These Are Just Two of My Favorite Things

Reading and eating... or reading about food... or reading about food, a far off place, and escaping into a world of sumptuous feasts, all work for me. No matter how you slice it, I love to combine two of my favorite things - my love of food and a good book. Although there are myriad cookbooks that have been revered over the years (James Beard - Beard on Food, Julia Child - The Way to Cook, Thomas Keller - French Laundry Cookbook), there are some cookbooks that read like a book, (and good books that include recipes), making them the ultimate late night fare.

In her book, Libation - A Bitter Alchemy, author Deirdre Heekin has written a series of essays that explore how she connects food with wines and spirits as she travels throughout Italy. In the book, In Late Winter We Ate Pears, she and her chef husband, Caleb Barber, share not only recipes, but their love affair with a culture that knows lingering at the table is one of life's greatest pleasures. (Deirdre Heekin and Caleb Barber are the proprietors of the Woodstock, VT restaurant Osteria Pane e Salute.)

And if you savor the idea of combining your fondness of travel, food, and lyrical prose, you must read Frances Mayes books all about Tuscany. Her newest (The Tuscan Sun Cookbook) is due out in May, 2012.

In her beautiful and delicious books, Falling Cloudberries and Apples for Jam, author Tessa Kiros combines her love of food with delectable photographs, heartwarming family memories, anecdotes, and whimsical drawings. 

Add these books to your holiday gift list.

Top photo: housebeautiful.com