The Book of Sandwiches
By Jason Skrobar (Appetite by Random House, April 2024) $35
I already knew veteran Toronto food stylist extraordinaire Jason Skrobar was a great cook but turns out he’s an incredible writer as well. I read his debut cookbook cover-to-cover, laughing and tearing up over all his beautiful stories about family and building connection through food. It’s impossible not to salivate over the gorgeous photos of sandwiches, ranging from simple to elaborate — with sandwich cookies too! This book proves there is a sandwich for every occasion.
Flour is Flavour
By Dawn Woodward (Good Egg, September 2024) $25
You might know Dawn Woodward from her bakery (and its strong Toronto farmer’s market presence), Evelyn’s Crackers. This small-but-mighty book is her paean to local whole grains, which bring unique flavours to baked goods, support local farmers, help regenerate the soil and diversify our diets and ecosystems. From bread to crackers to cookies to cakes, these recipes prove that whole grain baked goods are delicious and bring incredible new flavours to the table.
The Yearlong Pantry
By Erin Alderson (Hardie Grant, October 2024) $53
This is exactly the kind of book I could cook from every day. It has pride of place in my kitchen so I can flip through for dinner inspiration whenever needed. I’m not vegetarian, but this book is, and it relies on the grains, legumes, nuts and seeds in a well-stocked pantry, vibrantly flavoured and bolstered by plenty of fresh vegetables, herbs and dairy, which is exactly how I want to eat on the daily.
What Can I Bring?
By Casey Elsass (Union Square & Co, May 2025) $39
Known as the cookbook doula on account of many incredible books he has co-authored, Casey Elsass finally has a book all his own. It’s exactly the book you need to be the perfect guest, answering the titular question with chapters on brunch fare, party food, cocktails and desserts. I hosted him recently for a cookbook club and made the Subway Cookies, Dirty Shirley Jello Shots and Waldorf Salad. Each one was a raging success.
This article appeared in the 2025 Summer issue.
