The Gastronomical Me, by MFK Fisher. Fisher is an icon--a woman writer who made her voice heard loud and clear at a time when most women were content to take a back seat. The Gastromical Me is the kind of book to enjoy with a hot cup of tea and a buttery croissant. The book is filled with MFK Fisher's earliest essays. She tells tales of her first cooking endeavors and a mishap with cayenne pepper; she writes of unforgettable blackberry pie along a dusty country road and college dorm food that left much to be desired. To me, MFK Fisher represents the best of food writing because her personality and experiences are her writing. She reminds her readers that our food associations and memories are nothing without us. - Page Hersey

Alice Waters and Chez Panisse, by Thomas McNamee. Living in the Bay Area, you either know the history of Chez Panisse or you learn it from those around you. I found this book that describes the rise (and fall) of Chez Panisse and Alice Waters incredibly interesting - in parts a trashy gossipy tale and coming of age story, McNamee describes the food revolution with love, admiration and maybe even a little judgment. A great read whether food is your thing or not. - Jessica Simmons

The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacque Pepin.  Jacques Pepin is known for his television programs and is a wonderful writer as well. The book is a memoir and includes some of his favorite recipes. He started in the food business peeling potatoes for his mother at her restaurant in France and at age 13 became an apprentice at a hotel. He worked as a chef for a Prime Minister and even cooked for General de Gaulle. He came to the United States  and turned down a job cooking French cuisine for John F. Kennedy to accept a job with Howard Johnson because he wanted to become familiar with American food. Linda said that Jacques Pepin has a great sense of humor and will make you laugh. At the same time, his tender memories of his family and his honesty will bring you to tears. "A great read," says my wife, Linda, and she reads a lot.   - Jim Hughes

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan (Two Recommendations).

It's a GREAT read!. This book has made me completely rethink the way I eat. Pollan's narrative style is delicious even if some of the facts are hard to digest. I have heard his other book, In Dfense of Food is equally great - Stephanie Travaille

It's a great book--informative and beautifully written.  A quick story: at Christmas time I was in Cody's and I saw a woman looking at Omnivore's Dilemma, deciding whether or not to buy it.  I said to her, "It's great."  A woman next to her said, "No, it's exquisite."  -Joan Cone

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. No, I didn't choose it because of the author's name - but it is a perfectly wonderful book by a beloved and well regarded novelist.  This is one of her best, a gripping family saga about an Irish family in upstate New York in the '60's full of what families do.  Food of course is a vital part of the family experience, meals together, a mother who counts on her cooking to be part of her way of showing love, an interesting aside in the organic food world.  It's more than food, but it is so good that I'm glad to have an excuse to recommend it.   Yes, it was an Oprah book too, but that's ok...so was the Sound and the Fury. - Danise Chandler