Food offers so much more than just sustenance: it’s a way to connect with others, to make cherished memories, to fine-tune a skillset, and to savor and enjoy some of life’s simplest pleasures. Sharing a meal that you’ve put your heart into or gathering around a communal table offers a unique sense of warmth and togetherness that just can’t be replicated anywhere else.
For the better part of the year, many of us have been spending a little extra time in the kitchen, making new home-cooked memories. Instead of nights out at our favorite restaurants, we’re more often attempting to recreate that impeccable pasta dish at home or baking banana bread and cookies with the kids (when we’re not ordering takeout). If you’re an aspiring home chef looking for inspiration, look no further. Here are some of the best cooking audiobooks out there—from flavorful food memoirs to books about the food industry to classic cookbooks, these listens will give you the boost you need to stay fresh and inventive in the kitchen.