From the hundreds of new cookbooks available on-line and lining bookstore shelves, here’s a round up of some of the best. Great ideas for your own kitchen or to delight anyone on your Santa list who loves to cook. There’s something to appeal to tastes and taste buds galore.

Just a French Guy Cooking: Easy Recipes and Kitchen Hacks for Rookies

Frenchman Alexis Gabriel Aïnouz (AKA Alex) has been a YouTube sensation since 2014. Now, hundreds of videos and a half a million subscribers later, he’s brought his entertaining, geeky take on food to his first cookbook. Here are all his best recipes including the simplest, perfect pancakes, real homemade pizza and the best ever burger. Plus plenty of kitchen hacks. Take it from Jamie Oliver who said, “For me, these recipes tick all the boxes: simple, exciting and ultimately ‘eat-me’ food.” Et bien sur, it’s pure fun!
Raincoast Books $27.99

David Wood Cooking for Friends

In the 1980s, Torontonians with a passion for good food flocked to the David Wood Food Shop, relying on his catering business for special occasion meals. In 1990, Wood moved to BC, where he continued his love affair with food as co-owner of the Salt Spring Cheese Company. His latest book of 150 regional and national dishes – both familiar and new - makes the perfect gift for anyone who wants to share their love of Canadian classics with family and friends. Thanks to beautiful photography, it’s coffee table material.
Whitecap $34.95

Vegan Reset

Got a vegetarian or vegan on your list? With detailed meal plans and recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Kim-Julie Hansen, the popular blogger, takes the stress out of trying to figure out what to eat if you’re vegan. And for anyone thinking of becoming a vegan, but doesn’t know where to start, this is the ultimate guide. Kick start a healthy lifestyle with Hansen’s easy 28-day plan. 300 pages of simple, healthy plant-based recipes.
Raincoast Books $34.99

Ina Garten Cook Like a Pro

With ten bestselling cookbooks to her credit, the host of Barefoot Contessa on Food Network is a home cook at heart. In this book, she proves that you don’t need to be a pro to cook like one. In addition to her ‘pro tips’ she has created foolproof recipes for stunningly flavourful dishes along with polished presentations. And she has done it without sacrificing her signature focus of basic ingredients and simple procedures.
Clarkson Potter $47

Set for the Holidays with Anna Olson

For Ontario’s own celebrity baker and chef, the festive season begins with the first pumpkin pie of the year and continues through Christmas and New Year celebrations. Mixed in with stories, helpful hints and good memories, there are over 100 savoury and sweet recipes to add sparkle to your holiday entertaining or to inspire unique, thoughtful gifts. For Anna, this is what bringscomfort and joy to the holiday season.
Random House $40

Ottolenghi Simple

One of the world’s most influential chefs, restaurateurs and best-selling cookbook authors earned an enviable reputation for distinctively flavoured Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes that required gobs of prep time and a myriad of exotic ingredients. In these 130 ingenious, streamlined recipes there’s everything to love about Yotam Ottolengi’s cooking made simple. It’s chef’s food for the home cook.
Random House $42

Atelier

In 2018, Marc Lepine was named “Most Innovative Chef” by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine. His Ottawa restaurant of the same name is renowned for his extraordinary dishes and exquisite presentations. This is a book to inspire both foodies and chefs who have an interest in modern It will also add a beautifully illustrated conversation piece to any coffee table.
Raincoast Books $55