The Listicle

Cookbooks that inspire

People are often surprised to hear I read recipes like stories.

Like doctors study case histories and lawyers pore over precedent, chefs study the work of those who cooked before them.

It’s part of our lineage.

Not really a rulebook, but a roadmap packed with the most wonderful of roadside attractions.

So I give you a handful of cookbooks that’ve had me especially inspired lately.

The Choi of Cooking by Roy Choi

This book’s got swagger. Roy Choi doesn’t just write recipes, he tells stories that make you want to roll up your sleeves and get cooking. Part memoir, part manifesto, and all kinds of crave-able with his signature balance of salty, sweet and umami - bridging the art of fine dining with the soul of street food in an approachable and unapologetic way.

Excited to try: Bomb Kha Chowder

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Cook This Book by Molly Baz

Like a lifelong friend, Molly Baz has GOT YOU with her unfussy and flavorful recipes. Breaking things down in a way that’s empowering (and a bit cheeky), it’s impossible not to be inspired by her sauces and unexpected ingredient combinations. More of a show me rather than tell me cook? She includes QR codes that take you straight to video tutorials, which is really freaking neat.

Recipe I LOVE: Poached Chicken with Brothy Rice & Cilantro Scallion Sauce

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Bold by Nisha Katona

Living up to its name - Bold brings loud flavors and fearless techniques to globally influenced dishes that just hit. If you’re looking to break free from a recipe rut, this is definitely the book to get.

Excited to try: Halloumi Saltado

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Cook Real Hawai‘i by Sheldon Simeon

This book feels like a warm hug from the islands. Sheldon Simeon doesn’t just share recipes, he shares identity - packing the pages (and his food) with rich history, flavor and soul. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to buy a plane ticket simply so you can eat - but fear not. He gives you all the tools you need to Cook Real Hawai’i from home.

Recipe I LOVE: Miki Noodles

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Di An by Tue Nguyen

Tue Nguyen brings joy and deep respect to Vietnamese cuisine. Equal parts family, flavor and flair, she shares the rooted recipes that raised her with an approach that feels brand new - almost as if you’ve been invited to a highly fashionable dinner party and she’s letting you cook right alongside her.

Excited to try: BBQ Duck Buns

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While cookbooks are an endless source of joy for me, the majority of my recipes are inspired by our travels - this one being no different. Though I think you’ll be surprised to find our Pork Katsu Burrito was influenced by a fun bite I tried from Atomic Tacos in Montana’s Flathead Valley.

Crispy katsu with creamy mac salad.
Drizzled with Kewpie mayo and a bit of tonkatsu.
Finished with a heaping pile of thinly sliced, crunchy cabbage.

It’s Hawaiian plate lunch meets Japanese comfort food - all rolled into one beautiful handheld bite.

Full recipe can be found HERE.

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Big love and aloha,
Lisa