Books like Simply Divine — picked by fans

A beautiful book of stories and recipes by a Vietnamese mother and daughter. I found this book when I was dining at their restaurant in Beverly Hills.

I have always loved their food so purchasing their recipe book was a no-brainer but as a happy surprise, I fell in love with their heartwarming family stories on top of amazing recipes. The stories of how their family survived from Vietnam, came over to the San Francisco area in the United States, opened a Vietnamese deli shop, and fast-forward many years, and now they own multiple restaurants all over California.

I relate to some parts of their stories I am also not originally from here. From making inexpensive lunch items for office workers in San Francisco to hosting celebrity-filled post-Oscars show parties, I have enjoyed reading every ounce of this book! Plus, Helen An’s pursuit of combining healthy ingredients with modern-day cooking… show more.

I have been a fan of Colin Cowie for years and this book totally lived up to my expectations.

He wrote how he did things and why in the most chic way possible. I have adapted several things into my life from this book. For example, I organize my dried spice rack alphabetically and have host/hostess gifts ready at all times so I am always ready for any invitation. I felt my life was more organized when I finished this book!

This book was given to me by my mum after she read it on the plane from Seoul to visit me here. She is an advocate health/food person, to say the least, and she always tries to help me to stay in a healthier food lifestyle.

I am a Korean American, was born in Korea and lived there until I was 14, lived in Australia for 8 years, and have been living in America for going on 25 years now. Even though I have been in the States for the longest part of my life, my food core very much has Korean roots in it.

Korean food starts with ingredients that has certain health benefits to us and we try to make it taste good to eat. American food starts with what tastes good and we make it more tastier to eat. Having an American husband and a son who… show more.

A true inspiration! In fact, when I was asked to write a cook/recipe book, I wanted to write a book on home entertaining instead and this book was a big part of that inspiration.

David Tutera is an incredibly talented event planner and also a very warm charming kind man whom I met in person at the First Ladies’ luncheon by Dr. Jill Biden in Washington D.C. He was in charge of the setup for the event and of course, everything was perfect! When I was reading about the opulent grand events he produced, it was like being inside a favorite movie to me.

As much as I enjoyed reading this book, I know most people only get to create these large-sized events maybe once or twice in their lives, maybe their wedding and 50th wedding anniversary party if you are lucky! That gave me the thought of writing my… show more.

Athena Calderone welcomes you into her casual, cool, and elegant world in Cook Beautiful.

Recipes are listed by season, using simple and healthy ingredients at their peak of freshness. The recipes are simple and straightforward and include gorgeous and “swoon-worthy” photos and tips explaining how to style and plate your meal for maximum impact and little effort.

The recipes in Cook Beautiful are equally impressive for an intimate dinner party, yet simple enough to serve on a Tuesday night. Many of the seasonal dishes have made it into my own dinner rotation.

Stories from the Kitchen is a celebration of food in fiction, an anthology of short stories combined with tidbits from novels. The authors are well known, ranging from Charles Dickens’ “Love and Oysters,” about oysters upending the life of a man and his dependable routines, to Isaak Dineson’s “Babette’s Feast,” in which a lavish dinner served by a French cook transforms the hearts and souls of the most austere members of an isolated Danish community. Another story of particular interest: M.F.K. Fisher’s heartbreaking “A Kitchen Allegory.” As in Fisher’s gastronomical non-fiction writing, in which food is her greatest metaphor, this slice of fiction uses food as a source of empathy for a woman who has to reckon with no longer being needed. Reading this entire collection underscores how my own book—though unprecedented in its number of recipes tucked within a novel— stands on a long tradition of food as… show more.

This book features casual yet elegant boards and spreads alongside simple and accessible recipes and the most gorgeous photos!

Broken out by morning, afternoon, evening, and anytime, with a theme for almost any occasion. The book is laid out to show even the most novice home entertainers how to easily assemble a beautiful spread for guests or how to arrange a small platter for a no-cook meal on a random evening. 

Once again, I’d like to mention the beautiful photos! I enjoy casually flipping through the book and dreaming about what to serve at my next gathering.

The author is a food and entertaining expert, and I know first-hand. Susan was my boss for many years at Martha Stewart magazine, and is the example all cookbook authors should aspire to. You know her recipes are tried and tested, as would any recipe from a seasoned recipe developer, food stylist, and food writer. The pictures in the book are gloriously inspiring, and do their job of making your mouth water. As a frequent hostess herself, Susan draws you in with several chapters of expertise, including creating your pantry, what equipment and ingredients to have on hand, and simple starters to get your party going. The rest of the book is full of recipes you will end up making based on the beautiful visuals, simplicity, amazing flavor combinations, and helpful tips to give you cooking confidence.

We all love to know what someone we admire does beyond the scope of what they are most known for. I love how this cookbook goes beyond recipes—Giada also shares her beauty secrets such as hair and makeup routines, how she stays trim with lifestyle and exercise, tips for choosing healthy options when eating out, and what she packs for snacks while on the go. It’s truly a lifestyle that I want to subscribe to!

I know, I know, this one isn’t a “story” book, but it IS a picture book! In fact, it’s the first recipe-in-picture book my family has come across. Accessible, even to our toddler, this inviting book has big, bright pictures so the pre-readers in your family can fully participate in kitchen adventures.

Our favorite recipe in this one? It’s hard to pick, but the very first one is a go-to because the easy-peasy Froothie is a win for our smoothie-loving household!