• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Sous Chef
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Press
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • Press
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer
    • Recipes
    • Cookbook
    • Press
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Entertaining

    Chef's Picks: Our Top 5 Favourite Books by Chefs

    Published: Sep 7, 2018 · Modified: Jan 22, 2024 by Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai · This post may contain affiliate links

    When it comes to kitchen tools, none are more important to me than the Books by Chefs that inspired me to become the home chef I am today. 

    Reading on of the top 5 books by chefs leaning against a brick wall

    There’s nothing more powerful than reading the words and stories of regular people, people like you and me who have come from all walks of life, gone through the ups and downs, and had various paths to their success.

    It’s reading these experiences that help shape you as a person, that provide you hope and ambition to take the steps necessary to get you in life where you want to be. I’m a firm believer that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. And while I have many others I want to read, when it comes to culinary books by chefs, that I have read so far, I can’t think of any others I would rather spend my time with.

    1.
    Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton

    “There are two things you should never do with your father: learn how to drive and learn how to kill a chicken.”― Gabrielle Hamilton

    Blood, Bones & Butter follows the journey of Gabrielle Hamilton through the kitchens she spent time in during her life: her childhood kitchen, where she spent time with her mother, kitchens in France, Greece, and Turkey, where she was fed by strangers and her hospitable values were molded, catering kitchens that paid her bills, the kitchen of her mother-in-law, who linked her past to her present relationship, and of course the professional kitchen of her acclaimed restaurant Prune.

    Although it’s written with food and cooking as a focus, this is hardly a book just for foodies. Gabrielle pulls you in through stories of her childhood, the challenges she faces and the less-than-perfect family dynamic, her troubled teenage years, and the rocky relationships she has throughout her life. You feel her struggles, you laugh with her, and are happy for her successes. This is a wonderful read from start to finish and I am so glad that Mystique gifted this book to me many Christmas’ ago.

    2.
    Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

    “I've long believed that good food, good eating, is all about risk. Food, for me, has always been an adventure.”― Anthony Bourdain

    After spending twenty-five years in professional kitchens, culinary legend, Anthony Bourdain shares his experience of ‘sex, drugs, bad behavior, and haute cuisine’. It was a family trip to France at 9 years old, where he tried to shock his family by eating a raw oyster on a fishing boat, that was the beginning of his passion and love of food. The book follows Anthony’s journey through the seedy underbelly of the kitchens he worked at in New York and Provincetown. From dealings with the Mafia, drug dealers, shady restaurant owners, and the restaurant culture in general, his tales are as shocking as they are funny.

    Not only is Kitchen Confidential an amazing work of storytelling that will have you captivated from cover to cover, but there are also lessons that everyone should know about restaurants, my favorite being to never, ever, order seafood from a restaurant on Monday, especially if it's a special. You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

    3.
    Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

    “Maybe I needed to make like a potato, winnow myself down, be part of something that was not easy, just simple.” ― Julie Powell

    Approaching her thirties and working in a soul-sucking career, Julie Powell decides to shake up her life and challenge herself to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. As she documents her experience she gets more than expected, not only a new respect for food and cooking and a renewed life full of opportunities many could only dream of.

    Our first experience of Julie and Julia was through the movie starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep and this is the reason Mystique and I ended up starting Chef Sous Chef. My attachment and fondness for the movie makes this one of the only situations where the movie rivals the book, however, the book is still a must-read for any aspiring home chef.

    4.
    Talking with My Mouth Full by Gail Simmons

    "The less you do to beautiful food, the better it's going to taste. You don't need to mess with it all the time." ― Gail Simmons

    Having graduated from college and feeling lost, as many do during this time, Gail Simmons was advised to write down what she loved and start from there as a guide to her next steps. That list contained four words: Eat, write, travel, and cook. Talking with My Mouth Full Gail’s unusual yet inspiring path to success, starting from her childhood, when her mom ran a small cooking school and her father made homemade wine, her family vacations around the world, going to culinary school and apprenticing in New York, assisting legendary Vogue food critic Jeffrey Steingarten and eventually landing her roles at Food & Wine and Top Chef.

    When I think of culinary rockstars that molded my love and passion for cooking and food, Gail Simmons is right near the top of the list. Not only is she a fellow Torontonian but she is a regular judge on Top Chef, my favorite culinary show. I’ve had the chance to meet Gail Simmons at a local book signing and she is just as cute and bubbly in real life as she portrays in the book and on tv.

    5.
    Sous Chef by Michael Gibney

    “Cooking is the last true meritocracy. All that matters is how well you can do the job. And with what level of finesse.” ― Michael Gibney

    Sous Chef provides you with a perspective of a typical day in an upscale New York restaurant as told in a second-person narrative. It brings readers into the kitchen and provides every detail that goes into delivering an exceptional plate of food. Where the highest standards are expected any little mistake can spell disaster and Sous Chef illustrates that perfectly, providing an appreciation for the thought, focus, and care that go into creating a memorable dining experience.

    When Sous Chef was first recommended to me, I was skeptical. I had no idea how Michael Gibney was and didn’t think I would get enjoyment from reading about something I already knew well, having worked in a few restaurants. I was surprised when I first dug in and couldn’t put the book down. It’s written in a way that provides you with adrenaline and excitement for what’s next. Whether you’re a food enthusiast, a regular diner, or have worked in a restaurant, Sous Chef is going to be a quick and fun read.

    SaveSave

    More Entertaining Tips

    • How to Dine Al Fresco at Home
    • How to Host a Virtual Baby Shower + Cheese Tasting
    • How to Bring the Dining Out Experience In
    • Three sets of reusable food wraps with various patterns
      How to Make Reusable Beeswax Wraps

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, we're Philip and Mystique.

    We're home cooks, cookbook authors, and contributors to Flavour Network. Here you'll find a mix of unique recipes and fusion food mashups that are fresh, flavorful, and diverse.

    LEARN MORE

    Summer Recipes

    • corn chowder with sausage in a bowl with a spoon with corn husks and pot of soup around it.
      Corn Chowder with Sausage
    • brownie waffle ice cream sandwich with chocolate ice cream on a plate.
      Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich
    • sweet coleslaw in a bowl with ingredients around it.
      Sweet Coleslaw with Maple Syrup
    • lemon créme brûlée topped with blueberries and blackberries cracked open with a spoon.
      Lemon Crème Brûlée
    • A slice of Neapolitan-style big mac pizza with wood fired crust on a white plate topped with lettuce, pickles, onions and big mac sauce.
      Big Mac Pizza
    • Italian sausage sandwich with roasted peppers and onions, drizzled with basil aioli.
      Italian Sausage Sandwich with Peppers
    Summer Recipes

    We Wrote a Cookbook!

    Mindful cooking to make every meal an experience.

    GRAB YOUR COPY

    Popular Recipes

    • 4 slices of heirloom tomatoes, grape tomatoes, small leaves, and spoonful of burrata cheese on a grey plate with antique serving spoon.
      Burrata Caprese Salad
    • Gnocchi in lemon cream sauce in a white pasta bowl on a marble table topped with basil and lemon.
      One-Pot Gnocchi with Creamy Lemon Sauce and Basil
    • Grilled BBQ Jerk Chicken Sandwich on a sesame seed bun with grilled pineapple and coleslaw
      Grilled Jerk Chicken Sandwiches with Grilled Pineapple
    • a bowl of butternut squash gnocchi topped with black pepper.
      Butternut Squash Gnocchi
    • Two sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on an english muffin stacked on top of each other with yolk running down.
      Egg and Sausage Breakfast Sandwich
    • dairy free butter chicken in a shallow silver bowl with cilantro and served with naan.
      Dairy Free Butter Chicken with Coconut Milk
    Popular Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ BACK TO TOP

    Ready to diversify your inbox?

      Chef Sous Chef

      About
      Recipe Index
      Cookbook
      In the Press
      Privacy Policy
      Accessibility Policy
      Contact

      Recipes

      Fusion Food Recipes
      Date Night Recipes
      Dessert Recipes
      Sandwich Recipes
      Salad Recipes
      Pasta Recipes
      Soup Recipes

      Chef Sous Chef Logo with Tagline
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
      • Pinterest

      Disclaimer: If you purchase items through affiliate links, Chef Sous Chef Inc. may receive a commission.
      Copyright © 2018-2025 Chef Sous Chef Inc.