The Best Cookbooks of 2025 (So Far)

"What makes this group of books unique is that they are all artistic big swings. It's almost like the authors, photographers, editors, and art department folks stood in a circle, put their hands in the middle, counted to three, and shouted "go for broke!' There have been isolated versions of similar greatness in the last few years, often in surprising corners of the cookbook kingdom."

"My hope is that this is the start of a new way forward, because once you start comparing this bunch with older cookbooks, or those from publishers with rigid and repetitive styles, those quickly start to look boring. This year's bumper crop looks at salsa, instant ramen noodles, drinking culture, a country, and home baking. Subtle they aren't, but they get you cooking, eating, drinking, and dreaming, which sounds like cookbook perfection to me. More really is more. Enjoy!"

Five cookbooks released this fall combine striking visual design, cultural context, and adventurous editorial choices to create immersive, artful volumes. The books take large creative risks, pairing photography, art direction, and narrative to make learning about food effortless and enjoyable. Recent predecessors like Koreaworld and Big Dip Energy showed similar inventive energy. The new group covers salsa, instant ramen noodles, drinking culture, a country, and home baking, favoring exuberance over subtlety. These titles contrast with older, repetitive publisher styles and encourage readers to cook, eat, drink, and dream. A final selection of recommended cookbooks will appear before year end.

Read at WIRED