With Christmas fast approaching and forewarnings that we better be doing our Christmas shopping early, what better present to get your food fanatic friend than a colourful, entertaining and insightful cookbook. To celebrate the culinary prowess Canada (quite frankly) does not get recognition for, we have compiled a list of some of our favourite cookbooks from local Toronto chefs and beyond. Whether you're looking for a definitive guide to butchery, a master's words on cheese or an epic tale of a cross-Canada road trip, you'll find it on the list below.
17
A pioneer in the plant-based movement in Toronto, Fresh Restaurants set the stage for just how divine vegan food can be. With several restaurants across the city, an expansion to Los Angeles and two successful cookbooks, this piece of work is a resourceful guide for whipping up delicious vegan fare.
16
Owners of lauded vegan bakery Bunner's Bakeshop, Ashley Wittig and Kevin MacAllister set out on a mission when they started the bakery to carve out a space for vegans at the dinner table. A composition of decadent, mouthwatering and favourite Bunner's baked goods.
15
A compilation of recipes from Toronto's best restaurants, this cookbook is a love letter to the city's institutions that continue to feed the community. Written and curated by acclaimed freelance journalist Amy Rosen.
14
Written by the owner and maître fromager of Etobicoke's famed Cheese Boutique, this cookbook details several cheese-centric recipes alongside a resourceful guide to, you guessed it, cheese.
13
Novelist, lawyer and advocate for Vietnamese cooking, Kim Thúy's cookbook details over 50 recipes learned from her mother and five aunts. Once the owner of now-closed but successful Montreal restaurant, Ru de Nam, this collection of recipes functions as a welcoming introduction to Vietnamese cuisine.
12
Food Network sweetheart and celebrity chef Chuck Hughes has built himself a small empire in the past few years. With two successful Montreal restaurants, a cookware and food line and the occasional TV appearance -- this chef's cookbook is all about documenting what he likes to cook at home. Think simple yet delicious, unfussy recipes accessible to every level of cook.
11
Friends Dana VanVeller and Lindsay Anderson detail their five-month journey across Canada, documenting the culinary experiences along the way. A collaborative work between all the chefs, cooks, producers, home cooks and others they encounter across this expansive country.
10
An advocate for all things comfort food, chef Anthony Rose's cookbook, The Last Schmaltz, is a love letter to the dishes and people that have shaped his career. At the helm of Fat Pasha, Rose & Sons, Fet Zun and more -- Anthony Rose teams up with food writer Chris Johns to give readers an in-depth look into the mind of his culinary genius.
9
Famed cafe and small restaurant, Olive + Gourmando, located in Montreal's Old Port, has been a must-eat establishment for Montreal. Dyan Solomon sets out to share soups, salads, sandwiches and stories with his readers, with the intention of divulging how to make the restaurant's staple dishes.
8
Montreal chef Derek Dammann of Maison Publique and food writer Chris Johns collaborated on a cookbook touted as a redefining work for Canadian cuisine. The duo travelled from coast to coast in an ambitious mission to highlight Canada's unique food landscape by spotlighting unique dishes, as well as local farmers, fishermen and artisans.
7
The undeniable gourmands and epicureans of Canada, Frederic Morin and David McMillan set the stage for not only memorable food but injecting life back into hospitality. Owners of the outpost for all things decadent and indulgent, Joe Beef put Canada on the map as a food destination. A must-read for any person serious about food and the second cookbook the chefs have released, Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse is a necessary addition to your cookbook collection.
6
A call to all meat lovers! Butcher, chef and teacher Peter Sanagan pens a detailed guide for choosing, buying, cutting and cooking different cuts of meat. At the helm of the popular butcher shop, Sanagan's Meat Locker, this cookbook is a knowledgeable source to gain confidence in properly cooking meat and features over 120 recipes.
5
A dominating force in Toronto's Thai cuisine, chef Nuit Regular of Pai, Kiin, Sukhothai and more released a cookbook this year that entails 120 authentic recipes and stories detailing Regular's experience growing up in northern Thailand and learning in her mother's kitchen.
4
An outpost for pizza, pasta and wine, Montreal's neighbourhood Italian restaurant and backyard pizza joint wasn't slinging out just pies this year. During the onset of quarantine, Elena launched a downloadable cookbook featuring several recipes in hopes of raising a few bucks for hospitality folk. Over $50,000 was raised and donated to Montreal establishments, and the cookbook itself is filled with a curated selection of pizza, pasta and appetizers.
3
A proponent for nose-to-tail dining and owner of Toronto restaurant Antler, chef Michael Hunter's 2020 cookbook release details and highlights the chef's craft when it comes to foraging, hunting and fishing. A butchery guide and a reference for cooking less common meat and game, Hunter is broadening the horizons of the home cook's repertoire.
2
Toronto's unofficial food ambassador, celebrity chef Matty Matheson has garnered quite a bit of attention these past years. From launching a new and improved cast iron to hosting a cooking show on YouTube, launching a barbecue pop-up and even secretly opening a new restaurant -- the man is busy! Another achievement under his belt is the release of Home Style Cookery, a definitive guide to mastering the art of home cooking, go-to recipes, pantry staples and more.
1
This cookbook is an eloquent composition of Montreal's very own Mandy's Gourmet Salads -- a shop started by two sisters who grew their business to several locations and a planned expansion to Toronto. Ideal for the weary home cook looking to replace their sad lunchtime garden salad with a creative, decadent and delicious Mandy's recipe!
With Christmas fast approaching and forewarnings that we better be doing our Christmas shopping early, what better present to get your food fanatic friend than a colourful, entertaining and insightful cookbook. To celebrate the culinary prowess Canada (quite frankly) does not get recognition for, we have compiled a list of some of our favourite cookbooks from local Toronto chefs and beyond. Whether you're looking for a definitive guide to butchery, a master's words on cheese or an epic tale of a cross-Canada road trip, you'll find it on the list below.
17
Fresh: New Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes from the Award-winning Fresh Restaurants by Jennifer Houston and Ruth Tal
A pioneer in the plant-based movement in Toronto, Fresh Restaurants set the stage for just how divine vegan food can be. With several restaurants across the city, an expansion to Los Angeles and two successful cookbooks, this piece of work is a resourceful guide for whipping up delicious vegan fare.
16
Bunner's by Ashley Wittig and Kevin MacAllister
Owners of lauded vegan bakery Bunner's Bakeshop, Ashley Wittig and Kevin MacAllister set out on a mission when they started the bakery to carve out a space for vegans at the dinner table. A composition of decadent, mouthwatering and favourite Bunner's baked goods.
15
Toronto Cooks: 100 Signature Recipes from the City's Best Restaurants by Amy Rosen
A compilation of recipes from Toronto's best restaurants, this cookbook is a love letter to the city's institutions that continue to feed the community. Written and curated by acclaimed freelance journalist Amy Rosen.
14
For the Love of Cheese: Recipes and Wisdom from the Cheese Boutique by Afrim Pristine
Written by the owner and maître fromager of Etobicoke's famed Cheese Boutique, this cookbook details several cheese-centric recipes alongside a resourceful guide to, you guessed it, cheese.
13
Secrets from My Vietnamese Kitchen: Simple Recipes from My Many Mothers by Kim Thúy
Novelist, lawyer and advocate for Vietnamese cooking, Kim Thúy's cookbook details over 50 recipes learned from her mother and five aunts. Once the owner of now-closed but successful Montreal restaurant, Ru de Nam, this collection of recipes functions as a welcoming introduction to Vietnamese cuisine.
12
Chuck's Day Off by Chuck Hughes
Food Network sweetheart and celebrity chef Chuck Hughes has built himself a small empire in the past few years. With two successful Montreal restaurants, a cookware and food line and the occasional TV appearance -- this chef's cookbook is all about documenting what he likes to cook at home. Think simple yet delicious, unfussy recipes accessible to every level of cook.
11
Feast: Recipes and Stories from a Canadian Road Trip by Lindsay Anderson and Dana VanVeller
Friends Dana VanVeller and Lindsay Anderson detail their five-month journey across Canada, documenting the culinary experiences along the way. A collaborative work between all the chefs, cooks, producers, home cooks and others they encounter across this expansive country.
10
The Last Schmaltz by Anthony Rose and Chris Johns
An advocate for all things comfort food, chef Anthony Rose's cookbook, The Last Schmaltz, is a love letter to the dishes and people that have shaped his career. At the helm of Fat Pasha, Rose & Sons, Fet Zun and more -- Anthony Rose teams up with food writer Chris Johns to give readers an in-depth look into the mind of his culinary genius.
9
Olive + Gourmando: The Cookbook by Dyan Solomon
Famed cafe and small restaurant, Olive + Gourmando, located in Montreal's Old Port, has been a must-eat establishment for Montreal. Dyan Solomon sets out to share soups, salads, sandwiches and stories with his readers, with the intention of divulging how to make the restaurant's staple dishes.
8
True North by Derek Dammann and Chris Johns
Montreal chef Derek Dammann of Maison Publique and food writer Chris Johns collaborated on a cookbook touted as a redefining work for Canadian cuisine. The duo travelled from coast to coast in an ambitious mission to highlight Canada's unique food landscape by spotlighting unique dishes, as well as local farmers, fishermen and artisans.
7
Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse by Frederic Morin and David McMillan
The undeniable gourmands and epicureans of Canada, Frederic Morin and David McMillan set the stage for not only memorable food but injecting life back into hospitality. Owners of the outpost for all things decadent and indulgent, Joe Beef put Canada on the map as a food destination. A must-read for any person serious about food and the second cookbook the chefs have released, Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse is a necessary addition to your cookbook collection.
6
Cooking Meat by Peter Sanagan
A call to all meat lovers! Butcher, chef and teacher Peter Sanagan pens a detailed guide for choosing, buying, cutting and cooking different cuts of meat. At the helm of the popular butcher shop, Sanagan's Meat Locker, this cookbook is a knowledgeable source to gain confidence in properly cooking meat and features over 120 recipes.
5
Kiin by Nuit Regular
A dominating force in Toronto's Thai cuisine, chef Nuit Regular of Pai, Kiin, Sukhothai and more released a cookbook this year that entails 120 authentic recipes and stories detailing Regular's experience growing up in northern Thailand and learning in her mother's kitchen.
4
Elena 'Remember Skin Contact?' Cookbook
An outpost for pizza, pasta and wine, Montreal's neighbourhood Italian restaurant and backyard pizza joint wasn't slinging out just pies this year. During the onset of quarantine, Elena launched a downloadable cookbook featuring several recipes in hopes of raising a few bucks for hospitality folk. Over $50,000 was raised and donated to Montreal establishments, and the cookbook itself is filled with a curated selection of pizza, pasta and appetizers.
3
The Hunter Chef Cookbook by Michael Hunter
A proponent for nose-to-tail dining and owner of Toronto restaurant Antler, chef Michael Hunter's 2020 cookbook release details and highlights the chef's craft when it comes to foraging, hunting and fishing. A butchery guide and a reference for cooking less common meat and game, Hunter is broadening the horizons of the home cook's repertoire.
2
Matty Matheson Home Style Cookery
Toronto's unofficial food ambassador, celebrity chef Matty Matheson has garnered quite a bit of attention these past years. From launching a new and improved cast iron to hosting a cooking show on YouTube, launching a barbecue pop-up and even secretly opening a new restaurant -- the man is busy! Another achievement under his belt is the release of Home Style Cookery, a definitive guide to mastering the art of home cooking, go-to recipes, pantry staples and more.
1
Mandy's Gourmet Salads: Recipes for Lettuce and Life by Mandy Wolfe, Rebecca Wolfe and Meredith Erickson
This cookbook is an eloquent composition of Montreal's very own Mandy's Gourmet Salads -- a shop started by two sisters who grew their business to several locations and a planned expansion to Toronto. Ideal for the weary home cook looking to replace their sad lunchtime garden salad with a creative, decadent and delicious Mandy's recipe!
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