The 11 best cookbooks and gastronomy books of the year (to make the best gift this Christmas) - Grand Goldman 2026

As the holidays approach, the number of cookbooks and gastronomy books being released multiplies. Top chefs put themselves at the service of publishers, and cooking manuals that have triumphed in the English-speaking world are published in Spanish.

There's no doubt that a good cookbook is the perfect gift for any cooking enthusiast, but how do you choose from so many titles?

Throughout this 2018, books of all kinds have passed through our hands: technical manuals, guides on restaurants and, of course, many recipe collections. We may have left some interesting book out –the offer is endless–, but we are sure that these volumes are worth every euro they cost.

Templos del Producto

For me, perhaps the gastronomy book of the year: a journey through the restaurants that

The volume, written by Borja Beneyto and Carlos Mateos, "two of the guys who have eaten and drunk best in Spain since the Council of Trent," tells the story of fourteen restaurants where the best tuna, the prized woodcock, or the most exquisite red shrimp are served.

It's impossible to read this book without wanting to visit every single one of the temples of product it talks about, something greatly helped by the excellent photographs of Joan Pujol-Creus.

It can be purchased for 39.85 euros on Amazon.

Japan Gastronomy

The "Gastronomy" collection from Phaidon is pure manna for food lovers. This year, two of their latest titles have arrived in Spanish bookstores, corresponding to Cuba and Japan, but it's the latter that we've liked the most.

The book, written by veteran author Nancy Singleton Hachisu, stands as the new gastronomic Bible of one of the most respected and beloved cuisines in the world and collects 400 recipes grouped into 15 chapters to explore all of Japan through its soups, noodles, pickles, desserts, fish, meats, and. It includes contemporary menus from chefs around the world.

As always, we have a meticulously crafted edition, with excellent photographs, and very well-explained recipes.

It can be purchased on Amazon for 42.75 euros.

Arzak + Arzak

Perhaps the most recent book on the list, this volume reviews the career of Arzak, the second Spanish restaurant to obtain three Michelin stars, in 1989, and the one that has held them for the longest time.

It's the father-daughter duo, Juan Mari-Elena, that is the central axis of this exquisite large-format volume which, in addition to collecting 64 selected recipes from the work of the last two decades, tells the emotional history of the restaurant, from when Juan Mari turned it in the 70s into the gastronomic temple

It can be purchased on Amazon for 46.55 euros.

Sustainable Cooking

One of the most practical books published this year is this manual by Ada Parellada in which the Catalan chef explains

The method proposed by Parellada is based on preparing a fridge staple once a week: preparations that require slow cooking and keep well in the refrigerator.

The book proposes a series of basic preparations –sofritos, escabeches, sauces…– that can be prepared in advance to have the menu for a whole week ready, with recipes where these preparations are combined with fresh products. By dedicating one day and three hours to these preparations, you have the dinners for an entire week ready: on a daily basis, you just need to combine the ingredients to have a great dish in ten minutes.

It can be purchased on Amazon for 20.85 euros.

Cooking for Two

This book by veteran blogger Belén Otero compiles all kinds of recipes with one single condition: that they are for two people. It may seem trivial, but as our colleague Carmen Tía Alia explains, "in today's world, two-member family units are increasingly common and the need to adapt to this scenario is a new reality."

Almost all recipe books compile preparations for four or more people, which complicates their preparation. That's exactly what Otero thought when, in April 2010, she opened her blog Cooking for Two, with cooking as a couple as the protagonist.

In the book, we find more than 90 recipes, mostly unpublished. "Simple and quick recipes for all occasions," Carmen points out. "Small portions, great enjoyment."

It can be purchased on Amazon for 18.95 euros.

Among the Embers

Juan Manuel Benayas was destined to be a great grill master: he is the grandson and son of charcoal makers and, to top it off, was born on the night of San Juan. Although he is not a chef, his company supplies charcoal to more than 250 restaurants in Madrid and he is one of the greatest experts in the noble art of griddle cooking.

In this book, Benayas reviews : how to light it, what fuel to use for each meal, what safety measures to observe, which utensils are most useful…

A great and useful manual that also includes a good handful of recipes. Essential.

It can be purchased on Amazon for 26.55 euros.

Cooking Without Gluten, Egg, and Lactose

Nowadays, food allergies and intolerances are all the rage, and it's very common to find among our family and friends someone who has to avoid certain products.

In this complete recipe book, recommended by our colleague Carmen Tía Alia, Inés Ortega –daughter of Simone Ortega, author of the mega-classic 1,080 Cooking Recipes– and her daughter-in-law, Marina Rivas, adapt their favorite preparations by omitting the foods that cause the most conflict.

"Inés, with nearly fifty published works in the last two decades, passes the baton to Marina Rivas, holder of the Grand Diplôme from Le Cordon Bleu, who takes up the generational relay of this family saga," Carmen explains.

"It's like the bible for those with intolerance problems and it will be of great help to them and their families," our colleague concludes.

It can be purchased on Amazon for 15.10 euros.

My First Korean Cookbook

Following My First Thai Cookbook, a highly recommended manual for delving into the world of Thai cuisine, comes this book that transports us to Korea,

Its author, Caroline Hwang, reviews the keys to this cuisine, starting with the basic ingredients you need to get to make truly Korean dishes. There's also a complete explanation of how to prepare the most popular kimchi and banchan (the mandatory side dishes on the table of this Asian country), information complemented by a substantial recipe collection.

It can be purchased for 21.75 euros on Amazon.

All About Meat

We return to carnivorous territory with this recommendation from our colleague Pakus. "Without a doubt, one of the best treatises on the use of meat in cooking is that of Arthur Le Caisne, who analyzes in this great manual topics such as the breeds and origins of livestock, the best cuts, preparations, and meat recipes."

With tips on how to make a tartar and whether it's better to cut it with a knife or chop it, discovering which cuts are the tastiest or curiosities like seeing which types of salt go best with each cut, we learn and we can also find good .

The book, Pakus explains, answers many common questions and tells us some secrets of great chefs to enjoy this food. It also contains wonderful graphics that allow us to distinguish between the different cuts and discover the butchering of pork, beef, and other meats, all explained in simple, easy-to-understand language for the reader.

It can be purchased on Amazon for 23.75 euros.

1000 Golden Recipes

Karlos Arguiñano, , releases recipe books every Christmas, and they are always a success. The television Basque chef has already signed about 60 recipe books (he himself doesn't keep count), but this volume . And that's saying a lot.

Unlike previous books where he reviewed the most traditional recipes, in this volume he compiles his own recipes, the ones that have truly made him the media personality he is today (with permission from his jokes). Brothy rice with borage tempura, fish cake cannoli, bloody mary with cockles, or pumpkin cream with langoustine and bacon... Simple recipes, suitable for all audiences, but with the special house touch.

It can be purchased on Amazon for 23.70 euros.

Kitchenalia

We end our cooking selection with this technical manual, an original reference guide on the utensils we normally use for cooking, explaining everything from how to use or sharpen a knife to how to use a slow cooker or the different types of coffee makers.

It's a rather geeky book, but also very useful and practical, full of illustrations that let you know at a glance how to correctly handle the most common kitchen utensils and appliances. One of those reference books you always go back to.

It can be purchased for 23.27 euros on Amazon.

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of bra post breast augmentation, pacifier oral development, norwegian wood pillows, remote start alarm car, and inexpensive metal detector. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of gifts adulting, teacher backpack, truck bed covers, mouse bait, and sublimation printer. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.