The Piglet

UPDATE: Piglet Community Picks

by:
January 10, 2014

Come one, come all -- we want to know what you think about some of the year's best cookbooks! 

Update: We still have testing slots available for Piglet Community Testing! If you're looking for an excuse to cook up a storm, now's the time. Details on how to compile your review -- as well as the available books -- can be found below. 

 

Shop the Story

Inspired by Food52 community suggestions and by the bumper crop of cookbooks out this year, we will be featuring a community cookbook review on each day of the Piglet. 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 by Monday, January 20th to [email protected].

Reviews should be under 500 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! 

 In The Charcuterie: The Fatted Calf's Guide to Making Sausage, Salumi, Pates, Roasts, Confits, and Other Meaty Goods 
by Taylor Boetticher and Toponia Miller


 

Coi: Stories and Recipes 
by Daniel Patterson


 

Modern Art Desserts: Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Confections, and Frozen Treats Based on Iconic Works of Art 
by Caitlin Freeman


 

Ivan Ramen: Love, Obsession, and Recipes from Tokyo's Most Unlikely Noodle Joint
by Ivan Orkin & Chris Ying


 

Sara Jenkins' New Italian Pantry 
by Sara Jenkins



Bakeless Sweets by Faith Durand 



Sorella: Recipes, Cocktails & True Stories from our New York Restaurant 
by Emma Hearst & Sarah Krathen



Le Pigeon: Cooking at the Dirty Bird 
by Gabriel Rucker, Meredith Erickson, Lauren Fortgang & Andrew Fortgang 



Manresa: An Edible Reflection
by David Kinch and Christine Muhlke  

 

To see the full list of Community Picks, head here. 

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.

  • Kenzi Wilbur
    Kenzi Wilbur
  • Irene
    Irene
  • Ramsons & Bramble
    Ramsons & Bramble
  • sauerkrautya
    sauerkrautya
  • Ocean Park
    Ocean Park
Food52 (we cook 52 weeks a year, get it?) is a food and home brand, here to help you eat thoughtfully and live joyfully.

109 Comments

Kenzi W. January 29, 2014
This is just another reminder -- send us your reviews to [email protected] if you haven't already!
 
Lauren B. January 29, 2014
Will we be notified if our review has been chosen, or should we just look for the reviews on a certain date?
 
Kenzi W. January 29, 2014
Like our regular CPs for contests, we ask that you just check back in! We'll be posting one review per day starting the 12th of February.
 
Kenzi W. January 20, 2014
Hi all -- just a friendly reminder that your reviews are due today! If you haven't already, please email yours to [email protected]. Can't wait to read them all!
 
Irene January 14, 2014
Is Ivan Ramen or Bakeless Sweets still available?
 
Kenzi W. January 14, 2014
So sorry! Both are full.
 
Irene January 14, 2014
Awwwww! What about Modern Art Desserts?
 
Kenzi W. January 14, 2014
The only books with spots left are Mast Brothers, The Fatted Calf, and Coi!
 
Irene January 14, 2014
Can I take 2? Mast Brothers and The Fatted Calf?
 
Kenzi W. January 14, 2014
Sure -- I'll mark you down! Reviews are due next Monday :). Thanks for signing up!
 
Irene January 14, 2014
Yay!!! Thank you!
 
Ramsons &. January 13, 2014
Can I do Cowgirl Creamery too?
 
Kenzi W. January 13, 2014
Sure thing -- you're the last tester!
 
Ramsons &. January 13, 2014
Just in time!
 
sauerkrautya January 13, 2014
If it's still available, I'd love the Art of Soviet Cooking! ????????? ????????!
 
Kenzi W. January 13, 2014
You're in!
 
Ocean P. January 12, 2014
I will take Cowgirl Creamery
 
Kenzi W. January 13, 2014
Great.
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Update: The only books with slots left are Cowgirl Creamery, The Fatted Calf Cookbook, Coi, and The Art of Soviet Cooking. Thanks for your enthusiasm!
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Hi all -- due to the volume of responses (thank you!), we've decided to accept one alternate tester per book. So if you're counting, you may notice that some books have 6 testers rather than five. I've responded to everyone so there shouldn't be any confusion! But of course, let us know if you have any questions.
 
TSmith January 11, 2014
Homemade with Love, Tartine, or Sorella would be fantastic!
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
See the top of the comment section for available titles -- those books went like hotcakes!
 
wssmom January 11, 2014
If available, New Italian Pantry, please. So excited to be back in the mix!!
 
wssmom January 11, 2014
Or Sorella, whichever! Please let me know ...
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Those are both spoken for, but I've updated the top of the comment section with the available books.
 
EmFraiche January 11, 2014
Since I just won a copy of Le Pigeon from you guys, I'll take Le Pigeon!
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
It's full! (Also glad you won!) I've updated the top of the comment section with the available books.
 
Eleanor P. January 11, 2014
sorella, bake less sweets or New Italian pantry please. Failing that any of the others. All the titles look really interesting.
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
All of those are full -- but see the top of the comment section for available titles.
 
Caroline S. January 11, 2014
Homemade with Love please.
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Sure!
 
emma J. January 11, 2014
New Italian pantry and bakeless sweets please but happy to any of these lovely books!
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Both are full! I've updated the top of the comment section with the available books.
 
Illona V. January 11, 2014
I would like to review either the New Italian Pantry or Sorella. Thanks x
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Sadly, both are full. I've updated the top of the comment section with the available books.
 
Sharon N. January 11, 2014
I'd love to review either Coi or Ivan Ramen
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Only Coi is available! I'll mark you down.
 
Sarah January 11, 2014
Ivan Ramen for me please - looks sensational!
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Great.
 
Karen A. January 11, 2014
An edible reflection please
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Sure!
 
Tamzin G. January 11, 2014
modern art desserts or Italian pantry please
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Both are full! I've updated the top of the comment section with the available books.
 
Katey January 11, 2014
As a fellow Oregonian, I'd love to review Le Pigeon! Thanks for the opportunity!
 
Kenzi W. January 12, 2014
Great! You're the last tester for that book.