Hi there,
This week, Maren Ellingboe King joins us to #TalkCookbooks. But first…
Salt + Spine friend Reem Kassis writes in The Atlantic on the importance and pleasure of cooking, at home, for others. In the piece “What Home Cooking Does That Restaurants Can’t,” she writes:
I asked several friends—some chefs, others food writers, and many that are neither—and found that, given the choice between a meal at a top-notch restaurant and one in the home of a regular person who is a good cook, they would almost all choose the latter. I then polled my 21,000 or so Instagram followers. Most of the hundreds who responded had the same response: Their all-time favorite meals had been eaten in someone’s house.
And in somewhat cookbook-related news (but also, not really), multi-cookbook author and “Top Chef” host
is joining the pages of this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Padma talked with People about the shoot and the unequal pressures on women in media. Her award-winning Hulu series “Taste the Nation”—one of our favorite programs—returns this week.
And now, onto this week’s show!
The Chat!
In today’s episode, Maren and I discuss:
How her upbringing in the Midwest influenced her decision to pursue a career in food.
Her work at food media outlets like Food & Wine and Sunset magazine as well as culinary events companies like Just Add Salt.
The inspiration behind her first cookbook, Fresh Midwest, including how a collection of family recipes compelled her to tackle the project.
Plus, as always, we put Maren to the culinary test in our signature game.
The Book!
We 💚 local bookstores. Find your copy of Maren’s Fresh Midwest at Bookshop or from Omnivore Books.
The Recipes!
This week, paid subscribers will get two featured recipes from Maren’s Fresh Midwest—Wild Rice Salad with Butternut Squash & Pomegranates and Maren’s Apple Cake. Get both with a paid subscription or a free 7-day trial.
New Cookbooks Out This Week
A smattering of new cookbooks and food books out this week1:
Magnolia Table, Volume 3: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines
Love Is a Pink Cake: Irresistible Bakes for Morning, Noon, and Night by Claire Ptak
Chefwise: Life Lessons from Leading Chefs Around the World by Shari Bayer
Bread and How to Eat It by Rick Easton and Melissa McCart
Simple French Baking: Over 80 Sweet Recipes for The Home Cook by Manon Lagrève
Oregon Wine + Food: The Cookbook by Danielle Centoni and Kerry Newberry
The Glucose Goddess Method: The 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing by Jessie Inchauspe
The Dominican Kitchen: Homestyle Recipes That Celebrate the Flavors, Traditions, and Culture of the Dominican Republic by Vanessa Mota
Oh $#!% What's for Dinner?: No-Fuss Weeknight Recipes You'll Swear By by Maria Sansone
Taste of Home All-American Cookbook: 370 Ways to Savor the Flavors of the USA
Salt + Spine has not reviewed or tested these cookbooks. We may receive a small commission from these links, which supports our editorial work.
Breathing freshness into Midwestern fare with Maren Ellingboe King