Our annual Piglet Tournament of Cookbooks is always full of twists and turns; upsets and underdogs prevailing. But there are always frontrunners—books we overwhelmingly hear from you are the favorites. What's yours for this year's tournament?
We asked you who you thought would win—in the comments here or over on Facebook—for a chance to win all 16 books. The voting has closed, results are in, and they look like this.....
In case you missed it: See this year's nominated books and judges here, and sign up for daily updates and exclusive recipes (!) from the books here. Official play begins tomorrow. Congrats to Mihaela Pacurar, who was selected at random to win this year's Piglet books!
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!
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Written by: Food52
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246 Comments
PhillipBrandon
February 21, 2017
I wonder how closely this corresponds to the amount each of these books have been featured on Food52 already.
Ali S.
February 21, 2017
That's an interesting question! You can see all the posts related to the Piglet books here: https://food52.com/blog/19030-get-to-know-the-16-impressive-cookbooks-in-this-year-s-piglet-tournament
shahnnen E.
February 21, 2017
I've been cooking from Samarkand for the past week and love it. Highly recommend, even if it doesn't win the coveted Piglet.
Snafu06
February 20, 2017
I haven't cooked from all of these, but I'm going to have to go with Taste & Technique. Accessible voice, good results, pretty pictures. So far, I haven't found the errors like My Two Souths, the recipes turn out better than Persia or Koreatown, and it's more accessible than the Adventures of Fat Rice.
Julianna B.
February 20, 2017
I admire so many of these cooks and love exploring their dishes and techniques that they have so generously and creatively shared. I think Naomi Pomeroy's Taste & Technique will win. Foodies from every level, from culinary school to creating test kitchens in their own home, will benefit and find richness in cooking and tasting these recipes!
Sheila H.
February 19, 2017
Deep Run Roots for the win, Simple in second. Too many possibilities for the bronze!
geri
February 19, 2017
Dorie's Cookies would be my pick for sure! Her recipes are so elegant and lush.
dp
February 19, 2017
Deep Run Roots. Vivian is so authentic. She uses local ingredients and knows the growers that supply her restaurant and she is always searching for new ways to cook with local ingredients and stays true to her roots.
marcellatp
February 19, 2017
The only book on the list I have is Dorie's Cookies. Can't wait for the judging to begin and it always inspires me to try out many of the books on the list.
sue S.
February 19, 2017
Deep Run Roots! Simply love Vivian's passion and sharing of her part of the south. Her stories make each recipe come to life and make you want to try things you never thought you would!
Cyprille
February 19, 2017
I'd like Victuals to win because of its strong sense of place and beautiful, well-tested recipes but Dorrie's Cookies is the ur-book on its subject.
Jessica J.
February 19, 2017
Deep Run Roots! The cookbook is AMAZING! Vivian Howard's heart and soul is in that cook book. Her stories, her introduction to ingredients... I could go in and on.
sherry M.
February 18, 2017
Simple, it is appealing in so many ways. If I was purchasing one cookbook, this one would be it.
daeng
February 18, 2017
personally i would always pick fuchisa dunlop but from what i heard and read i think my two south might win
daeng
February 18, 2017
personally i would always pick fuchisa dunlop but from what i heard and read i think two south might win
daeng
February 18, 2017
personally i would always pick fuchisa dunlop but from what i heard and read i think it my two south might win
Ginger S.
February 18, 2017
A Recipe for Cooking. One of my favorites, and one I give often as gifts.
Marie B.
February 18, 2017
Taste and Technique, because Nancy Pomeroy is a badass lady chef... and an inspiration. #forthewin
lakelurelady
February 18, 2017
Deep Run Roots is my guess. Creative reinvention of Southern local dishes.
Becky L.
February 18, 2017
Victuals. It's a fascinating read and has wonderful recipes; the best of both worlds.
Gloria
February 18, 2017
You should create a meeting invite for the 22nd so we can all add it to our calendars with a link to the contest
Ali S.
February 20, 2017
Yes! We also wanted to make sure folks had a way to never miss a judgment, so we're doing an email series. Each day, you'll get the day's judgment (and a recipe from the day's winning book!). You can sign up here: https://food52.com/blog/19084-sign-up-for-the-piglet-bulletin-for-exclusive-recipes-from-winning-cookbooks
Victoria C.
February 18, 2017
I'm always happy when The Piglet appears at the top of the screen and follow it every day, usually waiting at my computer for the day's review to appear. Last year's Piglet was especially fun The books, as always, were great, and the comments were even more of a riot than usual with so many people actively engaged in the process. Made in India was my personal favorite, and Meera Sodha's recipe for Perfect Basmati Rice is now my go-to recipe for plain rice. It is delicious and fragrant, easy to make, and heats up well in the microwave. I even make it to serve with Shrimp Creole in place of the usual southern long grain rice. With regard to this year's books, what a difficult prediction to make. I absolutely LOVE Taste & Technique (LOVE LOVE LOVE), but I will take a stab at this and say I think the lovely Diana Henry's elegant Simple will snag The Piglet.
AnnaChris
February 18, 2017
Tasting Rome! Accessible recipes that are still authentic and a touch exotic for the average American - and delicious to boot!
srkelly
February 18, 2017
I really enjoy Dorie'sCookies and have had great success with Diana Henry's Simple, but I think Deep Run Roots will win!
Zelda
February 17, 2017
I think Taste and Technique will hold its own - there are lots of beautiful, interesting, unique books on this list, but that checks a lot of different and diverse boxes off!
PhillipBrandon
February 17, 2017
I'm still rooting for Recipe for Cooking, mostly because I don't think it has as many fans among our community, and I love an underdog.
Jr0717
February 17, 2017
Tough choice! Based on general reviews that I've seen.... I'll throw my hat in for the Fat Rice Cookbook (and cross my fingers, because I wish I could pick up all of these books and experiment!)
Monique G.
February 17, 2017
Dorie's cookies! The best cookie 🍪 recipes! I became obsessed with cookies after culinary school and this book is amazing!
pgsmama1
February 17, 2017
Deep Run Roots! I've read a number of these books, but that one was my favorite.
robin S.
February 17, 2017
DEEP RUN ROOTS!!! i love vivian and her family and all the other "characters" that are in her life!! she makes me wish i was born southern!
SoupLady
February 17, 2017
Dorie's Cookies for the win. Even though I LOVE Diana Henry (who is like the Susan Lucci of the Piglet) and Victuals/Taste of Persia/Land of Fish and Rice are amazing, I think Dorie Greenspan writes the best baking cookbooks ever and given the always strange pairings of The Piglet she'll probably beat most. Plus EVERYONE loves cookies.
andrea D.
February 17, 2017
Taste of Persia: A Cook's Travels Through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Kurdistan - I have all of Naomi Duguid's books (all autographed) and they are wonderful to cook from and wonderful to read/savor/dream over!
KC H.
February 17, 2017
I lived next to SOFRA, so I'm keen to Chef Sortun's lovely book (and miss her pastries so!), but now that I've moved to North Carolina, Howard's "Deep Run Roots" and Lundy's "Victuals" hold a special place in my heart and both women guest lecture in my southern studies PhD program. But if I had to pick a single winner, I would say it will be Asha Gomez' "My Two Souths." What book better exemplifies our need to unite, to eat, and cook together. The "global south" is the next big region, and the best part is that it involves all the good food! Kerala Fried Chicken, y'all!
cookinginvictoria
February 17, 2017
I am rooting for DEEP RUN ROOTS! But all of these books look wonderful.
Stephanie
February 17, 2017
My heart says Taste of Persia but my head says Simple. Soo... I'm going to go Simple.
Stephanie
February 17, 2017
Oh my goodness, that thing where you forget to uncheck "Send me emails". Please, F52, work on a way to edit a comment you already posted (and be able to uncheck the magic box)!
Asha L.
February 17, 2017
All these books are amazing, so it's tough to single one out as the winner. Soframiz with Dorie's Cookies (one of the best cookie cookbooks in a while!) as a close second.
Phillie F.
February 17, 2017
DEEP RUN ROOTS! I both think and hope that this one wins! It is such an approachable, honest cookbook and so incredibly well written.
Suzanne M.
February 17, 2017
I want Taste of Persia to win, but I think it will be Henry's Simple (also very good!).
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