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Top Cookbooks Pertaining To Philadelphia

Over the past 30-some years, Philly has opened some amazing restaurants. The chefs behind each restaurant's great reputation have been cooking up wonderful dishes that locals and visitors just keep coming back for. Pick up one of these Philadelphia cookbooks to learn how to create a few of your favorites--guests and family members will be thrilled with every bite!

philadelphia chefs table
Photo Credit: Amazon

"Philadelphia Chef's Table: Extraordinary Recipes from the City of Brotherly Love"

by April White and Jason Varney

Buy it at amazon.com

Philadelphia is quickly becoming a foodie paradise. We have Garces, Vetri and Talula's Table (although it might take a year or more to get a reservation!), to name just a few. April White, former restaurant reviewer for Philadelphia Magazine, has crafted together a magnificent cookbook that offers up a peek into the kitchens of over 50 of Philly's hottest and most significant restaurants and bars. Some of these standouts include recipes from Asian culinary genius Susanna Foo, as well as Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto of Morimoto restaurant. Stephen Starr's amazing restaurants make a couple of appearances, too. With stunning photography and more than 70 recipes from the city's top chefs, "Philadelphia Chef's Table" will be a favorite for everyone from the experienced home cook to beginners.

Related: Top Cooking Classes In Philadelphia

Photo Credit: Ten Speed Press

"Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels"

by Heather Shouse

Buy it at amazon.com

Thanks in part to Philadelphia's numerous universities, food trucks are a huge presence in the City of Brother Love. In "Food Trucks: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels," author Heather Shouse takes us across the country, detailing some wacky and wonderful trucks. The chapter on Philadelphia has lots of fun facts about your favorite carts, along with recipes and biographies of the trucks' owners. For instance, did you know that Tom McCusker, of Honest Tom's Taco Shop, graduated from Drexel's hotel and restaurant management program? This is the very university where he parks his truck today! If you've always wanted to make La Dominique's Pear Crepes or Mr. C's Pulled Pork from Mr. C's Sweetmeat Bar-B-Que, this is your book.

frog commissary cookbook
Photo Credit: Amazon

"The Frog Commissary Cookbook"

by Steven Poses, Anne Clark and Becky Roller

Buy it at amazon.com

Way, way back in time, when Philly was known more for cheesesteaks than amuse-bouche, a cool little restaurant named Frog opened up in 1973. Some years later, owner Steven Poses finally published his long-awaited cookbook (he says that every recipe was tested in a normal, apartment kitchen; not a professional restaurant kitchen). Jam-packed, fun and entertaining, "The Frog Commissary Cookbook" was a staple in many Philly kitchens in the 80s. Multi-ethnic and progressive, you could learn how to make Chicken Satay, Thai Popcorn or Frog's Carrot Cake, which quickly became a classic and everyone's "secret" recipe. It may not be the easiest cookbook to find, but it will be worth it--for the carrot cake alone!

city tavern birthplace of american cuisine
Photo Credit: Amazon

"The City Tavern Cookbook: Recipes from the Birthplace of American Cuisine"

by Walter Staib

Buy it at amazon.com

Around the time of the American Revolution, City Tavern was the political, social and economical heart of Philadelphia. In modern-day Philly, it is still the place to go for good conversation, lively debates and Chef Walter Staib's fantastic food. With wonderful photos and over 300 recipes, "The City Tavern Cookbook" will help home cooks recreate dishes that were enjoyed by Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and George Washington, as well as scores of restaurant-goers, past and present. Martha Washington's famous chocolate mousse cake is in there, as is Thomas Jefferson's sweet potato biscuits recipe. As a bonus, you get an extra large helping of history in this book, so kids and adults alike will enjoy it.

Related: Top Fajitas In Philadelphia

Trish Deitemyer is a freelance writer living in Philly. She covers Food & Drink and has been writing since 1986. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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