Book Recommendations

This book is so great, honestly. It has every answer to every culinary question. Written by a food scientist, this book does an amazing job of explaining the reasoning behind why we do certain things in cooking, as well as the functions and processes of certain techniques. But what makes this book so great is that it such a visual treat to look at. The bold, beautiful photos really make this a page turner. Seriously, I read this book in a day! I did not feel like I was reading a textbook, or some dry material about the culinary arts. It is essentially a picture book for adults. Furthermore, this book is all-encompassing. Farrimond covers everything from how our taste receptors work, to how to stop chicken from drying out, and even to why olives are packed in brine! Lastly, he also includes “myth busters” in his book as well, which dispel any popular culinary myths.
Click here to check it out The Science of Cooking

As the title says, this IS the “essential guide to culinary creativity”. If you are like me, you have found yourself feeling dismal about your cooking, wanting to try something new and step out of your comfort zone. But, frankly, you just don’t know where to start, or you questions if these two ingredients possibly go together, then this book is for you! It has thousands (literally thousands) of ingredients, which are organized alphabetically. Each ingredient is then given a list of possible flavor combinations, as well as a ranking system for what is good, better, and best. As well, a list of the season, taste, function, techniques, and tips are also suggested. There is also a handy “avoid” section for some ingredients, as well as “flavor affinities”, which are compatible flavor groupings. It is essentially the encyclopedia for flavor! Definitely something to check out if you want to elevate your cooking.
Click here to check out The Flavor Bible

My interest for the process and science of baking and cooking, was first peaked by watching Good Eats with Alton Brown. If you have ever watch Good Eats, you will know that behind every subject that Alton Brown tackles is a thorough explanation, along with easy visual diagrams. This form of teaching makes the science behind cooking, both easy and entertaining! These 3 volumes of books are amazing, as they are essentially a written form of the show! I no longer have to google, or re-watch an episode to try to remember exactly how something was done, or why.
Click here to check out Volume 1
Click here to check out Volume 2
Click here to check out Volume 3

The Skinny Taste books are great for making all your favorite foods, while still keeping them healthy. In reading this book, and utilizing the recipes within, you also get a great understanding for how you can lighten-up any of your homemade recipes as well.
Click here to check out The Skinnytaste Cookbook

I bought this book without even looking inside it at the bookstore. I just knew it was going to be amazing. If you do not follow Matty on Instagram, or watch his show – “It’s Suppertime”, I highly suggest that you do! His love for food really shines through in everything he does, and his optimistic, jokester personality really makes cooking fun. His cookbook allows you to delve deeper into his life, and takes a look at recipes from his family that have shaped who he is as a person, and as a chef, as well as recipes from cooking school and the restaurants that made him a household name.
Click here to check out Matty Matheson: A Cookbook

This is a bible for cocktail creation. Dave Arnold, the author, has created over 120 recipes for cocktails, through years of experimentation and learning. He explains the purpose of different cocktail apparatuses, such as different bar spoons, different strainers, muddlers, and misters. From this, he provides a shopping list based on how cocktail-crazy you want to get. The lists range from “Hey, I just wanna make some good drinks”, to “I’m crazy”. He also goes into a deep dive into different cocktail ingredients, and how/when they can be used. And I’m telling you, he has this down to a science. For example, he talks about different cocktail sweeteners, such as maple syrup or simple syrup. He gives not only a great description of what they taste like, but also their sugar to water ratio and viscosity, and therefore when to use them. Great buy for anyone interested in upping their cocktail game.
Click here to check out Liquid Intelligence

If you love to entertain, this book is for you! On Boards by Lisa Dawn Bolton, is all about food boards! She elevates the board game by moving from meat and cheese, to other interesting takes on the classic serving board – breakfast boards, vegetable boards, sushi boards, you name it! The beautiful pictures within will gives you great inspiration for your next gathering as well. But this book isn’t just a recipe and picture book. It teaches you to become a board-master yourself. She delves into what kind of cheeses/meats to use together, how to display them, what to serve alongside (with some excellent recipes), and how to garnish! As a great addition, she also teaches you how to care for your boards, such as removing unsightly stains from the wood, or how to clean and store each type of board.
Click here to check out On Boards

Being an Edmontonian myself, this book is so close to my heart. It is full of restaurants across the city, both ones I have been yearning to try, and ones that I have frequented multiple times. What I love most about this book, is that the writers did not just stick to upper-fine-dining restaurants, but also included restaurants that are tried and true Edmonton classics. Full of amazing recipes, this book also gives the reader a little peak into the life of the person behind these favorite dishes. Talking about the owners, the head chefs, as well as the history behind the restaurant, really allows the reader to feel closer to the food they’ve always enjoyed.
Click here to check out Edmonton Cooks

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