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The Southerner's Cookbook: Recipes, Wisdom, and Stories
From Garden & Gun—the magazine that features the best of Southern cooking, dining, cocktails, and customs—comes an heirloom-quality guide to the traditions and innovations that define today’s Southern food culture, with more than 100 recipes and 4-color photography throughout.
From well-loved classics like biscuits and fried chicken to uniquely regional dishes such as sonker (Piedmont, North Carolina’s take on cobbler) or Minorcan chowder (Florida’s version of clam chowder), each recipe in The Southerner’s Cookbook tells a story about Southern food and its origins. With contributions from some of the South’s finest chefs, a glossary of cooking terms, and essays from many of the magazine’s most beloved writers, The Southerner’s Cookbook is much more than simply a collection of recipes: it is a true reflection of the South’s culinary past, present, and future
*Named one of Eater’s Best New Cookbooks for Fall 2015*
*Selected as one of Vanity Fair’s “18 Best New Cookbooks”*
From well-loved classics like biscuits and fried chicken to uniquely regional dishes such as sonker (Piedmont, North Carolina’s take on cobbler) or Minorcan chowder (Florida’s version of clam chowder), each recipe in The Southerner’s Cookbook tells a story about Southern food and its origins. With contributions from some of the South’s finest chefs, a glossary of cooking terms, and essays from many of the magazine’s most beloved writers, The Southerner’s Cookbook is much more than simply a collection of recipes: it is a true reflection of the South’s culinary past, present, and future
*Named one of Eater’s Best New Cookbooks for Fall 2015*
*Selected as one of Vanity Fair’s “18 Best New Cookbooks”*
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2014
131 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 22, 2022
Simply excellent. Delicious-looking recipes, great humor, and fabulous Southern history and context. Can't wait to add this to my kitchen library.
January 13, 2025
My favorite cookbook of the year. Great recipes, gorgeous photography, eloquent writing from some of the South’s finest. I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end
April 6, 2016
This is a beautiful cookbook. The photo doesn't do it justice. The cover is natural tan linen. The wheat print is embossed with metallic leafing is a subtle copper color. The title and other information are stamped into the cover, not just printed on. The food photography is beautiful. Most all recipes are accompanied by a photo that makes the cook reading this want to make it. This beauty along with the well written odes to southern food found throughout this sizeable cookbook makes this an amazing gift. It was given to me as a gift, and I have it sitting in a wrought iron book stand on my kitchen counter just because it is so pretty to look at.
But cookbooks aren't all about surface. What about the food? Mostly the 3 star rating comes from my attempts to cook various recipes this month. I didn't make anything from the "Wild Game" section. I have no access to wild game, and any attempts to find access would take more effort than I'm willing to expend. The fanciest, most well stocked grocery store (Wegmans) near my house sells all varieties of ridiculously expensive truffles and caviar but no venison. No specific substitutions or cooking variations were given for using other meats in place of the game (unlike in Emeril's cookbooks), so this makes this section unusable to most home cooks. As for the rest of the cookbook, there isn't much new here. This is less about new recipes - most are southern classics - but more focused on updated, high-brow versions of southern staples. For example, take sausage balls. I love the classic version - primarily Bisquick, bulk pork sausage, and cheese. The version in this cookbook has 10+ ingredients at least one of which I had to go to two different stores to find. Were they great? Yes. But I'll take "very good and so easy" (classic version) over "great but freakin' complicated" (this version) any day.
This is a foodie cookbook. There's nothing wrong with that. Just know it has limited appeal when choosing for yourself or as a gift.
But cookbooks aren't all about surface. What about the food? Mostly the 3 star rating comes from my attempts to cook various recipes this month. I didn't make anything from the "Wild Game" section. I have no access to wild game, and any attempts to find access would take more effort than I'm willing to expend. The fanciest, most well stocked grocery store (Wegmans) near my house sells all varieties of ridiculously expensive truffles and caviar but no venison. No specific substitutions or cooking variations were given for using other meats in place of the game (unlike in Emeril's cookbooks), so this makes this section unusable to most home cooks. As for the rest of the cookbook, there isn't much new here. This is less about new recipes - most are southern classics - but more focused on updated, high-brow versions of southern staples. For example, take sausage balls. I love the classic version - primarily Bisquick, bulk pork sausage, and cheese. The version in this cookbook has 10+ ingredients at least one of which I had to go to two different stores to find. Were they great? Yes. But I'll take "very good and so easy" (classic version) over "great but freakin' complicated" (this version) any day.
This is a foodie cookbook. There's nothing wrong with that. Just know it has limited appeal when choosing for yourself or as a gift.
May 27, 2016
This gorgeous cookbook not only has what most people would consider the "basics" in Southern cooking but thoughtful, evocative writing in the category essays and headnotes. I was tempted by a few of the recipes but never enough to try any of them so this is a somewhat incomplete "reading" of the book.
It may be heresy when faced with this beautiful, well designed and written book to say that a comprehensive Southern Living cookbook would probably deliver similar results, but I have the feeling that is the case. It would not, however, deliver the "lifestyle" feeling or temptation of this book and that, as we know from Garden & Gun magazine, is more than half the point. No harm in that, of course, as long as this delivers the goods.
It may be heresy when faced with this beautiful, well designed and written book to say that a comprehensive Southern Living cookbook would probably deliver similar results, but I have the feeling that is the case. It would not, however, deliver the "lifestyle" feeling or temptation of this book and that, as we know from Garden & Gun magazine, is more than half the point. No harm in that, of course, as long as this delivers the goods.
March 10, 2018
This is so much more than a collection of wonderful recipes. The photos made me drool. The introductions to sections are written by authors like Rick Bragg. Every recipe comes with an interesting story, so I read the whole book in one sitting. This would make a wonderful gift for someone new to the South and our ways of entertaining at the table.
May 24, 2019
Fun to read and well organized, this cookbook offers a range of geo specialized recipes.
July 25, 2020
Beautiful pictures and recipe stories.
August 27, 2021
Once again, I gained weight while reading a cookbook. I wasn’t interested in the fish, game, or meat chapters. This book shines in the appetizers, sauces, desserts and vegetable chapters. IMHO
December 3, 2022
okay at best
While these are relatively approachable recipes nothing really bothered to jump out. Most of the traditional recipes aren’t really traditional at all.
While these are relatively approachable recipes nothing really bothered to jump out. Most of the traditional recipes aren’t really traditional at all.
November 15, 2015
I have dozens of cookbooks related to Southern cooking, but I keep finding myself flipping through the pages of this one. From preparing Delta-Style Hot Tamales to throwing a Lowcountry boil, the editors of Garden & Gun did a fabulous job selecting recipes that reflect today’s South. They included plenty of the classics, such as fried chicken, red-eye gravy, and biscuits, as well as new takes on traditional dishes, including collard pesto and duck poppers with goat cheese.
One of my favorites is Sausage-Stuffed Kolaches. I’ve stopped in West, Texas (arguably the “Kolache Capital” of the state) for these coveted pastries many times over the years on my way back to Austin, and I’ve always wanted to be able to recreate them at home. I found it much easier than I thought. And delicious!
If you have any cooks on your holiday shopping list, I think they would really enjoy this one. Featuring inviting images and tales of foodways from across the entire region, this is truly an heirloom-quality cookbook.
One of my favorites is Sausage-Stuffed Kolaches. I’ve stopped in West, Texas (arguably the “Kolache Capital” of the state) for these coveted pastries many times over the years on my way back to Austin, and I’ve always wanted to be able to recreate them at home. I found it much easier than I thought. And delicious!
If you have any cooks on your holiday shopping list, I think they would really enjoy this one. Featuring inviting images and tales of foodways from across the entire region, this is truly an heirloom-quality cookbook.
December 13, 2015
The title says it all. Wonderful recipes, some Southern wisdom, and great stories.
While the recipes are outstanding, this is a book to sit in your favorite chair and read. It brought back many memories- of my mother's and grandmother(s) recipes that I haven't thought about in a while (recipes from the South might not be the healthiest you can imagine, but they are without fail the tastiest) The insights and comments along with each recipe were great reading-some making me nostalgic and some making me laugh out loud. But best of all, making me remember all the reasons I loved growing up in the South
While the recipes are outstanding, this is a book to sit in your favorite chair and read. It brought back many memories- of my mother's and grandmother(s) recipes that I haven't thought about in a while (recipes from the South might not be the healthiest you can imagine, but they are without fail the tastiest) The insights and comments along with each recipe were great reading-some making me nostalgic and some making me laugh out loud. But best of all, making me remember all the reasons I loved growing up in the South
September 23, 2016
I love this book! I read it cover-to-cover (who does that with a cookbook??? And I don't really even like cooking!) I've already made several of the recipes, and they're delish. I appreciate being able to at least *feel* like I'm cooking reasonably authentic Southern fare. Only two things would have made me love it more: a better/more thorough index, and more essays (there's only a tiny handful, though they're definitely part of the beauty of the book).
November 12, 2015
I love Garden & Gun magazine so I was excited to see their cookbook and I was not disappointed! Each section begins with a written introduction and there are so many great sounding recipes. There are tons that I want to try and this might be a cookbook I end up buying. If you are Southern or love Southern food - this is the cookbook for you!
December 31, 2015
This beautiful cookbook is not about everyday food. It celebrates southern culinary traditions and is mostly special-occasion food. For the most part, the recipes are complicated with several steps.
But the essays and the stories behind the food make this worth checking out. The deserts and drinks chapters are standouts, but the whole book will make you miss the South.
But the essays and the stories behind the food make this worth checking out. The deserts and drinks chapters are standouts, but the whole book will make you miss the South.
December 29, 2015
This book is so beautiful and authentic. I appreciated the "Southern Larder" section as well as the "Glossary" at the back of the book. Gorgeous photos that make the recipes "smell" delicious. I may have to buy this one. Thoroughly enjoyed!
June 18, 2018
Wow. Nice book.
Full disclosure. I did not read every work. I read a few of the essays and some of the recipes.
This is a book that bears rereading. And trying a few recipes!
Impressed that it includes Chocolate Gravy, a Southern Appalachian favorite.
Full disclosure. I did not read every work. I read a few of the essays and some of the recipes.
This is a book that bears rereading. And trying a few recipes!
Impressed that it includes Chocolate Gravy, a Southern Appalachian favorite.
January 26, 2019
A lovely collection of mostly standard Southern recipes and fetching images that can also be found in G & G magazine and on their website. Nothing too surprising here, but worth checking out for the unexpected inclusions like bacon-wrapped crackers and crab hush puppies. Good for gifting.
September 18, 2020
Oh, my, so many good things to make! And some, not (sweet tea? No, thank you.) Some wonderful-sounding sauces, and some veggie recipes. Not too many meat recipes I'll try, probably - many seem just greasy. I'm glad to have this on my Kindle.
December 31, 2015
I don't normally count cookbooks as books read, but this one was so fantastic that I actually did read the whole thing.
January 2, 2016
Recipes, food essays (pie was particularly enjoyable), an index and a glossary. If you like Southern food/culture, you'd probably enjoy this book.
October 3, 2017
The recipes were good, some a little too fancy for us. The stories we loved!
August 12, 2016
Didn't inspire me to cook any of its recipes.
April 15, 2017
hated it
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews