Chef Jenny Glasgow of Olivier Cheng Catering in New York breaks down her cookbook recommendations by style of food and when the home (or professional) chef would prepare that food.

From Chef Jenny–
Any cookbook on my list (and it IS a list… cannot narrow down to one) has to have beautiful photography first and foremost. I want to thumb through a cookbook and get hungry.

For elegant contemporary cuisine – Eleven Madison [Daniel Humm and Will Guidara], In Pursuit of Excellence [Josiah Citrin].

For whimsy – Happy in the Kitchen [Michel Richard]

For food that’s the kind of food that I like to eat every day – Jerusalem, Plenty (am looking forward to Ottolenghi – do you see a pattern here?) [all by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi], I Heart NY [Daniel Humm and Will Guidara], Sunday Suppers at Lucques [Suzanne Goin], Fresh from the Market [Laurent Tourondel].

For gift giving to my busy non-chef friends – Keepers [Kathy Brennan and Caroline Campion]. Many books have been done geared toward busy working mothers, but this new cookbook is head and shoulders over any I’ve seen. If I were a busy working mother this would be my bible, not just in terms of recipes and ideas, but great pictures and copy you actually want to read. I just bought 7 copies to give as gifts.

Single Subject: Brisket [Stephanie Pierson] and The Whole World Loves Chicken Soup [Mimi Sheraton] – both great reads!

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Studying Jenny’s list, I see why she couldn’t break down her list into just one recommendation! I’ve put Keeper on a holiday gift list for some friends, and Fresh from the Market on hold at the library for myself (and I just finished reading Jerusalem). What are your favorites from this list?