- Memoirs by chefs and food writers focus on how instrumental food can be in our lives.
- They're full of mouth-watering food descriptions and often include a few recipes.
- From legendary chefs to culinary superstars, these are the best food-related memoirs.
Memoirs may transport readers into the lives of incredible people, but food memoirs take us straight into their kitchens. Chefs and food writers weave their personal stories through memorable meals and sweat-laden shifts to bring readers life lessons and anecdotes that are easy to devour.
I chose these recommendations because they highlight a unique aspect of the culinary world - from classic kitchens in France to adrenaline-fueled dinner rushes in New York City - while using mouth-watering descriptions to show how we're all connected through food. You don't have to be a self-proclaimed "foodie" or stellar home cook to love these books; they're perfect for any reader interested in the secrets behind the swinging doors of their favorite restaurant's kitchen. Whether it's the memoir of a legendary chef or the coming-of-age story of a new culinary voice, we hope you'll find the perfect read in our list of books by chefs and food writers.
The 18 best books by chefs and food writers
Amazon
"My Life in France" by Julia Child, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $13.33
Of course we had to include one of the most famous chef memoirs ever: "My Life in France." This was the basis for the hit movie "Julie & Julia," the not-so-culinary beginnings of Julia Child before she would go on to reshape American cooking with her cookbook. This is the story of Julia's humble beginnings with French cooking as she fell in love with French cuisine, pursued classes at the world-renowned Cordon Bleu, and faced rejections from publishers for her cookbook. Alive with Julia Child's shining spirit, this memoir is one that can't help but be cherished and adored by readers.
Delicious quote: "No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing."
An iconic chef's memoir about embracing the grittier side of beautiful foodAmazon
"Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly" by Anthony Bourdain, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.63
This is my favorite food memoir because, having worked in kitchens myself, Bourdain's portrayal of brutal and beautiful culinary life is searingly accurate, especially in its most uncomfortable moments. Anthony Bourdain was a legendary chef and traveler who passed away in 2018. This memoir was originally published in 2007, a collection of shocking and true tales from his life in classic New York kitchens and all the nearly unbelievable happenings from behind the swinging doors.
Delicious quote: "Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride."
A famous chef's passionate coming-of-age memoirAmazon
"Eat a Peach" by David Chang, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $14
A child of Korean immigrants, David Chang once grew up in Virginia and struggled with loneliness. After graduating, he borrowed money from his father to open Momofuku — a noodle restaurant in Manhattan that he didn't believe would survive a year. This memoir is not only David's coming of age story, but the recollection of how Momofuku's fast popularity grew to a 15-restaurant empire that spans from New York to Australia. David Chang's memoir is humble and real, speaking not only on mental health but how his lasting love of food remained a light in his life — and the key to his success.
Delicious quote: "Organic growth, I always say, means having absolutely no strategy."
An author's discovery of the French culinary worldAmazon
"Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking" by Bill Buford, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $11.28
Bill Buford is an American author who was convinced he could master the art of French cooking, setting out on what would become a five-year journey to understand the origins of French cuisine and why it is so revered around the world. He began in D.C. but soon moved his family to Lyon. Buford's readers travel alongside as he studies at a culinary institute, learns from the masters, and becomes obsessed with proving himself as a chef. This memoir is a first-hand account of enthusiastic discovery, a humorous anecdotal adventure.
Delicious quote: "A recipe is only an introduction. It is the beginning of your relationship with the dish."
The memoir of a groundbreaking pastry chefAmazon
"Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger" by Lisa Donovan,available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.99
In her memoir, Lisa Donovan — a southern pastry chef and award-winning essayist — tells not only her story, but those of the women in kitchens that came before her and were overlooked. Her story is one of resilience. From her gender to her survival of abuse, Lisa's background led her to create a table where all are welcomed and valued, coming together over food. This story is both fierce and heartfelt, perfectly articulated by a woman who is as known for her capturing of deep truths in her writing as she is for her amazing pastries.
Delicious quote: "If someone values you only when you are about to walk out the door, you should definitely keep walking."
An intimate memoir from the host of 'Top Chef'Amazon
"Love, Loss, and What We Ate" by Padma Lakshmi, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $16.55
The host of "Top Chef" and author of two cookbooks, Padma Lakshmi shares her love of food across continents, families, and through loss. Her memoir is full of intimate details of her love life, her racial identity, her single motherhood, all intertwined with the recipes she holds close. It's an honest image of her life that embraces the highs without shying away from the lows. Even for readers who aren't familiar with Padma or "Top Chef," her memoir is one that is easy to devour.
Delicious quote: "We eat for our stomachs, but we hunger with our hearts."
A story of a chef's survival through tongue cancerAmazon
"Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat" by Grant Achatz by Nick Kokonas, available on Amazon, from $20
My husband is a chef, and when I asked him about his favorite chef memoir, he excitedly thrust his signed copy of "Life, on the Line" into my hands. Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas are the founders of Alinea, one of the best restaurants in the world known for its radical conceptualizations of food, which opened in Chicago in 2005. Two years later, Grant was diagnosed with stage IV tongue cancer — a prognosis that threatened not only his career, but his life. This memoir is about his survival, his trailblazing, and the friendships that carried him through.
Delicious quote: "As I stopped worrying about the future, I actually began to believe that I might have one."
A well-known food critic's fun memoirAmazon
"Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise" by Ruth Reichl, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $12.50
Ruth Reichl has written a few amazing food memoirs such as "Tender at the Bone" and "Save Me the Plums," but this one is particularly unique, as it follows her time as an undercover food critic for "The New York Times" from 1993-1999. It's an intriguing look at Ruth's attempt to evade the stereotypical "food critic" identity in order to portray the experience of a meal more accurately to the average diner by literally donning disguises while she ate. Each chapter is dedicated to an alter ego she used to keep the restaurant honest about their food and service, divorced from the usual show to woo food critics.
Delicious quote: "Time slows down in the kitchen, offering up an entire universe of small satisfactions."
A touching memoir from a famous Food Network chefAmazon
"Yes, Chef" by Marcus Samuelsson, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $9.99
Marcus Samuelsson is a well-known "Food Network" star, a bestselling author, and an award-winning chef with 31 restaurants around the world. Marcus was three years old when he was orphaned in Ethiopia and adopted by Swedish parents. He always knew he would be a chef, inspired at a young age in his adoptive grandmother's kitchen. Marcus's memoir is about his ambition through adversity. It's a blend of culture, food, and charm as he finds his place in the world and in kitchens throughout his life.
Delicious quote: "Each one, teach one. I want to believe that I am here to teach one and, more, that there is one here who is meant to teach me. And if we each one teach one, we will make a difference."
The true life story of one game-changing chefAmazon
"The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen" by Jacques Pépin, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $10.41
"The Apprentice" is a detailed memoir that spans nearly 50 years of the life of a man dubbed "the best chef in America" by Julia Child herself. Jacques' memoir is an encompassing coming-of-age story, from his beginnings as a boy growing up during World War II to climbing the culinary ladder in France and coming to America during the dawn of the culinary awakening. Jacques' talent is undeniable, and he includes 40 of his favorite recipes in this book.
Delicious quote: "Restaurant kitchens are the ultimate levelers."
A dual memoir of a chef and an entrepreneurAmazon
"Black, White, and the Grey: The Story of an Unexpected Friendship and a Beloved Restaurant" by John O. Morisano and Mashama Bailey, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.69
This is a dual memoir from chef Mashama Bailey and entrepreneur John O. Morisano, who became business partners and turned a formerly segregated Greyhound bus station into "The Grey," a successful restaurant. They take turns telling their stories, highlighting the vulnerability they needed to challenge their biases, get people to talk about race, and advocate for equality in the South. This is far more than the story of an interracial frendship — it's a socially relevant memoir, riddled with conversations that show the depth of personal and communal work we must do to advance towards equality.
Delicious quote: "At our restaurant in the South, we are working on celebrating the good aspects of American culture while exposing and shedding light on the bad aspects."
A collection of essays that center on foodAmazon
"Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen" by Laurie Colwin, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $13.99
"Home Cooking" is a delightful memoir of essays from exquisite food writer Laurie Collin. This memoir is its own version of comfort food, a soothing collection of advice, anecdotes, and recipes that are practical and amusing. Laurie passed away unexpectedly in 1992, but her essays remain an insightful and inspiring look at food and life, making it a memoir that is simply a joy to read.
Delicious quote: "A long time ago it occurred to me that when people are tired and hungry, which in adult life is much of the time, they do not want to be confronted by an intellectually challenging meal: they want to be consoled."
A story about the power of food in recoveryAmazon
"Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Home" by Jessica Fechtor, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15.62
Jessica Fechtor was a 28-year-old graduate student when an aneurysm burst in her brain during a run and she nearly lost her life. This memoir is her story of recovery and how food and cooking carried her through a series of setbacks and ultimately to the writing of this book. Jessica doesn't believe that she's particularly brave for overcoming her aneurysm; her messages focus on cherishing food and family in the uncertainty of life. She also includes recipes at the end of each chapter that are approachable to chefs at all levels.
Delicious quote: "Food is the keeper of our memories, connecting us with our pasts and with our people."
A powerful memoir from an inspiring chefAmazon
"Notes from a Young Black Chef" by Kwame Onwuachi, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $15
Kwame Onwuachi grew up in Nigeria and the Bronx, launching his catering company with money he earned from selling candy on the subway. Kwame's memoir is a collection of life lessons from the challenges he faced, particularly those experiences by many people of color in the culinary world. His journey was driven by his vision, and this memoir is a personal evolution through kitchens with poignant insight to how racism in the culinary profession has kept Black chefs from reaching the top.
Delicious quote: "As for the thousands of black and brown chefs — dubbed cooks, domestics, servants, boys, and mammies who were kept out of restaurant kitchens or overlooked within them — they were beyond consideration. Their work, like them, was invisible."
A culinary life story split between the Midwest and New YorkAmazon
"Give a Girl a Knife" by Amy Thielen, available on Amazon from $17.99
Amy Thielen's memoir is the story of her culinary roots in Minnesota and her journey through New York City kitchens and back again. Her ability to perfectly capture the feeling of food in her writing is amazing, and her love for the origins and preparations of her favorite meals is woven through her narration. This memoir is a love story to the home Amy finds in food, the food Amy experiences in the places she calls home, and the way we cherish both.
Delicious quote: "To me, time in the kitchen was like a loophole, a bubble, a cure. Once I found it, I crawled inside and told myself I never wanted to leave."
A memoir of strength from an incredibly successful chefAmazon
"Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch" by Erin French, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $14.93
The owner and chef of The Lost Kitchen, Erin French has been hailed as a classic American success story, rising from her beginnings on a farm in Maine to owning a wildly exclusive restaurant crowned a "world dining destination" by TIME. (To even get a seat at her restaurant, you have to mail a postcard to be entered into a lottery.) In her inspiring memoir, Erin reveals every hardship she overcame to become the woman she is now. Her food descriptions are mouthwatering, but her story centers on Erin's profound strength despite years of challenges.
Delicious quote: "I realized that much of the joy and the freedom of cooking lay with creating."
A memoir of a wine-fueled journeyAmazon
"Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste" by Bianca Bosker, available on Amazon and Bookshop from $11.21
Bianca Bosker was a tech writer who enjoyed wine, but abandoned her tech life for a year and a half to delve into the world of sommeliers and learn everything she could about the world of wine. She began by learning the basics during tastings and grew to discover what it takes to become a Master Sommelier. This book is full of information about wine production, sommelier competitions, and upscale New York City dining, a memoir that uncovers the prestige surrounding the wine world and offers an accessible take to readers.
Delicious quote: "After blood, wine is the most complex matrix there is."
A memoir told from a unique perspectiveAmazon
"Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line" by Michael Gibney available on Amazon $17
"Sous Chef" is a unique food memoir that uses a second person narrative to tell an intimate story of the high standards of fast-paced kitchens, where readers can personally inhabit an adrenaline-fueled 24 hours in a profession that demands perfection. Michael Gibney has worked in dozens of restaurants, and his wide range of culinary experiences are rich, creating a written work that is an undeniably genuine reflection of kitchen life.
Delicious quote: "To watch a good cook work well on his station is to witness multitasking of the highest order."
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