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COOK THIS: STEFANIE BERNTSON’S FAVORITE COOKBOOKS
For the past 32 years, the cookbook section at Bookshop Santa Cruz has been curated by one woman. New Orleans native Stefanie Berntson joined the team in 1990, and over those decades, she has kept the shelves stocked with Santa Cruz bestsellers on vegetarian cooking and weeknight dinners, while bringing in more representation from other cultures.
Watch for my interview with Berntson on Monday, where she shares her selection process, how the cookbook industry has changed over the past 30 years, and some of her favorite memories from book reading events with some of the biggest names in the food world.
I asked Berntson to share some of her favorite cookbooks of 2024, and a few enduring classics she turns to again and again. Here’s what she said:
“AfriCali: Recipes from my Jikoni,” by Kiano Moju: “The author was raised in California, and her parents are Nigerian and Kenyan. Some of my favorite books are the ones where people merge California ingredients and influences with their cultural heritage.”
“The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans,” by Steve Sando: “This is a perfect gift for just about anybody. It’s not vegetarian but it’s great for vegetarians, it’s easy, delicious and beautifully photographed.”
“The Memory of Taste: Vietnamese American Recipes from Phú Quoc, Oakland, and the Spaces Between,” by Tu David Phu and Soleil Ho: “‘Top Chef’ veteran and Oakland chef David Phu’s family came over as refugees from Vietnam. After working at Michelin-starred kitchens, he returns to the food of his youth and the lessons he learned from his parents.”
Anything by famed Southern chef Edna Lewis: “Edna Lewis is my total hero. I read them like a novel. Her books focus on cooking with the seasons, but also community support, and they’re also super joyous.”
“Baking: From My Home to Yours,” by Dorie Greenspan: “This is the book I use the most for baking.”
“Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking,” by Marcella Hazan: “She’s bossy, which I love. I used to have a picture of her on the top shelf in my kitchen, looking down and judging me all the time, because I’m weird like that.”
FYI
No Eaters Digest next week on Friday, Dec. 27. It’ll be back on Friday, Jan. 3.
BEST OF THE WEEK AHEAD
Below, find a curated list of the best food and drink events in Santa Cruz County for the coming week. At the top, I share my picks of unmissable local happenings.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
ICYMI – here are the food news stories from Lookout that you might have missed, plus important news from beyond our borders picked by yours truly.
- ‘This was my dream; it turned into my nightmare’: Scotts Valley restaurant Casa Nostra closes amid financial turmoil (Lookout)
- Uncork the merry: 10 local holiday wines under $30 (Lookout)
- Santa Cruz County gift guide: 9 local non-booze gifts you can get at the grocery store (Lookout)
- The luxury makeover of the worst pastry on Earth (The Atlantic)
