cookbook recipes Archives - Cool Food Dude

Tza-zikki excerpted from Eat Small Plates: Vibrant, Shareable Dishes for Daily Joy by Ben Siman-Tov and Zikki Siman Tov. Copyright © 2025 Ben Siman-Tov and Zikki Siman Tov. Published by Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Eat Small Plates: Vibrant, Shareable Dishes for Daily Joy by Ben Siman-Tov and Zikki Siman Tov.

The dynamic couple behind @BenGingi share their favourite mix-and-match-ready recipes for effortless everyday dining and easy hosting

From a serendipitous meeting on a street corner in a tiny town in the Italian Alps to their food studio at the heart of the East Village in New York City, Ben and Zikki have been on a culinary adventure since the very moment they met. Ben’s first gift to Zikki? A half loaf of beetroot sourdough. And their first date? Zikki taught Ben to make potato varenyky, secretly prepping him to help her make 1,000 for an event the following week!

These days, with not a moment to spare, they happily host friends and family and run a sought-after catering business in New York City. Their debut cookbook, Eat Small Plates, is an ode to a style of eating at the heart of their lived experiences together: travelling, creating a family, and building beautiful lasting friendships wherever a meal can be shared. Here, they offer their favourite small plate recipes for greater joy and connection every day.

Ben’s knack for vibrant Israeli flavours and Zikki’s passion for shareable, soul-warming Ukrainian-inspired dishes combine in Eat Small Plates to create bold and exciting recipes for every dinner or gathering. With favourites such as Ben’s freshly baked Pita, Zikki’s crunchy chopped Jewelled Celery Salad, and creamy Cashew Basil dip, this ultimate hosting cheat sheet helps home cooks transform simple ingredients into beautiful, intentional dishes. Ben and Zikki share essential cooking techniques—from charring an eggplant to incorporating pickling into your daily routine—and even tips for those who don’t want to cook at all (but still want to host!). This book is a celebration of the feast-ready lifestyle, and a guide to spreading love through food. (more…)

Grilled Steak Tacos with Chorizo Pinto Beans excerpted from Coco: The Official Cookbook by Insight Editions and Gino Garcia. Photography by Ted Thomas.

Coco: The Official Cookbook by Insight Editions and Gino Garcia

Follow Miguel and Dante over the marigold bridge and create a feast inspired by Disney’s Coco.

Celebrate Día de Los Muertos with over 50 recipes inspired by the Land of the Dead in Disney’s Coco! Filled with sweet treats, appetizers, main courses, and delicious drinks, this cookbook includes dozens of authentic Mexican dishes and all of the meals that the Riveras offer to their loved ones on the other side!

Coco: The Official Cookbook features step-by-step instructions and full-colour images so cocineros of any age or skill level can learn to prepare traditional Mexican treats, such as churros and tamales, for serving to family and friends at the table or placing on the ofrenda for those who have crossed to the other side.

INSPIRED BY COCO: Includes recipes for dishes and delicacies featured in the Pixar film Coco.

EASY-TO-FOLLOW MEXICAN RECIPES: Learn how to prepare traditional Mexican treats such as churros, pan dulce, and more.

MEALS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: Family-oriented Mexican recipes for every meal that will satisfy your loved ones in the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead! (more…)