photographs.
La Trattoria: Simple Italian with Global Roots
Dara Klein's La Trattoria (Ebury Press, £30) draws on her Emilia-Romagna heritage, Pugliese mother, and American father. After working in London kitchens including Brawn, Trullo, and Sager & Wilde, she opened Tiella on Columbia Road. The book cleaves to the trattoria ethos: "traditional dishes are served in simple but always highly personable premises," rich in inherited love. Recipes range from Puglian bitter green sauce to pork and beef meatballs in a roll with scamorza cheese. Advice on equipment, menu planning, and kitchen efficiency is included.
MEditerranean: Fresh Riffs on a Classic Diet
Georgina Hayden's MEditerranean (Bloomsbury, £26) offers fresh takes on the Mediterranean diet, inspired by 20 countries. It includes Mallorcan chopped salad and Lebanese fisherman's rice, alongside playful riffs like a Greek take on Sichuan smacked cucumber salad, caramelised shallot and black olive "pissaladière" pasta, and a green basil-flavoured homage to the Viennetta. The book is described as fun, colourful, and full of sunshine.
Dinner Time: Bold Flavours in Under an Hour
Zena Kamgaing's Dinner Time (Bloomsbury, £22) promises big, bold flavours with recipes ranging from 15 minutes to over an hour. Dishes include mascarpone and harissa pasta sauce, shop-bought crumpets turned into decadent prawn toast, Nigerian fried chicken, and Massaman lamb shoulder. The recipes are unfussy and not an afterthought.
5 Ingredient Indian: Streamlined Classics
Chetna Makan's 5 Ingredient Indian (Octopus Publishing, £26) simplifies Indian cooking without flattening flavour. There are no complex base recipes; instead, five key spice blends (available to buy) produce snacks, dals, vegetable dishes, curries, and breads. Immediate to-do list items include potatoes with fresh fenugreek, crab curry, podi cauliflower rice, and green mango salad.
The Jewish Bakery: Four Generations of Tradition
Jennifer Rinkoff's The Jewish Bakery (Quadrille, £28) pays tribute to Rinkoffs bakery in Stepney Green, London, founded in 1911 by a refugee from Russian pogroms. The book includes recipes for challah, Hanukah doughnuts, and heimishe cheesecake, while keeping the croissant-doughnut hybrid a trade secret. It reflects the bakery's evolution to cater to newer arrivals seeking halal treats.
Tramontana: Alpine Italian Cuisine
Simon Bajada's Tramontana (Hardie Grant, £25) explores the underrated food of Italy's Alpine valleys—Liguria, Piedmont, and Aosta Valley. Named for the wind from the north, it features buckwheat, butter, and mountain cheeses alongside olive oil and basil. Recipes include chestnut pasta with tomato and hazelnut sauce, fontina fondue, and polenta and lemon cookies. Stunning photographs transport readers from Cinque Terra beaches to Aosta's snowy peaks.
The Spinster Cookbook: Cooking for One with Pleasure
Eli Davies' The Spinster Cookbook (The Indigo Press, £14.99) is a meditation on cooking for one in a "society designed for couples and families." It includes practical recipes like garlic-rubbed toast with tomato topping, steak, and a martini. The book offers sensible thoughts on shopping and equipping a kitchen for one without spending a fortune.
Store-Cupboard Staple: The Gift of Southern Cooking
First published in 2003, The Gift of Southern Cooking by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock (Knopf, £38) is a treasure trove of southern cuisine. Lewis, the granddaughter of an emancipated slave, and Peacock, a chef 50 years her junior, collaborated on classics like buttermilk biscuits, banana pudding, fried chicken, and tomato sandwiches. The book celebrates southern produce: grilled mountain trout, fried green corn, sugared raspberries, and asparagus pie.
