D.C. chefs have made a big splash in the cookbook world over the last year. Most recently, José Andrés released his memoir “Change the Recipe," which has some great D.C. tidbits, but there are plenty of other local chefs whose cookbooks deserve a place in your kitchen.
The creator of the Michelin-starred restaurant Maydān, Rose Previte, leads readers through unfussy, sharable recipes from throughout the Middle East. The book’s stunning photos and short ingredient lists have landed it on many a bestseller list and the top spot on my kitchen counter.
From the iconic Sweet Home Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, this cookbook is not just a gift shop find. It won Food & Wine’s best cookbook award and several other honors for its recipes celebrating African American cooking, from Sénégalaise peanut soup to Maryland crab cakes.
This Persian cookbook by local chef Najmieh Batmanglij has won dozens of awards. Born in Iran, Batmanglij moved to the U.S. in 1983 and was hailed by the Washington Post as “the guru of Persian cuisine.” She has a restaurant in Tyson’s Corner called Joon.
Paola Velez eating dessert outside of Providencia on H St. NW. (Courtesy of TAA PR)
This cookbook by chef José Andrés is simple, accessible, and always hits, similar to its restaurant namesake. Make your favorite dishes at home, like grilled kebabs and warm pita or chilled cucumber soup and crispy veggies.
This cookbook was designed as a love letter to D.C.-based pastry chef Paola Velez’s Dominican heritage. It’s filled with twists on classic American treats, like Plantain Sticky Buns and soursop cookies. Velez also co-owns Providencia on H St. NW, leading their stunning pastry program.
Chef Kwame Onwuachi is a New York-based celebrity chef but opened his first D.C. restaurant, Dogon, last year. His cookbook and restaurant focus on recipes from the African diaspora and West African cuisine.
