I love cookbooks.
There, you have now read the biggest understatement of the century. As I’ve often said on the food blog, I collect cookbooks and have since I was 16 years old.
Never you mind how long ago that was.
As you’d expect, given this lifelong passion, I write a lot of cookbook reviews on the Buttermilk Press food blog, “Get Cooking.” I only write about cookbooks I’m certain you’ll love as much as I do. While I buy a lot (A LOT) of cookbooks, being a food blogger has also given me a glorious perk – many cookbooks now come to me! Unwrapping a new cookbook in the mail, for me, is like a kid unwrapping a present on Christmas morning.
I was recently looking through one of my new cookbooks and something occurred to me: Cookbooks aren’t going anywhere. People stand on both sides of the eBook vs printed book debate. While I’m un-apologetic-ally old fashioned, I do have a great number of Agatha Christie books on my iPad. I prefer books I can hold, but having a Hercule Poirot mystery at my side every minute of the day carries some weight with me.
Cookbooks, however, are quite different and I’ll tell you why. Cookbooks will never go out of print or out of style and they’ll never make anything but the most excellent gift idea for cooks and foodies.
Physical cookbooks are here to stay and, in my opinion, they enrich the life of any cook and even make them a better cook.
{Discourse continued below….}
I’m sure you’ve heard the same logic I have, “You can find so many recipes online, why buy a cookbook?” As you’ve probably guessed, I have a few great reasons.
- It’s much easier to find a favorite Alton Brown recipe in an Alton Brown cookbook than it is to try and remember if you saw it on Pinterest, Food Network, Cooking Channel, or a recipe app. In the time it’d take someone to search through their “bookmarked” recipes, Pinterest boards, and saved e-mail, I can walk right over to my bookshelf, grab a cookbook and actually be cooking instead of looking.
- You can’t write in the margins of a recipe on the screen. I love to leave notes in my cookbook margins: which family members liked the dish the most, when I first made the recipe, ideas about ingredients to experiment with, and even the number of stars I give the recipe. I cherish cookbooks my grandmother and mom wrote notes in and I get a huge kick out of the fact that we all loved to jot down our thoughts. They weren’t a fan of the star system, though, so I have that on them. Unfortunately, they didn’t write down the first time they made their favorite recipes either – something I really, really, really wish they had.
- Just as I cherish the cookbooks passed down in my family – one day my family will cherish all of the wild, loopy notations I leave in my cookbooks. I’m pretty sure they’ll laugh each time they see one of my smiley faces licking its lips.
- Cookbooks make excellent gift ideas. Not only do I love (make that LOVE) getting cookbooks for gifts, I love giving them. They do more than just look stylish sitting on counters or bookshelves (and they are quite stylish, you know) – they’re a lot of fun to read. The best food chefs and TV personalities write just like they talk, so reading one of their cookbooks is like being able to sit down and visit with them.
- Cookbook collecting is a lot of fun! Granted, I collect cookbooks in general, but I have collections within my collections. I collect Rachael Ray cookbooks, Michael Symon cookbooks, Emeril cookbooks, Alton Brown cookbooks, Gluten Free cookbooks, candy cookbooks, and Christmas cookbooks. I never said I didn’t have a problem, you know. I’ve also just launched a Pioneer Woman cookbook collection and I really look forward to our visits.
- When you have a physical cookbook in your hands, you have more than “just” recipes. You have the author or that particular cookbook’s tips, expertise, tricks, and knowledge… right at your disposal!
- Granted, we can find a good number of recipes for our favorite celebrity chefs online, but you won’t find all of them. There are MANY special recipes you’ll only find in their cookbooks. Think about it… wouldn’t it behoove them to give the best to those who buy their cookbooks?! And that they do. Recipes you will not find online along with tips they won’t even share on Twitter.
- Buying cookbooks will introduce you to wonderful cooks and chefs you’ve never even heard of. Their names aren’t household words and the first time you see their smiling face on the cover will probably be the first time you’ve ever laid eyes on them. Yet, it’s been my experience, that their cookbooks will be among your favorites. They have a passion for food and cooking and their cookbook is their outlet.
- Cookbooks introduce you to different cultures and different cuisines around the world – and I could, in no way, ever describe to you how cool this is. “Mixing things up” with your recipes and meals is a great way to fall in love with cooking all over again.
- Last, but not least, when you buy cookbooks, you’re supporting the men, women, husbands, wives, mothers, and fathers involved in the publishing process. From the author to the illustrator and from the publisher to the distributor. I want to see them all gainfully employed for years and years to come.
The wonderful thing about cookbooks is, I know they will be.
Cookbooks aren’t going anywhere and I think that calls for a piece of chocolate candy…. made from a recipe in a cookbook you’ll soon see reviewed on Get Cooking: Sally’s Candy Addiction!
I think I’ll actually have two pieces…
Thanks so much for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy“)
