Community

The 2015 Piglet Community Picks

December 20, 2014

Welcome to the beginning of this year's Piglet! First up: the 2015 Community Picks. (Need some light reading until the tournament starts? Sign up to review a book below, and then catch up on last year's Piglet here.) 

Today: We're still looking for cookbook reviewers! Scroll down to see which cookbooks are in need of more testers (look for a bolded author name), then call dibs on the one you want to review in the comments.

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Aside from the turkey and the cookies and the many, many pies, we love this time of year because it means we get to start thinking about the Piglet Tournament of Cookbooks. We'll announce the line-up and brackets in January, but first, we're officially kicking off the Piglet Community Picks. 

Inspired by Food52 community suggestions and by the bumper crop of cookbooks out this year, we'll be featuring a Community Pick review -- written by you -- on each day of the tournament. And we'll need your help in reviewing some of this year's most-loved cookbooks.

Want to get involved? Call dibs on your favorite cookbook in the comments below (we're looking for up to 5 testers per book, so don't worry if someone else already claimed yours). The rest is simple: Get the book, test a few recipes by cooking a meal or two, and send your reviews to [email protected] by Monday, January 19th.

Reviews should be 500 to 700 words and explain what you liked about the book, why the recipes worked (or didn't), and what sets the cookbook apart from others. Most importantly, make it a great read. Just like we do for our contests, we'll pick the best community review for each book and feature it on the site. Now get cooking -- and be sure to tell us all about it! 

Update: We heard from a lot of you a few weeks ago, but a few books still need testers! The top six books in this list (look for a bolded author name) still have slots open for testing.

Love Me, Feed Me: Sharing with Your Dog the Everyday Good Food You Cook and Enjoy by Judith Jones

  

Treat Yourself: 70 Classic Snacks You Loved as a Kid (and Still Love Today) by Jennifer Steinhauer 

  

Ovenly: Sweet and Salty Recipes from New York's Most Creative Bakery by Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin

  

Sweet & Southern: Classic Desserts with a Twist by Ben Mims 

 

Yummy Supper: 100 Fresh, Luscious & Honest Recipes from a Gluten-Free Omnivore by Erin Scott 

  

Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails by David Kaplan 

 

 

Mexico: The Cookbook by Margarita Carrillo Arronte

  

Saveur: The New Classics Cookbook by the Editors of Saveur Magazine

  

 

The Baking Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum

 

The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food by Charles Phan

 

The Kitchn Cookbook: Recipes, Kitchens & Tips to Inspire Your Cooking by Sara Kate Gillingham and Faith Durand

 

Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi

 

Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food by Nigel Slater

  

Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Practical Pantry: Recipe and Techniques for Year-Round Preserving by Cathy Barrow

    

The Kitchen Ecosystem: Integrating Recipes to Create Delicious Meals by Eugenia Bone

 

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The Piglet—inspired by The Morning News' Tournament of Books—is where the 16 most notable cookbooks of the year face off in a NCAA-style bracketed tournament. Watch the action and weigh in on the results!

GET THE LATEST

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • luvcookbooks
    luvcookbooks
  • Cindy
    Cindy
  • sbcooks
    sbcooks
  • cutthecarrot
    cutthecarrot
  • Julie Myers
    Julie Myers
Julie Myers

Written by: Julie Myers

Perpetually hungry. Will travel for food.

187 Comments

luvcookbooks February 14, 2015
I already sent in my review of Sweet and Southern, but wanted to add that I made the ambrosia pavlova and it was divine!!!! Wish I could add a photo, also beUtiful! Like the other recipes I tested, it left a little to be desired technically but incredible layered flavor and creativity made up for it. Anyone w a sweet tooth should order this book immediately.
 
Cindy February 13, 2015
I have Ovenly. I'll cook from it this weekend and submit a review.
 
Julie M. February 13, 2015
Hi Cindy, The submission period is closed, unfortunately. Please consider signing up to review a cookbook next year!
 
Cindy February 13, 2015
Ok, I wasn't sure since it looked like the last update indicated reviewers were still needed.
 
sbcooks January 7, 2015
I'd love to review Sweet & Southern if it's not too late--due Monday? What are the guidelines? Thanks!
 
Julie M. January 7, 2015
Hi there! Reviews aren't due until January 19th. We'd love for you to submit a review on Sweet & Southern. The full details are above, but here's what you need to know: Reviews should be 500 to 700 words and explain what you liked about the book, why the recipes worked (or didn't), and what sets the cookbook apart from others. Most importantly, make it a great read. Just like we do for our contests, we'll pick the best community review for each book and feature it on the site.
 
sbcooks January 7, 2015
Alright, sounds good! I'll get to it. Thanks.
 
cutthecarrot January 5, 2015
Hello, all. I have been terribly sick over the holidays and have to relinquish reviewing Sweet & Southern. I hope someone else can take it on.
 
Julie M. January 5, 2015
Good morning testers! Thank you all so much for signing up. I wanted to remind you that the reviews are due to [email protected] by Monday, January 19th. Also, there are still spots open for Love Me Feed Me, Sweet and Southern, and Treat Yourself, if anyone else would like to sign up. Happy testing to all!
 
Alexandra H. January 4, 2015
So sorry I missed this post during the holidays! (I'd love to test Ovenly if a space opens.). Good luck to Piglet testers, and I look forward to your reviews!
 
Julie M. January 5, 2015
I can squeeze you in as another tester for Ovenly!
 
Alexandra H. January 5, 2015
Perfect! Thanks so much, Julie!
 
Alexandra H. January 18, 2015
Hello, I am so sorry, but I am unable to get this done this year. I was really looking forward to reviewing, but don't feel it's fair to review based on only two recipes. I planned to test more this weekend, but insurance duty called! (I'm a cook by night, insurance pro by day. Best friend came home yesterday to frozen pipes and massive water damage.) I believe I was an 'extra,' so hopefully won't upset the Piglet. My apologies again... Go, Piglet!
 
jamcook December 31, 2014
Julie ..I have been sidelined with a shoulder injury . Is there anyone who would want to step in and review Sweet and Southern? Hard to cook with one arm.
 
Julie M. January 1, 2015
No problem at all! Thank you for letting us know and get well soon!
 
Julie G. December 26, 2014
Any chance to be stand by for Plenty More - would like nothing better than to work my way through Ottolenghi's newest!
 
Julie M. January 1, 2015
Unfortunately we don't have any space left for Plenty More. Could I interest you in Sweet and Southern, Treat Yourself, or Love Me Feed Me?
 
love2cook December 23, 2014
May I do Yummy Suppers? I just made the squid dish which was truly yummy!
 
Julie M. December 26, 2014
Yes, you can have the last slot! Thanks!
 
Imogen B. December 22, 2014
If someone would like to take my spot for Mexico: The Cookbook, that would be great! I am swamped at work over the holidays and I'm afraid I just can't give it the attention it deserves!
 
Julie M. December 22, 2014
No worries! We have an alternate :)
 
Lizabeth December 22, 2014
I'd love to review Ovenly if there are any spots left.
 
Julie M. December 22, 2014
Unfortunately there are no spaces left -- could I interest you in Treat Yourself?
 
Lizabeth December 22, 2014
I would be interested. Sign me up!
 
Julie M. December 23, 2014
Great! Thank you.
 
Pam H. December 21, 2014
I'd be happy to review Yummy Supper by Erin Scott! We are a family with celiac disease in our midst, and I'm always looking for new ideas.
 
Julie M. December 22, 2014
Sounds great! Thank you!
 
Jessica December 21, 2014
It would be fun to review Death & Co's cocktail book. I might even be able to get my husband involved with this one!
 
Julie M. December 22, 2014
You got it!
 
Kris C. December 21, 2014
I'd like to review Ovenly. If that's not available, then I'd like to review Treat Yourself.
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
I'll sign you up for Ovenly!
 
MplsCitified December 21, 2014
Is Death & Co. still available?
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
Yes, you got it!
 
Summer O. December 21, 2014
Is The Slanted Door completely taken? I would love to review that, if not I'm happy to review anything that has not been assigned or if someone drops out, thanks.
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
It is completely taken, unfortunately! How about Yummy Supper?
 
Julie M. December 22, 2014
Actually, would you be interested in either Sweet & Southern, Treat Yourself, or Love Me Feed Me? Those are the only ones in need of testers at this point. Let me know which you prefer, and I will sign you up! Thank you!
 
Summer O. December 22, 2014
Sweet & Southern, thanks!
 
Julie M. December 22, 2014
Great, thank you!
 
cookbooklove December 20, 2014
I would love to review! Are there are spots left?
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
Yes! Treat Yourself, Death & Co, Yummy Supper, Sweet and Southern, Ovenly, or Love Me Feed Me -- let me know what you prefer!
 
cookbooklove December 21, 2014
I'd like to review Treat Yourself. Thanks!
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
Sure thing! You're all set.
 
Rosa December 20, 2014
Not sure if my comment went through the first time....would love to test Mexico: The Cookbook!
 
luvcookbooks December 20, 2014
Sweet and southern, please
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
It's yours! Thanks.
 
Rosa December 20, 2014
I'd like to take Mexico: The Cookbook
 
Julie M. December 21, 2014
You have the last spot! Thanks.