Cookbooks by Boston Women

Last month we shared some novels written by women from Boston. This month, we’re to pivoting to share something similar however, the theme here is Food & Drink. Cooking – whether you love it or hate it, we’ve curated a list of cookbooks, and some cocktail recipes, from local chefs and bartenders that have something for everyone. With the help of some incredible talent, there are recipes that are sure to inspire even the beginner. Put on your apron and sharpen those knives, ladies, because you’re going to want to get your chef on…or maybe just mix yourself a drink.

Eating from the Ground Up

Massachusetts-based food blogger Alana Chernila brings her secrets to not only embracing but learning to cook vegetables. This is a great guide, perfect for both vegans and meat eaters looking to add more leafy greens to their diet. This book not only gives you great recipes centered on veggies, it also teaches you how best to savor their flavors from the market to the table. When I read through this book, I can’t help but think of someone who once told me, “Life isn’t always meant to be a party” in reference to eating her mustard greens. After trying the grilled summer squash with basil ricotta though, I’m inclined to say you can definitely have a party with vegetables!

Alana’s dishes are so simple and quick that you don’t need to be intimidated by the beautiful photos. She guides you on soups for year-round that are packed with nourishment; ideas for maximizing summer produce; impressive dishes fit for a party; and a host of tips.

Alana currently lives in Western Mass with her family as an author and chef but she focuses on teaching cheese making. You can check out her blog here for more information.

New England Invite: Fresh Feasts to Savor the Seasons

Seasons -- if you are from New England, you know it’s one of the best things to look forward to as the weather changes. With the seasons changing, each year we look forward to food and drinks like pumpkin spice lattes in the fall or lobster rolls in the summer. In Kate Bowler’s cookbook she tries to bring those seasonal recipes into your home as well as some tips for the entertainers and decoration ideas.

Kate Bowler is the author of the popular lifestyle blog Domestikatedlife.com where she writes about festive entertaining tips, easy recipes, DIY projects and life as a mom. Her recipes and styling work have been featured in publications such as Martha Stewart Living, Family Circle Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens and The Boston Globe. Kate is the co-President of Boston Bloggers, and lives with her husband and daughter in a seaside town outside of Boston.

Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery + Cafe

If you are like me and have a serious sweet tooth, you’ll understand why Flour Bakery’s Joanna Chang made it to the list. I love her easy writing style, her little vignettes, and the fact that she explains the ‘how and why’ of her baking secrets. This is my first book on baking that teaches me how to successfully bake. Joanne includes basic recipes along with her own originals and some tweaks if you are adventurous. She knows when a recipe, even in its simplicity, has no room for improvement.

Joanne left her career as a management consultant to enter the world of professional cooking. She started out as an honors graduate of Harvard College with a degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics. From Boston to New York City and back, she worked at some of the best restaurants as a Pastry chef. In 2000, she opened Flour in Boston's South End. Flour and now has 8 locations in Boston and Cambridge. Joanne has been featured in Food&Wine, Bon Appetit, the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Inc. Magazine, and Boston Magazine.

Joanne is also half of the brains and culinary talent behind Myers + Chang which she opened with her husband Christopher Myers in the South End neighborhood in the fall of 2007. An avid runner, she competed in every Boston Marathon from 1991 - 2006.

Plant Based Gourmet

I really wanted to include some cookbooks that cater to all audiences regardless of what diet you subscribe to. Vegan or non-vegan, there is delicious food to be had compliments of Suzi. I, myself, have been gravitating more towards a plant-centric diet which is how I found Suzannah Gerber’s book. I really liked that there were smaller recipes like appetizers or side dishes that I could try first before committing to a full meal. I recommend her vegan fondue recipe!

Chef Suzi Gerber is a plant-based executive chef, specializing in world cuisine and superfood medicine. Beyond that, she has worked with companies all over the world helping to make plant-based foods accessible and delicious. You may have actually seen her food and recipes in Whole Foods. Suzi currently lives and works in the Boston area, and grows edible and medicinal plants for herself and works with community food security projects in her free time.

Drinking Like Ladies

I think the title says it all. I couldn’t end this blog post without sharing a fun book that I myself have and keep on my bar. As a former bartender myself, I may be slightly bias. For anyone who wants to enjoy their favorite cocktail at home this is a great place to start. With 75 different recipes, you may even find something you didn’t know you like!

Misty and Kirsten do a great job breaking down recipes but also speak to the different type of alcohol and why to use each. Interlaced with the cocktail recipes is a little history from prominent female figures in the past. In fact, these ladies created a women’s club in 2017 called, The Toast Club, which was a name taken from a women’s society founded here in Boston in 1895. The Toast Club continues today preserving their own personal joie de vivre by guaranteeing members and guests great parties with green swizzles while striving to enhance and improve the lives of Boston-area women through fundraising events for women’s charities.

Misty started bartending while still studying for he Masters in Thelogian Studies at Harvard. ‘Plan A’ was to continue on to complete a doctorate and then go into academia. Misty was extremely poor and a little bit burnt out academically, so bartending provided some welcome respite. After some time bartending, that was basically it for her academic calling.

Kirsten Amann is the Boston-based Brand Ambassador representing brands and presenting cocktail events nationwide. Kitty is a founding member of the Boston chapters of Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails (LUPEC Boston) and the United States Bartenders Guild. She writes a monthly cocktail column for the MA Beverage Business under the byline "Pink Lady" and her cocktail writing has appeared in Daily Candy, The Weekly Dig, and Chilled Magazine among others.

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Julia Blanchard is a content contributor for JUGs by night, by day she works at Amazon on some of Alexa’s feature expansion programs. You can follow her @jcblanchard6 on Instagram.