Explore our curated edit of cookbooks written by the world’s leading culinary figures. From heritage-inspired Mediterranean recipes to dishes inspired by renowned restaurants, these cookbooks celebrate the art of home cooking.
The Library: Cookbooks was originally featured in both issue 40 of est magazine, Kitchen Culture, and issue 44, Modern Craft.
The Neutral House by Studio Niels | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne
The Neutral House by Studio Niels | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne

Ombra: Recipes from the Salumi Bar
Carlo Grossi
Ombra by Carlo Grossi showcases the best of Italian food and hospitality. It features family heirloom recipes and dishes inspired by Grossi’s travels across Italy. This comprehensive collection emphasises preservation, quality produce, and the importance of sharing meals over lively conversations.

Italian Street Food: Recipes from Italy's Bars and Hidden Laneways
Paula Bacchia
Italian Street Food by Paula Bacchia reveals the hidden gems of Italy's culinary scene, taking readers beyond the main piazzas and into the back streets and tiny bars. This book offers a collection of traditional, local recipes rarely seen outside of Italy, providing a glimpse into the little-known culinary traditions of this rich cuisine.

Bitter Honey: Recipes and Stories from Sardinia
Letitia Clark
In Bitter Honey, seasoned chef Letitia Clark welcomes readers into her home on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sardinia. This book features quick-to-make recipes that embody a slow-living ethos, encouraging nourishment through fresh food shared with friends and family.

Istria: Recipes and stories from the hidden heart of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia
Paola Bacchia
Istria, the heart-shaped peninsula at the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea, boasts a unique cuisine shaped by its diverse history and global influences. This cookbook by Paola Bacchia explores the dishes that tell the story of Istria's rich cultural heritage amidst its fields of red earth, vineyards, and olive groves.

Venetian Republic: Recipes from the Veneto, Adriatic Croatia and the Greek Islands
Nino Zoccali
The cuisine of the Venetian Republic is a rich tapestry of unique flavours. Venetian Republic by Nino Zoccali offers recipes steeped in history from Venice’s golden era. Discover how this small city-state ruled the Mediterranean, influencing its neighbours' cuisine, culture, and architecture while dominating the salt, silk, and spice trade routes.

Pasta: The Spirit and Craft of Italy's Greatest Food, with Recipes
Missy Robbins
Pasta is an elegant and immersive master class in pasta-making, presented by Missy Robbins, New York City's premier pasta chef. The book features recipes for 40 handmade pasta shapes and 100 dishes spanning Italian American, regional Italian, and modern culinary styles, offering readers a comprehensive guide to mastering the art of pasta.

Aegean: Recipes from the Mountains to the Sea
Marianna Leivaditaki
Aegean by Marianna Leivaditaki is a culinary journey that highlights her storytelling prowess and deep connection to her Cretan roots after growing up in her family's taverna in Chania, Crete. Now, head chef of Morito in Hackney, she blends her heritage with a contemporary twist, using high-quality ingredients to create simple yet stunning sharing plates that have garnered critical acclaim.

The Italian Deli Cookbook: 100 Glorious Recipes Celebrating the Best of Italian Ingredients
Theo Randall
In The Italian Deli Cookbook, renowned chef Theo Randall presents 120 recipes incorporating premium deli ingredients. This cookbook is a treasure trove of mouth-watering family dishes, ideal for easy lunches, suppers, or impressive dinner parties. Randall's expert guidance makes it easy to elevate your cooking, complemented by a directory of classic delicatessens worldwide.

Preserving The Italian Way
Pietro Demaio
First published in 2008, the best-selling Preserving the Italian Way by Pietro Demaio is a must-read for those looking to preserve their own food, reduce waste, and honour cultural traditions. This comprehensive collection features family recipes from Italian Nonna and Nonno and details methods for preserving a variety of food, making it the ideal guide to Italian food preservation.

Japan: The Cookbook
Nancy Singleton Hachisu
Japan: The Cookbook by acclaimed food writer Nancy Singleton Hachisu is the definitive recipe collection from one of the most respected and beloved culinary cultures. Featuring more than 400 sumptuous recipes, this cookbook captures the iconic and regional traditions of Japan, organised by course with insightful notes.

Moto: The Cookbook
Paul Goldberger
Moto: The Cookbook is Homaro Cantu’s culinary magnum opus, showcasing the innovative genius behind the world-renowned Michelin Star restaurant Moto that harmoniously combines art and science. This reflective cookbook chronicles Cantu's personal journey and Moto's evolution from 2004 to 2014 through ten inventive dishes per year, complemented by stunning photography and sophisticated stop-motion recipe videos.

Australian Food
Bill Granger
Australian Food is Bill Granger's celebration of modern Australian cuisine, marking two decades since his bestselling cookbook Sydney Food. Known as the king of relaxed cafe-style dining, this cookbook reflects Granger's self-taught culinary journey that began with minimalist eateries and a focus on communal dining, revolutionising Sydney's cafe scene.

Strudel, Noodles and Dumplings
Anja Dunk
Strudel, Noodles and Dumplings by Anja Dunk offers a vibrant exploration of Germany's culinary traditions, infused with her family's cherished recipes adapted for modern kitchens. Featuring over 200 recipes for everyday meals and special occasions, this cookbook is a comprehensive guide to German cuisine, blending traditional and seasonal flavours with fresh inspiration for year-round cooking.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Samin Nosrat
Samin Nosrat's Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking is a visionary masterclass in culinary arts, distilled into these four essential elements. Drawing on her experiences at Chez Panisse, Nosrat simplifies complex cooking principles, teaching readers how to enhance flavour with salt, create texture with fat, balance dishes with acid, and control cooking outcomes with heat.

Siciliano: Contemporary Sicilian
Joe Vargetto
Siciliano: Contemporary Sicilian by Joe Vargetto celebrates the vibrant flavours and rich culinary heritage of Sicily through a collection of inspired recipes. Raised in a Sicilian-style home in Melbourne, Vargetto's journey from familial kitchens to prestigious restaurants in Italy and France informs his authentic approach to Sicilian cuisine. Now a renowned chef and restaurateur, he brings his passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients to life – through this cookbook, he invites readers to explore the bold flavours and colourful traditions of Sicily in their own kitchen.
Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook
Broadsheet
Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook is the ultimate guide to Melbourne's culinary scene curated by Broadsheet, a trusted authority on the city's dining culture. This collection showcases the best recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from iconic cafes and restaurants such as The Premises, Chez Dre, Supernormal, Huxtaburger and Mamasita. Featuring a diverse range of dishes, from the innovative to the traditional, this book invites readers to savour Melbourne's vibrant food landscape from the comfort of their own kitchen.

Whole Food Cooking Everyday
Amy Chaplin
Whole Food Cooking Everyday by Amy Chaplin is a comprehensive guide to embracing a whole foods diet with 250 vegetarian recipes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free, encouraging versatility and creativity in the kitchen. With an emphasis on using local, organic ingredients and preparing meals ahead of time, Chaplin inspires readers to cultivate a healthier lifestyle through mindful cooking and nourishing meals at home.

Dinner at the Club: 100 Years of Stories and Recipes from South Philly’s Palizzi Social Club
Joey Baldino and Adam Erace
Dinner at the Club: 100 Years of Stories and Recipes from South Philly’s Palizzi Social Club by Joey Baldino and Adam Erace celebrates the legacy of Palizzi Social Club, a revered institution in South Philadelphia for nearly a century. Under chef Joey Baldino's stewardship, the club has become a coveted dining destination blending old-school Italian charm with high-quality cuisine and homemade cocktails. Joey's approachable recipes emphasise simplicity, adaptability, and the use of quality pantry staples, offering readers a taste of both tradition and innovation.
The Neutral House by Studio Niels | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne





