Cozy Cookbooks

With a chill (finally!) in the air, Khalil curls up with a few good books (cookbooks, of course).

By Khalil Hymore

Whenever someone asks me what my culinary specialty is I never know what to say. It's kind of a silly question because a good chef should be able to cook a wide variety of things. I suppose if I had a restaurant that specialized in a certain cuisine then it would be a bit easier to quantify. I could react by saying something like, "My restaurant specializes in pan-Asian cuisine" or "cupcakes."
The truth is that I don't have a speciality. When you work as a freelancer in food media, it's best not to. What I really want to say, when people ask me that question though, is "Oh, I don't know, Fall food", because it really is my favorite time of year to cook and it's definitely my season to shine. Maybe it's the nesting factor. In the summer, I just want to be outside, but when the weather turns chilly, I just want to curl up with my girls and a hearty dish.

Well, now that November is here it seems Autumn has finally settled in (after some downright bipolar weather in October--it was 70° this Halloween!). The last few days have been beautifully chilly here on the East coast and I couldn't be happier. Anyway, to celebrate the impending cozy season I thought I'd treat myself to a couple new cookbooks:

• Ad Hoc at Home - I just ordered this book on Amazon and I cannot wait for it to arrive! Finally a Thomas Keller book for the real world. Don't get me wrong, I adore his previous books, but they mostly just provide me with inspiration. They are impossible to cook from unless you happen to have a fleet of militant cooks in your home kitchen. Plus, the book will be a pleasant reminder of one of the best meals I have ever had at Ad Hoc this summer (if you're ever in Napa I highly recommend a visit--if you can get in). 

• The Fat Duck Cookbook - Heston Blumenthal is the master of molecular gastronomy and (full disclosure) this is NOT a book for the home cook. This "cookbook", separated into 3 sections (history, recipes, and science behind the cooking at The Fat Duck restaurant in England) is really more of a behind the scenes at one of the world's best restaurants. Plus, it's ridiculously gorgeous. The design and artwork are stunning. This book belongs on your coffee table!

• Salt to Taste - He might not be a household name (yet!) but Marco Canora is a chef that I deeply admire. Canora was Tom Colicchio's first chef de cuisine at Craft restaurant (garnering the joint it's first James beard Award) before striking out on his own to open noted New York restaurants Hearth, Insieme, and Terrior. Canora's book is a chef's ode to the home cook, with insightful advice and wisdom that comes from years of restaurant cooking. Can't wait for this one!

• Martha Stewart's Dinner at Home - As more and more cash-strapped Americans are opting for home cooked meals, along comes Martha to guide us through the crisis (beautifully, I might add). The book is chock full of inspired but comforting recipes and helpful menu planning advice whether your preparing a simple weeknight meal or a special Sunday supper. Personally, I am always up for a new Martha cookbook. Books from Martha Stewart and the editors of Living magazine are always a good bet because they never disappoint (you know how I feel about her baking handbook). The recipes work and are always delicious!