Community Picks

They're Here! The 2016 Piglet Community Picks

by:
December  8, 2015

Some of you have already asked: When will the Piglet Community Picks be announced? (This makes our hearts very warm, by the way.)

Now. The answer is now.

It’s Piglet season again—and, as some of you already know, we always start with our Community Picks. For those of you who don’t know: The Piglet is our annual tournament of cookbooks. Each year, we nominate what we think are the best 16 cookbooks of the year, and then we seed them against each other for an NCAA-style tournament. A spirited cast of judges decides their fate, and you get to watch the whole thing go down. (While eating snacks, of course.)

Shop the Story

We’ll announce the line-up and brackets in January, but below is the list of 15 books that we couldn’t not shout out. They are this year’s Community Picks, and we want your spirited voices to decide their fate. 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 25th.

Join The Conversation

Top Comment:
“Remember: "Reviews should be 700 to 1000 words and explain what you liked about the book, why the recipes worked (or didn't), and what sets the cookbook apart from others." HAPPY COOKING! ”
— Taylor R.
Comment

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.

Here are some of your brilliant reviews from last year:

Reviews should be 700 to 1000 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. We can’t wait to read what you think of these books—happy cooking!

Lucky Peach 101 Easy Asian Recipes by Peter Meehan and the editors of Lucky Peach

NOPI: The Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ramael Scully

Bien Cuit: The Art of Bread by Zachary Golper, Peter Kaminsky, and Thomas Schauer

Tacos: Recipes and Provocations by Alex Stupak and Jordana Rothman

Asian-American: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from the Philippines to Brooklyn by Dale Talde and JJ Goode

Fire and Ice: Classic Nordic Cooking by Darra Goldstein

Essential Turkish Cuisine by Engin Akin

Gluten-Free Girl American Classics Reinvented by Shauna James Ahern

The Broad Fork: Recipes for the Wide World of Vegetables and Fruits by Hugh Acheson

The New Sugar & Spice: A Recipe for Bolder Baking by Samantha Seneviratne

Hartwood: Bright, Wild Flavors from the Edge of the Yucatán by Eric Werner, Mya Henry, Christine Muhlke, and Oliver Strand

China Towns: Asian Cooking from Around the World in 100 Recipes by Jean-Francois Mallet

The Homemade Kitchen: Recipes for Cooking with Pleasure by Alana Chernila

Honey & Co: Food from the Middle East by Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich

My Life on a Plate: Recipes From Around the World by Kelis

GET THE LATEST

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.

  • Kenan Crawford Hill
    Kenan Crawford Hill
  • Leil
    Leil
  • Tracey
    Tracey
  • Colleen Morrison
    Colleen Morrison
  • KellyinToronto
    KellyinToronto
Food52 (we cook 52 weeks a year, get it?) is a food and home brand, here to help you eat thoughtfully and live joyfully.

261 Comments

Kenan C. April 12, 2016
Were any of these reviews ever published?? Excited to read them!
 
Ali S. April 12, 2016
They sure were! You can find them all here: https://food52.com/topics/the-piglet
 
Leil February 22, 2016
I sent in my review and have heard nothing. How can I be sure it got there?
 
Tracey February 22, 2016
What do we do if you just really did not like the cookbook you tried and the recipes? I really hate to write negative stuff. BUT , we just did not like it and thought quite a few of the oven temps and times just were wrong. :(
 
Nicole B. February 22, 2016
I think just be honest. I reviewed mine and had some issues as well. This is a review and if we are just being nice about the whole thing it isn't really a review.
 
Ali S. February 22, 2016
Hi Tracey: I agree with Nicole. Our hope is that these reviews are honest but thoughtful. If there were issues in the book, it'd be a great service to everyone to know about them! If you have any specific questions, please feel free to email them to [email protected] and we'll be happy to triage.
 
Zoe R. February 22, 2016
I'm dying to know which book you are talking about!
 
Colleen M. February 19, 2016
Are there any cookbooks left? I'm just hearing about this now! Thanks!
 
Ali S. February 19, 2016
We are past the deadline but are still accepting reviews for The New Sugar and Spice or The Broad Fork. Want to write about either of those?
 
KellyinToronto February 2, 2016
I'm know im a little late to the game- but is there a cookbook you still need a,community revel for? All of these books this year fascinate me .
 
Ali S. February 2, 2016
Hi there, How about China Towns?
 
KellyinToronto February 3, 2016
Ali ,
No problem ! I'll take it !
 
Katherine A. February 2, 2016
I would love to review fire and ice! Pretty please!
 
Ali S. February 2, 2016
I would love that, too! Looking forwarding to your review.
 
Katherine A. February 2, 2016
When do you need it by? I have just re - read the article and it says January 25th and I'm not very skilled at time travel!
 
Ali S. February 2, 2016
Due Friday!
 
Terry H. February 2, 2016
Isn't this a contest?
 
Ali S. February 2, 2016
The Piglet is our tournament of cookbooks, and you can follow along here: https://food52.com/the-piglet/2016

This post is about The Piglet's Community Picks, where community members review a selection of books. No contest here! Hope this clarifies.
 
Terry H. February 2, 2016
When and how will the results be announced? Last year I was left out of the loop.
 
Ali S. February 2, 2016
Hi Terry: Can you clarify—results for what?
 
Ali S. February 2, 2016
To everyone who has signed up to review a book, this week is your week to get reviews in (even though the deadline was last week)! You can send reviews to [email protected].
 
Zoe R. January 24, 2016
Hmm, my review is just a little over the 1000 word limit... is this number hard and fast...? Any opinions from the group appreciated! Thanks :)
 
Ali S. February 1, 2016
Feel free to send it as is!
 
Zoe R. February 1, 2016
Perfect, thanks! That's what I ended up doing. Glad to know that was OK! :-)
 
Taylor R. January 20, 2016
Hello awesome Piglet testers! Just a heads up- reviews are due the 25! Remember: "Reviews should be 700 to 1000 words and explain what you liked about the book, why the recipes worked (or didn't), and what sets the cookbook apart from others." HAPPY COOKING!
 
calendargirl January 22, 2016
Taylor, I hate to do this at this moment, but I have been down with a nasty flu for the past couple of weeks that has kept me out of the kitchen. If I do rally, I will finish what has been a delicious adventure (Essential Turkish Cuisine) and submit my review, but I wanted to give you a heads up that I may not be able to deliver. Most apologetically yours, calendargirl
 
JaniceB January 24, 2016
Hi Taylor, I have my review of Honey & Co. ready—how should I submit it to you?
 
JaniceB January 24, 2016
Never mind--just saw the email address above!
 
Amanda T. January 25, 2016
Hi Taylor, I am so sorry, but I am not going to be able to finish my review of The Homemade Kitchen. My family and I were sick and snowed in all last week, and so I am really behind. Sorry again, and thanks for the opportunity!
 
Janne B. January 15, 2016
Plus I am a born and bred true Scandinavian, through and through...
 
Janne B. January 15, 2016
Can we test from Canada?
 
cookinginvictoria January 15, 2016
Hi Janne,
I am sure that Taylor will respond to your question, but my understanding is that it is totally fine if you are residing in a country that is not the United States and want to submit a Piglet review. I am in Canada too -- and am reviewing one of the above titles. :)
 
SarahM January 12, 2016
Still need more testers?
 
Donna January 11, 2016
I have to give up my choice of "Honey and Co." due to a family illness that will require some travel. Anybody out there interested in taking my spot? Thank you!
 
Melina January 11, 2016
Can I take Honey & Co instead of China Towns?
 
Rebecca F. January 12, 2016
I'm an alternate for Nopi, but I will take China Towns if Melina wants to switch to Honey & Co!
 
Ali S. February 1, 2016
Apologies for the delay! Rebecca, China Towns is yours if you're still interested. The deadline to submit was last week but we're still happy to receive reviews.
 
Rebecca F. February 1, 2016
I'd love to review China Towns! Can I get it to you by the end of the week or is that too late?
 
Ali S. February 1, 2016
Sounds good!
 
Melina January 7, 2016
China Towns it is...I shall get cooking asap!!
 
LucyS January 7, 2016
I know I'm late to the game, but are any of the books still available?
 
Taylor R. January 7, 2016
Sure are! China Towns, Gluten Free Girl American Classics, My Life on a Plate, and Asian American still need some testers!
 
LucyS January 7, 2016
Awesome! I'll test Asian American! Thank you!
 
Taylor R. January 7, 2016
Great! I'll add you to the list!
 
Bia N. January 7, 2016
Hi! I know I'm probably too late, but I'd love to help with Tacos or Lucky Peach. Though they're not widely available yet in Brazil (where I live), I just got them from a friend in publishing, so I'd be thrilled to participate. Fingers crossed!
 
Taylor R. January 7, 2016
Great! How about tacos? I'll but you on the list!
 
Bia N. January 7, 2016
Yey! I was secretly hoping you'd pick Tacos for me! :)
 
Tracey January 7, 2016
Hi! So when do we begin? How and where do we put our insights? So Excited!!! Thank You!!
 
Taylor R. January 7, 2016
Send 'em along to [email protected] by Jan. 25! Reviews should be 700 to 1000 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! Hope that helps! Happy cooking (and eating)!
 
Melina January 5, 2016
I would love to participate, if any are still available. I could do Bien Cuit, Broad Fork, China Towns, Sugar and Spice or Homemade Kitchen. The Piglet makes the drearyness of January bearable! Thank you!
 
Taylor R. January 7, 2016
China Towns is still available! i've added you to the list!