I have to admit, that over the years I've turned into an epicure, where my palate only wants wholesome, rich food, with exotic ingredients. There's something about food that not everyone quite gets―for many, food is just something they grab on the go, or wolf down without so much as a second thought of what went into its making; for others, it is an experience all by itself, to be able to relish every flavor, appreciate the inclusion of every ingredient, and bask in the aftereffects of such a lovely meal. Expert chefs around the globe are stunning food critics and lovers of gourmet food with their exceptionally unique take on food and drink. The food is not just healthy, but involves a farrago of top-notch ingredients that are worth every penny spent. Cooking, believe it or not, is a task that many consider as a bête noire. I fail to understand why one would shirk cooking, even if to make a simple meal. It's perplexing, really. If you know someone who regards cooking as the greatest of pleasures, then the following cookbooks are sure to hit the spot. Charred & Scruffed, by Adam Perry Lang Does the receiver in question adore a good barbecue? Then this book's recipes are a perfect mix of charred, lovely meat and flavorsome sauces that are acrid but absolutely delicious. Lang believes that meat is best cooked by throwing it down on a pile of coal, directly. There's no grill involved during the entire process as Lang skillfully flips meat over a bed of coal, a technique he refers to as 'clinching'. He gives the ingredients a good 'scruffing', allowing meat to saturate as much flavor as possible, with a mouth-watering texture that will leave you weak in the knees. Mediterranean Harvest, by Martha Rose Shulman Is the receiver a healthy-food nut? This book is the epitome of nutritiousness, without a trace of compromise as Shulman whips up meals that contain a minimal amount of oil, with an exhaustive addition of fresh produce that complement her Mediterranean ingredients. Seafood lovers will particularly fall in love with Shulman's version of the seafood soup bouillabaisse, concocting a version of sorts that will leave anyone breathless and hungry for more. Cooking My Way Back Home, by Mitchell Rosenthal For someone who loves home-cooked meals, this book will provide a mix of simple and extravagant recipes, that will be well worth the time and patience to prepare from scratch. The author and his wife reinvent their version of many dishes that Rosenthal fancies from his favorite menus across a multitude of his favorite eateries. Putting together the book allowed him to experiment with the art of cooking, exposing him to a host of fascinating ingredients, surreal flavors, and heartwarming results. Patricia Wells at Home in Provence, by Patricia Wells French food may combine a simple mélange of ingredients, but the result is nothing short of marvelous. For a lover of Utopian-esque food that hails from none other than France, this book will delight a Francophile. Wells has ample experience from her days spent in France, as she lovingly combines the quintessential flavors of French cooking in every dish, whether piquant, tangy, or sweet. This recipe book has the power to sweep anyone off their feet. For similarly wondrous books on cooking, we've got a heap of cookbook suggestions that you simply must give a close friend or family member who loves to cook.

• Making Artisan Pasta
  by Aliza Green
• The Flavor Bible
  by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg
• Keys to Good Cooking
  by Harold McGee
• Barefoot Contessa Foolproof
  by Ina Garten
• The Glorious Pasta of Italy
  by Domenica Marchetti
• Bakewise
  by Shirley O. Corriher
• Sauces
  by James Peterson
• Hot Sour Salty Sweet
  by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid
• Fine Cooking Appetizers
  by Fine Cooking Magazine
• How to Roast a Lamb
  by Michael Psilakis
• Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food
  by Gordon Ramsay
• The Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook
  by Barbara Fairchild
• Pintxos
  by Gerald Hirigoyen
• Mayan Cuisine
  by Daniel Hoyer
• Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking
  by Marcella Hazan
• Screen Doors and Sweet Tea
  by Martha Hall Foose
• Jamie's Italy
  by Jamie Oliver
• The Country Cooking of Ireland
  by Colman Andrews
• Sweet Myrtle & Bitter Honey
  by Efisio Farris
• The Breath of a Wok
  by Grace Young and Alan Richardson
• Classic Home Desserts
  by Richard Sax
• Truly Mexican
  by Roberto Santibañez
• Rustic Italian Food
  by Marc Vetri with David Joachim
• Real Simple Easy, Delicious Home Cooking
  Edited by Allie Lewis Clapp, Lygeia Grace, and Candy Gianetti
• Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home
  by Jeni Britton Bauer
• The South American Table
  by Maria Baez Kijac
• In the Sweet Kitchen
  by Regan Daley
• Spices of Life
  by Nina Simonds
• Seven Fires
  by Francis Mallmann
• Real Cajun
  by Donald Link
• Seven Fires
  by Francis Mallmann
• Great Cookies
  by Carol Walter
• Rick Stein's Complete Seafood
  by Rick Stein
• The America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook
  by the Editors at America's Test Kitchen
• Sunday Suppers at Lucques
  by Suzanne Goin
• The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
  by Deb Perelman
• The Juicing Bible
  by Pat Crocker
• From Mama's Table to Mine
  by Bobby Deen
• The Cake Book
  by Tish Boyle
• In the Kitchen with a Good Appetite
  by Melissa Clark

The penchant for cooking mustn't be put out, but furthered through small gestures, like giving someone a lovely cookbook―wouldn't you like to be invited for a luncheon that boasts a spread of some of the dishes from these many cookbooks? You'd be crazy to pass up such a possibility! Encourage the one you love to take the time out and experiment with the recipes, and not let the cookbook collect dust in a neglected pile of other reads. The receiver is sure to be smitten with the cookbook you finally pick out.