A Food Read: Express 2009 Cookbook Picks

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GIVING GOURMETS A CASE of Grand Cru or vat of caviar would go to both their hearts and stomachs. But a tome on wrestling up cowboy vittles or stirring up highballs feeds your favorite foodie's mind, too. And, who knows? You might be invited over to try whatever deliciousness results from your selfish, er shelf-ish, gift.

» "Michael Symon's Live to Cook"($35, Clarkson Potter)
On "Michael Symon wins fans — and, sometimes, Kitchen Stadium props — for his back-to-basics European home cooking. Recipes draw on his Greek-Italian-Ukrainian roots, so expect multiculti dishes such as Red Potatoes With Arugula, and Scallops With Lamb Sausage and Beans.

Recipe We're Dying to Try: Grilled Radicchio With Orange and Balsamic

» "How to Drink" by Victoria Moore ($19, Andrews McMeel)
No, this novel-thick tome isn't a manual on how to land in rehab. It's British wine writer Victoria Moore's spirited, dry-as-champagne guide to any liquid one can pour down one's gullet, from a proper cuppa tea to a Pimm's Cup, the cucumber-y English summer cocktail. Moore deftly mixes shots of history — e.g. the story of a 15th-century duke who drowned in Madeira — with genius recipes (pomegranate prosecco punch).

Best For: The thinking drinkers on your list, be they coffeeheads or Old Fashioned girls

» "The Complete Magnolia Bakery" by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel ($20, Simon and Schuster)
We have Manhattan's Magnolia Bakery to thank — or blame — for kicking off the cupcake revolution. Ten years after the bakery's first cookbook, the sweets spot's founders re-create nearly 150 of their best-selling recipes, including banana pudding, apple cake and the famous vanilla and devil's food cupcakes with buttercream frosting.

Best For: Any mom who wants to kick serious butt at the next bake sale

» "Cooking the Cowboy Way"
by Grady Spears ($30, Andrews McMeel)
Grady Spears braised steaks and flipped huevos rancheros as the chef when George W. Bush was the governor of Texas, so he knows his down-home, Lone Star stuff. His spicy, indulgent vittles — Longhorn Chili, Red Chile Grits — should appeal to Southwestern expats; the accompanying photos of ranch life just add to the yee-ha vibe.

Recipe We're Dying to Try: Asparagus and Portobello Mushroom Enchiladas in Chipotle

» "Salt to Taste" by Marco Canora ($35, Rodale)
The Italian names of chef Marco Canora's dishes sound overly complicated (see: patate all contadina, a hearty potato stew or pomarola, aka pureed, stewed tomatoes). But the Manhattan-based chef, who's behind such well-respected restaurants as Hearth and Terroir, manages to make this tome of more than 100 classic Italian dishes easy enough for a novice.

Recipe We're Dying to Try: Zucchini frittata

» "Food Journeys of a Lifetime"($40, National Geographic)
Lush photos and luscious descriptions of grub-hopping ideas (eating chilied crabs in Singapore, snarfing Turkish Delight in Istanbul) make this tabletop tome a feast for hungry travelers. A detailed index by both destination and dish plus while-you're-there tips means it's both pretty and practical.

Tasty Tidbit: Kyoto's Owariya restaurant has been slinging noodles since 1465.

» "Difford's Encyclopedia of Cocktails" by Simon Difford ($45, Firefly)
Playing "stump the bartender"just got a lot harder. This exhaustive resource boasts 2,600 drink recipes, along with handy photos, tips on glass pairings and garnishes, and notes on the origins of each drink. Use it to perfect your recipes for tricky favorites (hello, Long Island Iced Tea) or experiment with something new (the shandygaff, a Brit-loved mix of lager and ginger ale).

Tasty Tidbit: An entry for "Georgetown Punch,"a fruity rum mix, is credited to Degrees in the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton.

Written by Express' Jennifer Barger and Betsy Lowther
Photos by Marge Ely/Express