Looking for a gift for that special someone who loves to cook? I’ve rounded up this season’s best, with something to delight cooks of every stripe. Dinners, especially quick, healthy and environmentally friendly ones, are where it’s at. 

1. For the Cook who Wants to Up Their Game
Andy Baraghani’s obsession for food bursts forth in The Cook You Want To Be. A gutsy cook, he is a fan of big, spices and lemon flavours, layered textures and crunchy toppings. Every recipe provides an extra twist or ingredient to take the ordinary to extraordinary.

2. For the Nosher
If someone on your list loves grazing or tapas, they will relish the way Lukas Volgar turns small bites into full plates. Snacks for Dinner also includes clever ideas for parties and picnics. 100 recipes and 75 colour photos. 

3. For the Busy Mom and Dad
In I Dream of Dinner (so you don’t have to) Ali Slagle’s dinners come together with fewer than eight inexpensive ingredients, in less than 45 minutes, using one or two pots and pans. Another treasure from the popular New York Times contributor.

4. For the Stir-fry Buff
J. Kenji López-Alt, the host of Kenji’s Cooking show and author of The Food Lab, is back. This time, with The Wok: Recipes and Techniques, the definitive be-all, end-all guide to what to look for when you buy a wok, to the science behind the process and tricks to cook with “the most versatile pan in the kitchen.”  

5. For Barefoot Contessa Fans
Ina Garten, America’s beloved home cook has done it again. The inspiration for Go-To Dinners came from preparing dinners night after night during the pandemic. The result is a collection of delicious, simply assembled recipes with lots to make -ahead and freeze-ahead. 

6. For the Healthy Eater
For anyone who is interested in restoring or maintaining gut health, Good for Your Gut is essential reading. Vancouver dietician, Desiree Nielsen offers an informative digestive health guide along with delicious, nourishing, plant-based recipes. 

7. For the Sweet Tooth
Fans of the Great British Bake Off Contest will recognize former contestant, Benjamina Ebuchi.  A Good Day to Bake, her second book promises to be another best seller, as she tweaks classic desserts, making them even more delicious. 70 recipes for sweet and savory treats. 

8. For the Environmentalist
Know someone who is concerned about the planet?  Who wants to cook  sustainably? One Pot, Pan, Planet is the perfect gift.  Award-winning author, Anna Jones puts vegetables at the centre of every table because they are good for you and the planet and can actually help to shift the our world.

9. For the Gourmand
The much-anticipated Langdon Hall Cookbook was worth the wait. Jason Bangerter, award-winning chef at Canada’s unrivalled country house hotel, shares a stunning collection of seasonal recipes. A visual feast, a lavish coffee table book and a memorable gift for the serious cook.  Destined to become a Canadian classic. 

10. For the Oenophile
The BC Wine Lover’s Cookbook is a travel guide to 53 wineries throughout the province, an in-person visit with the winemakers and their families and a celebration of their favourite recipes. Readers will feel as if they have been invited to dinner. Jennifer Schell, award-winning food and wine writer and photographer brings it all together.