Wrapping up the best cookbooks of the year with Celia Sack

Good Food has a tradition every December of sitting down with Celia Sack, owner of Omnivore Books in San Francisco, to discuss the best culinary tomes of the year. Trends in 2021 include Italian comfort food and regional vegan cooking. Here are her picks for the food lovers on your gift list.

Italian comfort food

Pasta

PastaThe Pasta Man: The Art of Making Spectacular Pasta

The Pasta Man: The Art of Making Spectacular PastaItalian American

Italian AmericanIstria: Recipes and Stories from the Hidden Heart of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia

Istria: Recipes and Stories from the Hidden Heart of Italy, Slovenia and CroatiaGennaro’s Limoni

Gennaro’s LimoniLet’s Eat Italy!

Vegan

The Korean Vegan

The Korean VeganThe Cajun Vegan Cookbook

The Cajun Vegan CookbookThe Little Pine Cookbook: Modern Plant-Based Comfort

The Little Pine Cookbook: Modern Plant-Based ComfortTo Asia, With Love

Baking

Baking with Dorie: Sweet, Salty & Simple

Baking with Dorie: Sweet, Salty & SimpleBaking for the Holidays: 50+ Treats for a Festive Season

Baking for the Holidays: 50+ Treats for a Festive SeasonMiddle Eastern Sweets

Food history and writing

My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris

My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in ParisBlack Food

Black FoodAt the Chinese Table: A Memoir with Recipes

At the Chinese Table: A Memoir with RecipesThe Kitchen Whisperers: Cooking with the Wisdom of Our FriendsTaming Fruit: How Orchards Have Transformed the Land, Offered Sanctuary and Inspired Creativity

Preserving

Fermentation: River Cottage Handbook No. 18

Fermentation: River Cottage Handbook No. 18Tsukemono Recipes Cookbook

Homecooks looking for a challenge

The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to Know

The Joy of Pizza: Everything You Need to KnowFilipinx: Heritage Recipes From the Diaspora

Filipinx: Heritage Recipes From the DiasporaUnder Coconut Skies: Feasts & Stories from the Philippines