Did you already finish your binge-watch of The Bear? We did too, and now we’re hungry for more. Thankfully there are plenty of books out there with just the right flavors to keep you satisfied. Read on for five book recommendations to check out if you loved The Bear.
Eat a Peach by David Chang
In 2004, David Chang opened Momofuku, a noodle restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village. He didn’t think the business would survive the year. Since then, he’s become the head of a restaurant empire, with 15 locations across the world, a Netflix show and received multiple James Beard awards and Michelin stars.
Eat a Peach tells Chang’s story, including the ups and downs of his success and his struggles with mental health. Like The Bear, it’s a restaurant story of passion and tenacity against the odds.
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Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly
After a divorce and almost ready to declare bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to redefine herself by entering the reality competition show Chef’s Special. Unfortunately, her debut starts with her falling flat on her face. Meanwhile, her competitor London is determined to take home the trophy, becoming the first nonbinary winner. They’re ready to prove their family wrong and are definitely not planning on falling in love. But as the finale draws near, the two grow closer and the kitchen heats up in more ways than one.
While it’s definitely lighter than The Bear, Love & Other Disasters is a fast-paced novel set in the high-stress cooking world. Check this one out if you’re looking for a rom-com take on some kitchen shenanigans.
Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li
The Beijing Duck House in Rockville, Maryland, has seen better days, but it’s still a favorite among the community. Behind the scenes, however, tensions simmer. After an unexpected and violent death, owner Jimmy Han does whatever he can to continue his late father’s legacy.
Like The Bear, Number One Chinese Restaurant follows a son trying to keep his father’s dream of a restaurant afloat. Lillian Li’s novel addresses sibling dynamics and the drama between restaurant employees, and there’s even a shadowy family friend/possible gangster in the mix.
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Notes From a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi
Before shooting to fame as a contestant on Top Chef, Kwame Onwuachi was a kid growing up in the Bronx. By the time he turned 27, Onwuachi had sold drugs in New York, launched a catering company, been sent to Nigeria to “learn respect” and opened and closed one of the most talked about restaurants in America. He went on to train in some of the most renowned kitchens in the United States, all the while grappling with how unwelcoming the culinary world can be for people of color.
Kwame Onwuachi’s memoir is full of perseverance and grit. Notes From a Young Black Chef gives readers an inside look at the Culinary Institute of America and the stresses of working in high-end restaurants. It also includes some great recipes I can’t wait to try out.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Michelle Zauner grew up struggling with her mother’s high expectations, but they still managed to bond over Korean food. After growing up and moving to the East Coast, she returns to Oregon to help her mother after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Back in her childhood home, Zauner finds herself through the Korean recipes she grew up eating.
Unlike the other books on this list, Crying in H Mart takes place outside of a professional kitchen. It does, however, show the bonds created through a shared love of food. The dedication Zauner has to cooking foods she finds meaningful reminds me of plenty of characters from The Bear.
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Do any of these reads sound like a tasty treat to keep you satisfied after finishing The Bear? All of these books are available for purchase from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org, but check out the trigger warnings before reading. Let us know your favorite foodie books below.
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