The luscious descriptions of food, cooking and restaurants filling these pages will appeal to anyone who loves to chow down.

Masala Farm: stories and recipes from an uncommon life in the country by Suvir Saran with Raquel Pelzel and Charlie Burd — An Indian chef and consummate city dweller buys a farm in the country.

Beaten, seared, and sauced: on becoming a chef at the Culinary Institute of America by Jonathan Dixon — Discover what it's really like to study at the Culinary Institute of America.