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Better at Home: Recipes for Big Nights In by Colu Henry

Food & Wine and New York Times Cooking contributor Colu Henry collects her signature relaxed-but-impressive recipes that are perfect for cozy nights in.

Better at Home is the essential cookbook that makes every meal feel special, perfect for food lovers yet approachable for any home cook.

Colu Henry’s life, split between Hudson, New York, and Nova Scotia, always revolves around gathering friends at the table. Her cooking is about joyful, stress-free meals that never sacrifice sophistication. After years in the hospitality industry, she’s learned one thing: Most meals are simply better at home.

Inside, you’ll find playful twists on cocktails like Fizzy Negroni Pompelmos and Amaro Spritzes; snackable bites such as Italian Shrimp Toast, Fried Sausage-Stuffed Olives, and Roasted Eggplant Dip with Toasted Seeds; and deeply satisfying vegetarian sides like Butter Rice with Roasted Tomatoes and Herbs, Braised Snap Peas with a Bit of Cream, and Golden, Crispy Leeks with Melted Gruyère.

And, of course, the soulful soups, stews, and pastas Colu is known for: Cappelletti en Brodo with Mortadella Meatballs, Lentil Stew with Pork and Crispy Walnuts, and an Early Summer Pasta with Torn Noodles, Mascarpone, and Hazelnuts. Plus, crowd-pleasers like Calabrian Chili and Pickled Pepper Braised Pork and Roast Chicken with Lemon, Fennel, and Crispy Pecorino Potatoes. (more…)

Featured on Best of 2025 Lists

• The Los Angeles Times, 33 Best Cookbooks of 2025
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• The Washington Post, 14 of Our Favorite Cookbooks of the Year
• Southern Living, The Best Southern Cookbooks of Fall 2025
• Chowhound, 21 Best Cookbooks of 2025

About the Book

James Beard nominee and chef Arnold Myint, the force behind the beloved Thai restaurant International Market in Nashville, shares the food he grew up with in a stunning cookbook that is welcoming, practical, and full of bold flavour.

In Family Thai, Arnold breaks down an often intimidating cuisine into clear and approachable building blocks for home cooks. He starts with pantry staples, answering essential questions about ingredients like fish sauce and soy sauces, then moves into core techniques such as steaming perfect sticky rice or making fresh noodles at home when they are hard to find.

The recipes move fluidly between tradition and personal expression. Arnold shares the dishes he cooks at home, Thai recipes shaped by his Nashville roots and global travels, and the vibrant world of Thai street food, from shumai and shrimp toast to curry puffs, classic noodle dishes, and his own creative interpretations. Longtime fans of International Market will also find the restaurant’s most requested classics finally written down. (more…)