This Is TASTE 657: Eater’s Fall Cookbook Preview with Bettina Makalintal
Sep 19, 2025
Bettina Makalintal, a senior reporter at Eater specializing in cookbook coverage, joins to share insights from Eater’s fall cookbook preview. They explore exciting new titles like Hedy McKinnon’s 'Linger' and Alison Roman’s pantry-forward book. Bettina discusses the rise of entertaining-focused cookbooks and the need for more narrative-driven works. Aliza and Matt also highlight fresh restaurant gems in NYC and the Hudson Valley, making it a feast for food lovers.
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Books Should Read Well Without Cooking
- Eater values cookbooks that are enjoyable to read even if a listener never cooks from them, emphasizing narrative and evocative work.
- They include books that offer cultural and contextual richness beyond purely functional recipes.
Reimagining Salads For Gatherings
- Hedy L. McKinnon's Linger reframes salads as room‑temperature, composed vegetable dishes built for gatherings rather than wellness minutiae.
- Bettina praises essays and real-time shoot-and-host approach that evidence functional, sociable recipe design.
Immigrant Menus Adapt To Place
- Family Tie spotlights immigrant adaptation: Thai dishes in Nashville were renamed and adjusted for local palates and ingredient limits.
- Arnold Mint highlights overlooked family recipes rather than repeating ubiquitous Thai standards.
