Happy Friday and happy summer, dear readers. I know we hear this a lot, but seriously, it feels like this year is zooming past. Yesterday marked just six months until Christmas! While I love the idea of a Christmas in July sale, I’m keeping things seasonal here. Today, I’m sharing three great books I received for review.
Last Friday Faves of June Edition: CookBooks
Thanks to Quarto Publishing for the complimentary copies of Asian Smoke and My Greek Mom’s Recipes. All opinions are my own.
Nothing says summer quite like grilling, especially for my husband. He’s in his element, so when I had the opportunity to mix his love of grilling and cookbooks with the crazy good recipes, I jumped at the chance.
About Asian Smoke: Thai and Southeast Asian Barbecue from the Curry Boys:
Publisher: Harvard Common Press/March 2026/ Hardcover/256 Pages/Genre: Cooking Methods, Go To Category: Regional & Ethnic
Get ready to make your barbecue more exciting, colorful, flavorful, and adventuresome than you ever imagined possible by mastering the amazing smoke-kissed recipes in Asian Smoke. The Curry Boys, Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia, and Sean Wen, got their start five years ago in San Antonio in a little pink stucco restaurant.
Using traditional Texas-style barbecue and smoking techniques, and even traditional cuts like brisket and ribs, they infuse everything with the deeply soulful aromas and flavors of Thai cooking, mostly and, to a lesser extent, other Southeast Asian and pan-Asian cuisines.
The delicious results draw long lines of fans and spectacular reviews on Yelp and in the food media. In this, their first book, they reveal their secrets for home cooks.
Favorite Recipes Include:
- Grilled Thai Sriracha Buffalo Wings
- Smoked Brisket and Thai Green Curry with Roasted Cauliflower
- Smoked Pork Belly Bánh Mì
- Thai Street–Style Smoked and Grilled Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce
- Thai Green Curry Sauce
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| Courtesy:Quarto Books |
My Thoughts:
I love how well thought-out and laid out this cookbook is. You can quickly find a sauce recipe, like the green curry sauce, which may become a favorite of mine this summer, and then find a main dish, appetizer, or small plate recipe to use it in. They even included side dishes like grilled broccolini with Thai garlic chili sauce and a seafood-and-veggie section. Just typing that has my mouth watering!
If you’re ready for a new kind of barbecue with a global flair, you should check out Asian Smoke on Quarto.com. There, you can read more about the book and the Curry Boys, and even purchase a copy.
Next up is a fun and flavorful cookbook with a serious title.
About My Greek Mom’s Recipes- She Died. I Wrote This Cookbook by Gus Constantellis
Publisher: Rock Point, Quarto Group/April 2026/ Hardcover/232 Pages/Genre: Cooking. Essays and Narratives
What do you get when a stand-up comedian writes a cookbook? A hilarious, poignant cookbook. If you want to learn how to make classic Greek recipes with a side of humor and heart, this is the perfect cookbook.
Before I share my thoughts, you need the backstory shared by the publisher.
“Stand-up comedian Gus Constantellis draws inspiration for his material and online content from his family, especially his mother, Julia, who became a social media star and “Greek mother” for an entire online community.
And when she died suddenly in August 2023, that community mourned with him. My Greek Mom’s Recipes is Gus’s deeply personal tribute, a cookbook in which every dish comes with a story about his mother, an immigrant who never learned English yet managed to achieve the American dream.”
My Thoughts:
My Greek Mom’s Recipes is more than a cookbook. It’s a deep dive into a culture, a matriarch, and a love of food that I found highly entertaining. I read every word of the dedication, story contents, and introduction, which made Gus and his family more endearing than most cookbook authors.
This is a candid look at grief, like crying in the Trader Joe’s four days after his Moms death, and family, and how food connects us. Whether that food is being served to you by an overbearing mother or not! Known for her wit and humor, I especially loved the Greek Mom Catchphrases, which I’m sharing below. I’ll have to work on my pronunciation!
Greek Mom Catchphrases:
Courtesy:Quarto Books
Some Favorite Recipes Include:
- A Greek Easter feast
- Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)
- Tzatziki (Yogurt-Garlic Sauce)
- Pastitsio (Baked Ziti)
- Avgolemono (Chicken Lemon Soup)
- Patates Lemonates (Lemon Potatoes)
- Baklava
According to the cookbook, these are tried and true, stripped-down Greek classic recipes. Gus wanted everyone, no matter their cooking skill level, to be able to enjoy his Mom’s recipes. He celebrates classic Greek food and culture with a healthy dose of humor that I really enjoyed.
My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a love letter to Julia, Gus, Mom, and to all Moms everywhere, loving us with wise cracks and food. I invite you to learn more about My Greek Mom’s Recipes and the author, Gus Constantellis, at Quarto.com.
Happy Summer!
Thanks for taking the time out of your day to read my blog posts. It means a great deal to me! If you want more book reviews, look here, or catch up on my latest blog posts, including film reviews, here.
Please share comments: Which cookbook would you read first?
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