Kitchen books bring us joy in the kitchen this spring


The spring kitchen book parade is bringing our kitchens a lot. We read, cook and bake through dozens of them, finding a break in a new culinary wisdom. The Baker Nicole Rucker of Fat + Flour gave us recipes of her new book for the London fog brownies and her exclusive vegan lemon lavender cookies, using simplified methods that changed their baking world. Ari Kolender, the chef whose raw bar of East Hollywood found that Oyster beat us with pristine seafood and charm of clams, wrote “how to cook the best things of the sea” and helped us feel comfortable cooking all kinds of fish and shellfish. And together with chefs and other food lovers, we explore our own libraries lived, highlighting the cookbooks that have meant the most for us, the ones we most appreciate, each one for our own reasons. This is what we have in dog cattle at this time.

Fat + flour: The art of a simple oven

In his new cookbook, Nicole Rucker of Fat + Flour shares ideas that helped change his baking world.

The recipes

Los Angeles, CA - April 1, 2025: Lemon lavender cookies of the new cookbook of Nicole Rucker "Fat and flour," In Fat & Flour in Mar Vista, California, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Christine Dzilenski / for The Times)

Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Yields It makes 12 cookies

Los Angeles, CA - April 1, 2025: London fog Brownies of the new cookbook of Nicole Rucker "Fat and flour," Baked in the Los Angeles Times test kitchen in the second, California, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Christine Dzilenski / for the Times)

Time Approximately 35 minutes, more optional cooling time

Yields Makes a 9 by 13 -inch Brownies tray

How to cook the best things of the sea

Los Angeles - March 24, 2025: Ari Kolender along the way with a halibut in Queen Street Raw Bar & Grill on Tuesday, March 24, 2025. (Yasara Gunawardena / for the Times)

Chef's restaurants Ari Kolender found Oyster and Queen St. combine Charleston's charm and seafood cult with cross coastal vibrations. His first kitchen book is out: “How to cook the best things of the sea.”

The recipes

The mackerel tartar served with grass oysters, Cape Cope and Mere Point oysters in Queen Street Raw Bar & Grill.

Time 40 minutes

Yields It serves 4 to 6

Los Angeles - March 24, 2025: The roasted scallops with speck butter at Queen Street Raw Bar & Grill on Tuesday, March 24, 2025. (Yasara Gunawardena / For the Times)

Time 20 minutes

Yields It serves 4 to 6

Los Angeles, CA - September 20: Toasted to Found Oyster in Los Angeles, CA, on Friday, September 20, 2024. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Time 20 minutes

Yields It serves 2 to 4

Fishermen illustration delivering seafood

Eating seafood sustainable is simpler than you think. Eat less salmon, tuna and shrimp and more than other types of fish and shellfish, to begin with.

scroll to top