Best Boston And New England Cookbooks

Boston is one of the best foodie towns in the world. From seafood to Boston cream pie, and everything in between, it's no secret Bostonians love their food. There are a number of cookbooks on the bookshelves right now that can help you create your favorite Boston- and New England-inspired recipes right in your own home. Here, we list our picks for our favorite books.

Northern Hospitality: Cooking by the Book in New England

Keith Stavely and Kathleen Fitzgerald
University of Massachusetts Press, 2011
Where to buy

It turns out New England cooking has a complex, and very adventurous history (not just baked beans and clam chowder!). This book collects almost 400 New England recipes from the 17th to early 20th century, but this big book by the husband-wife team of Keith Stavely and Kathleen Firtzgerald is also rich in regional food history and humorously explained cooking lore. Highlights include methods of cooking eel, and the old-school (circa 1732) way of cooking lobster. Let's just say boiling them in hot water sounds downright considerate for the crustaceans.

<h3New England Home Cooking: 350 Recipes from Town and Country, Land and Sea, Hearth and
Home

Brooke Dojny
Available October 5
Harvard Common Press, 2011
Where to pre-order

One of the most comprehensive books on regional cooking, this new book Brooke Dojny is a colorful celebration of New England cuisine with over 350 recipes for soups, salads, appetizers, breads, main courses, vegetables, jams and preserves, and desserts. The classics from Boston to Bar Harbor, from baked beans and Irish Shepherd's pie, are all here, but there is also a focus on new culinary trends. To hold on to the last days of summer, try the Blackberry Patch Cobbled Cobbler, and when the colder months come around, give the Cheddar and Ale Potage de Vermont and Shaker Roast Pork Loin with Cider-Sage Gravy. Delicious.

New England Soup Factory: More than 100 Recipes from the Nation's Best Purveyor of Fine Soup

Marjorie Druker, Clara Silverstein, Ron Manville (Photographer)
Nelson, Thomas, Inc, 2007
Where to buy

There's nothing like a comforting bowl of soup on a brisk fall day, and with more than 100 of Boston's soup recipes jam-packed into this beautifully photographed cookbook, the perfect bowl is never far away. The New England Soup Factory Cookbook features classic recipes from Chef Marjorie Druker's eatery, all of which have easy-to-find ingredients and simple instructions. Because isn't that part of the appeal of soup--simple to make and simple to enjoy. Aside from recipes for soups like New England Clam Chowder, you'll find how-tos for soups like Curried Crab and Coconut and Raspberry-Nectarine Gazpacho.

The Boston Chef's Table: The Best in Contemporary Cuisine

Clara Silverstein
Globe Pequot, 2007
Where to buy

Restaurants have become a vibrant part of Boston's cultural life, winning awards and becoming tourist destinations. These innovative restaurants that are setting trends in the food scene are the focus of this book by Clara Silverstein. From appetizers to desserts, The Boston Chef's Table features recipes from some of the top chefs in the country, Ming Tsai, Lydia Shire and Jasper White. But beyond the recipes, the book is a good, insightful peek into Boston's restaurants and their creative use of New England ingredients, a glimpse at the local neighborhoods and their food traditions.

Clam Shacks: The Ultimate Guide and Trip Planner to New England's Most Fantastic Seafood Eateries

Michael Urban
Cider Mill Press, 2011
Where to buy

With "Clam Shacks: The Ultimate Guide to New England's Most Fantastic Seafood Eateries," Michael Urban lets us ride along on (very tasty) journey from Connecticut to Maine to find the best New England friend seafood. This gorgeous book will make you long for summer road trips, not to mention make you crave for deep-fried clams, scallps, lobster rolls, flounder and other shore food. Urban provides profiles on each clam shack, but also features great recipes for those who want to take the clam shack experience home.

Have a favorite Boston or New England cookbook? Tell us where to find it in the comment sections below.