Nonfiction Food Books
Recently, I’ve realized that I really enjoy nonfiction food books about chefs, the restaurant industry, or just generally the love of food! It occurred to me that others might also love this subgenre, so it would be worth creating a list of my favorites!
While Jackie and I have read many novels about food and books with food in the title, we haven’t read as many nonfiction food books. Still, our love for anything fiction or nonfiction that is food-related made me eager to create this list of books for you.
The Best Nonfiction Food Books
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Nonfiction Food Book
From Scratch from Tembi Locke
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Nonfiction Food Books
Julie and Julia
Author: Julie Powell
Year: 2005
Genre: Memoir
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Julie Powell sets herself a task – to cook all 524 Recipes from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking in just a year. She turned her recipe cooking journey into a blog that ended up being much more than just about cooking. The blog was then turned into a book which later being a movie starring Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, and Meryl Streep.
Trigger Warnings
Fatphobia
Why Kirsten likes it
I liked but didn’t love this book. I actually read it after seeing the movie, and I think this is the rare case of the movie was better – Meryl Streep just crushes it as Julia Childs. I enjoyed the memoir, but I found my mind drifting at times when it got too bogged down in the details of the cooking.
Eat, Pray, Love
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Year: 2006
Genre: Memoir
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Eat Pray Love #1
Spice Rating:💋💋💋
Age Range: 18+
Plot
By now, we’ve all probably heard about Elizabeth Gilbert’s story. It was turning into a movie starring Julia Roberts after all. But have you read the original memoir?
If not, then this should be one of the must-read books set in Italy! It talks about her time Italy, India, and Bali where she learned about herself and her passions.
Trigger Warnings
Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal Thoughts
Why Kirsten likes it
I found this story to be so compelling and unique when I first read it and actually, I quite like the movie.
My First Popsicle: An Anthology of Food and Feelings
Author: Zosia Mamet
Year: 2022
Genre: Essays
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This Anthology of stories is all centered around memories associated with food. Some of these stories are funny and some are quite poignant as they highlight how central food is to our culture, lives, and memories.
Trigger Warnings
Eating disorder
Why Jackie loves it
This book is different from any of the full cast audiobooks that I have listened to because each story is written and read by a different narrator. It is a quick read (or listen).
Find this book in: Full Cast Audiobooks / Beach Reads 2023 / Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump
From Scratch
Author: Tembi Locke
Year: 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
More info: May 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick
Age Range: 16+
Plot
I knew what this book was about before reading it and I was still not prepared for the heartbreak and beauty within the pages. This memoir is truly a love letter to Tembi’s husband who died from cancer. This is an incredibly sad book that had me in tears.
The descriptions of the food, the people, and the love she had for her husband are unlike anything that I have read before. This is a five-star book about grief if you can read through heartache. It’s one of the Netflix book adaptations I’m planning on watching.
Trigger Warnings
Death of a Spouse, Grief
Why Jackie loves it
This is a five-star book about grief if you can read through heartache. This is beautifully written and although it is sad, the authors journey to finding herself again is inspirational.
Find this book in: Books Set in Italy / Best Netflix Book Adaptations / Best Reese Witherspoon Books / Books About Food / Reese Witherspoon Book Club List 2019 / Best Nonfiction Books / Nonfiction Travel Books
Finding Freedom: A Cook’s Story
Author: Erin French
Year: 2021
Genre: Memoir
More info: New York Times Bestseller
Age Range: 16+
Plot
My first celebrity chef memoir was not at all what I was expecting and I loved it! I found myself thinking of Erin as a friend while reading this story. I rooted for her, cried with her, and had so many food cravings it bordered on ridiculous. How can you not want to eat the delicious concoctions described on the page?
I was not anticipating that this would be a story about redemption, finding inner strength, and perseverance, but that’s what it was. Erin clawed her way to the top of the restaurant game only to find herself at rock bottom. Then, she did it again. It’s a story of a mother’s love, a woman overcoming addiction, and a damn good cook who finds herself planting roots where she least expected it.
Trigger Warnings
Addiction, Suicidal thoughts
Why Kirsten loves it
I hope someday that I will be able to eat in her famed kitchen if just to have wine recommended by her mom and see her surrounded by the love of her kitchen family.
Find this book in: Books Like Lessons in Chemistry / Celebrity Memoirs / Beach Reads 2021
Expert Tip
- Read the description of the book. If you are a Kirsten, pick books she has read, and vice versa for Jackie.
- Have a look at our reasons for liking a book to see if this appeals to you.
- Don’t fret about your choice. If you start a book and don’t like it, STOP. Life is too short, and there are too many good books to read one that you don’t like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good books about a chef?
Finding Freedom is my favorite chef memoir to date!
What is a good food-related nonfiction book?
You can’t go wrong with From Scratch or Eat, Pray, Love. Both are great stories about women traveling and finding comfort in new foods.
Related Content
Epilogue
My appreciation for nonfiction food books is rather new, so I’m eager to get more suggestions from you about what I should read next! How many of these have you read?
