7 New Food Books Reshaping the Industry in 2025

Martha Stewart, Alice Waters, and Yotam Ottolenghi spotlight fresh perspectives in Food Books for 2025

Martha Stewart
Updated on June 26, 2025
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The Food landscape changed dramatically in 2024, ushering in an era where culinary innovation meets cultural storytelling and garden-to-table sustainability. This year’s new releases capture those shifts with fresh voices and inventive approaches that challenge traditional cooking norms and expand the definition of nourishment and connection through food.

Leading voices such as Martha Stewart, who praises Food of Life for its deep dive into Persian cuisine, and Alice Waters, who calls Najmieh Batmanglij's work "divine," underscore the significance of these books. Meanwhile, Yotam Ottolenghi’s own Ottolenghi Comfort reinvents familiar dishes with global flair, reflecting a broader movement toward embracing diverse flavors with warmth and creativity.

While these cutting-edge books provide the latest insights, readers seeking the newest content tailored to their specific Food goals might consider creating a personalized Food book that builds on these emerging trends, offering a unique path to deepen expertise and culinary enjoyment.

Best for exploring Persian culinary heritage
Martha Stewart, a renowned entrepreneur and lifestyle expert deeply attuned to culinary trends, discovered this book amid her search for rich, authentic food traditions. She describes it as an exceptional, substantial cookbook, praising its depth and quality with "I love Persian Food....Exceptional cookbook, full, heavy, and good." Stewart's embrace highlights the book’s role in bringing Persian cuisine to a wider audience, inviting both home cooks and professionals to explore its layers of flavor and culture. Alongside her, Alice Waters calls it a "Divine cookbook...stunningly beautiful...", underscoring its artistic and sensory appeal, further cementing its place in the evolving landscape of food literature.
MS

Recommended by Martha Stewart

Entrepreneur and lifestyle expert

I love Persian Food....Exceptional cookbook, full, heavy, and good.

Najmieh Batmanglij's decades of exploring Persian culinary traditions led to this extensive collection of over 400 authentic Iranian recipes, blending ancient techniques with modern kitchen adaptations. You dive into more than just cooking — chapters detail the art of crafting tahdig, the prized golden rice crust, alongside stories of Persian ceremonies, poetry, and cultural anecdotes that enrich your understanding of the cuisine's roots. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a curious home cook, the book offers stepwise clarity to recreate traditional flavors while appreciating their historical context. This edition's expanded recipes and vivid photography invite you to experience Persian food as a celebration of both taste and heritage.

Los Angeles Times Bestseller
Praised by The Washington Post
Winner of Gourmand Cookbook Award
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Best for innovative comfort food lovers
Ottolenghi Comfort: A Cookbook offers a fresh take on comfort food, blending global influences with personal memories to create dishes that are both accessible and exciting. Through over 100 recipes, the book explores how familiar meals can be transformed with inventive flavors and techniques, catering to cooks who want comfort without sacrificing creativity. This collection highlights the joy of connecting with food and friends, perfect for anyone seeking to refresh their cooking with heartfelt, flavorful meals.
Ottolenghi Comfort: A Cookbook book cover

by Yotam Ottolenghi, Helen Goh·You?

2024·320 pages·Food, Cookbooks, Cooking, Comfort Food, Global Cuisine

Yotam Ottolenghi, known for his imaginative approach to cooking, teams up with Helen Goh to revisit comfort food with fresh eyes in this collection. You’ll find over 100 recipes that blend global influences with personal stories, transforming familiar dishes like pasta and potatoes into unexpected delights such as Caramelized Onion Orecchiette and Garlicky Aligot Potato. The book invites you to explore cooking that’s both approachable and adventurous, whether you want something quick or a dish to savor over time. It suits anyone eager to deepen their culinary repertoire with flavors that balance nostalgia and innovation.

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Best for custom culinary plans
This AI-created book on food innovation is crafted specifically based on your culinary background, knowledge level, and the new trends you wish to explore. It focuses on the latest discoveries and emerging techniques in food, tailored to your interests and goals. By personalizing the content, the book helps you dive into 2025’s food revolution efficiently and engagingly, providing exactly the insights you want to learn and apply.
2025·50-300 pages·Food, Food Innovation, Culinary Trends, Ingredient Science, Sustainable Cooking

This tailored book explores the latest developments reshaping the food landscape in 2025, offering a focused journey through emerging culinary trends and innovative techniques. It examines cutting-edge discoveries in ingredients, cooking methods, and flavor combinations, all adapted to match your background and specific culinary interests. By concentrating on what matters most to you, this personalized guide reveals how contemporary food culture evolves and how you can engage with it thoughtfully. Whether you seek to experiment with novel food science or deepen your understanding of progressive sustainability practices, this book provides a tailored exploration that keeps you ahead of the curve and inspired by the future of food.

Tailored Book
Culinary Innovation
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for modern Mediterranean home cooks
Pretty Delicious offers a fresh take on Mediterranean cooking through the lens of sisters Alia and Radwa Elkaffas, whose Egyptian-American background infuses their recipes with a Middle Eastern twist. This cookbook stands out by combining vibrant flavors and health-conscious ingredients with approachable, time-saving techniques. Its emphasis on kitchen organization and serving style makes it more than just a recipe collection; it’s a guide to making cooking a more enjoyable and stylish part of daily life. Anyone looking to add variety and flair to their home meals will find inspiration here.
2025·288 pages·Food, Cooking, Mediterranean Cuisine, Recipe Development, Meal Planning

When Alia and Radwa Elkaffas realized busy home cooks needed flavorful yet approachable meals, they crafted Pretty Delicious to fill that gap with modern Mediterranean dishes that don’t demand hours in the kitchen. Drawing from their Egyptian-American heritage, this cookbook offers over 110 recipes like Sumac Chicken Wings and Shrimp Tagine, blending vibrant flavors with simplicity. You’ll also find a helpful chapter on kitchen organization and plating style that turns everyday cooking into a joyful experience. This book suits anyone wanting to bring fresh, healthful Mediterranean-inspired meals to the table without fuss, especially families and home cooks eager for variety.

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Best for edible garden designers
What makes this book distinct in the food gardening world is its stylish approach to integrating edibles into everyday outdoor spaces. Christian Douglas presents a fresh perspective by encouraging you to bring your vegetable garden forward instead of hiding it away, blending vegetables, herbs, fruits, and berries with patios and walkways. This guide offers overflowing inspiration and practical information, helping you design a garden that offers both beauty and purpose. If you want to rethink how your outdoor space can nourish both body and soul, this book provides a compelling framework for doing just that.
2024·256 pages·Garden Design, Food, Edible Landscaping, Vegetable Gardening, Herb Cultivation

Drawing from his extensive experience as an award-winning landscape designer, Christian Douglas challenges the traditional view of vegetable gardening by advocating for the integration of edible plants into prominent outdoor spaces. You learn how to blend vegetables, herbs, fruits, and berries with decorative landscaping elements to create gardens that are both functional and visually captivating. The book offers detailed guidance on design principles and plant selection that enhance aesthetic appeal without compromising practicality, making it ideal for anyone eager to rethink their garden's role. Whether you have a sprawling yard or a modest patio, this book equips you with fresh ideas to transform your outdoor space into a vibrant, edible landscape.

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Best for soulful Southern family cooking
Good Lookin' Cookin' offers a fresh take on home cooking by inviting you to share in the Parton family's year of meals and celebrations. This cookbook emphasizes the joy of cooking for loved ones through twelve multi-course menus crafted for holidays and special occasions, paired with heartfelt stories and practical tips. Dolly and Rachel's approach blends classic American dishes with personal touches like the signature "Dolly Dollop," making it a warm and approachable guide for anyone looking to bring more fun and connection to their kitchen.
2024·272 pages·Cooking, Cookbooks, Food, Holiday Meals, Southern Cuisine

When Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel Parton George invite you into their kitchen, you step into a year-long celebration of meals, family, and friendship. This cookbook unfolds through twelve thoughtfully curated multi-course menus tied to holidays and special occasions, blending beloved Southern recipes with heartfelt stories. You'll discover the secrets behind dishes like Barbecue Spare Ribs and Strawberry Shortcake, alongside unique touches like the "Dolly Dollop" of whipped cream. This book suits anyone who enjoys cooking with warmth and personality, especially those looking to infuse traditional American classics with a sense of joyous togetherness.

New York Times Bestseller
Published by Ten Speed Press
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Best for custom food trend insights
This AI-created book on future food trends is crafted based on your culinary background and interests. You share which emerging food topics intrigue you and your cooking experience level, and the book focuses on the developments that matter most to you. Since the food industry evolves quickly, having a tailored guide ensures you explore the newest flavors and sustainable practices that fit your goals. It’s a focused way to stay ahead without sifting through countless sources.
2025·50-300 pages·Food, Food Innovation, Sustainable Cooking, Flavor Trends, Culinary Technology

This personalized book explores future food industry trends tailored to your unique interests and background. It examines emerging culinary innovations, sustainable cooking practices, and the latest flavor discoveries expected to shape 2025 and beyond. By focusing on your specific goals, it reveals how evolving food technologies and cultural shifts influence what and how we eat. This tailored approach ensures you engage deeply with the newest developments while aligning content with your personal culinary curiosities. You’ll gain insights into forward-thinking food concepts and sustainable practices that resonate with your culinary passions, making your exploration of tomorrow’s food landscape both relevant and inspiring.

Tailored Content
Culinary Trend Analysis
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for food as emotional connection
What sets this book apart in the food category is its heartfelt exploration of how food serves as a powerful medium for expressing love and forging connections. Richard Ingraham, known for his work with NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, shares recipes born from passion alongside reflections on food's transformative role in relationships and culture. This book invites you to embark on a culinary journey that intertwines soulful cooking with personal and cultural storytelling, making it a meaningful read for those wanting to deepen their understanding of food’s place in our emotional lives.
2024·392 pages·Food, Cooking, Relationship Building, Cultural Cuisine, Recipe Development

Richard Ingraham, personal chef to NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, draws from his rich culinary career and personal journey to explore how food can deeply transform relationships. You’ll find recipes infused with passion and love, alongside reflections on food’s role in reviving bonds and bridging cultures. This book offers a blend of soulful cooking and emotional insight, ideal if you want to understand food beyond nutrition—as an expression of connection. It’s particularly useful if you’re interested in how culinary practice intersects with personal growth and cultural storytelling.

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Best for homemade dog nutrition enthusiasts
Dr. Samantha Reed built her career across the U.S., helping pet owners improve their dogs' health through better nutrition. After seeing the positive impact of homemade dog food, she felt inspired to share her expertise with more communities. Now living in Mexico, Dr. Reed works at the Love Animals 24-Hour Urgent Care Center, guiding pet owners across northern Mexico toward healthier lifestyles for their pets. With her two dogs, Max and Bella, by her side, she’s dedicated to helping others provide their pets with better, happier lives.
2024·144 pages·Dog Food and Nutrition, Food, Pet Nutrition, Dog Food, Recipe Development

The breakthrough moment came when Dr. Samantha Reed, through years of veterinary practice, recognized the gap between commercial dog food and truly nutritious, vet-approved homemade meals. In this book, you learn how to prepare balanced dog food recipes that meet AAFCO nutritional standards, tailored by your dog's size, age, and health needs. Chapters guide you through transitioning your pet safely to homemade diets, crafting allergy-friendly recipes, and understanding supplements beyond industry marketing. It's especially suited for dog owners who want precise, health-focused meal plans without guesswork or unnecessary additives.

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Latest food insights
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Recommended by top chefs and food experts shaping 2025

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Food's Hidden Trends
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Conclusion

These seven books reveal three compelling themes shaping Food in 2025: cultural heritage as a source of culinary inspiration, innovative reinterpretations of comfort and family cooking, and a growing emphasis on integrating edible landscapes into daily life. Together, they offer a rich palette for anyone eager to expand their cooking horizons.

If you want to stay ahead of trends or the latest research, start with Food of Life and Ottolenghi Comfort for deep cultural and modern flavor explorations. For cutting-edge implementation, combine The Food Forward Garden with Pretty Delicious to bring fresh, sustainable ideas to your kitchen and garden.

Alternatively, you can create a personalized Food book to apply the newest strategies and latest research to your specific situation. These books offer the most current 2025 insights and can help you stay ahead of the curve.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with Ottolenghi Comfort if you want approachable, inventive recipes blending global flavors. For cultural depth, Food of Life offers rich Persian traditions. Both provide diverse entry points depending on whether you prefer innovation or heritage.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Food?

Not at all. Books like Pretty Delicious and Good Lookin' Cookin' cater to home cooks with accessible recipes and clear instructions, making them great starting points for newcomers eager to expand their skills.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with Pretty Delicious or Good Lookin' Cookin' for approachable home cooking, then explore Ottolenghi Comfort and Food of Life to deepen your culinary perspective. Finish with The Food Forward Garden to connect cooking with gardening.

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your interests—whether it's Mediterranean flavors, Persian cuisine, or edible gardening. Each book stands alone but together they paint a broader picture of 2025’s food trends.

Which book gives the most actionable advice I can use right away?

Pretty Delicious offers practical, flavorful Mediterranean recipes you can start making immediately, while The Food Forward Garden provides design tips to transform your outdoor space into an edible oasis.

How can personalized food books complement these expert recommendations?

Yes, expert books provide rich insights, but personalized books tailor content to your specific goals, experience, and interests, keeping your learning focused and current. Explore custom Food books for a unique learning path.

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