Makiko Itoh

Blogger of Just Hungry and Just Bento

Biography

Makiko Itoh has been writing about Japanese food and culture for more than a decade. She runs the popular Japanese food blogs JustHungry.com and JustBento.com, writes a monthly food column for The Japan Times, and is the author of the bestselling Just Bento Cookbook. Born in Shinjuku, Tokyo, she has also lived in the UK, US, and Switzerland. She currently lives in Provence, France.

The Way to Cook

Julia Child

This is by far my favorite cookbook in English, for standard dishes in the French-American sphere. It has everything from my go-to recipes for Boston Baked Beans to pizza dough to choux pastry and more.

Bernard Clayton's New Complete Book of Breads

Bernard Clayton

A big, fat volume with nary a picture in it (the only illustrated part is the section on how to build your own brick bread oven). Packed with all kinds of bread recipes. It even has a recipe for dog biscuits.

The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book: A Guide to Whole-Grain Breadmaking

Laurel Robertson

This book really taught me a lot about baking with whole grain flours. It also contains the instructions for desem, a bread that's proofed with natural yeasts only. It's been an on and off obsession of mine for more than 2 decades.

James Beard's American Cookery

James Beard

I have most of James Beard's cookbooks, but this is the one that gets used the most. It's my go-to for just about any kind of classic American dish, if it's not covered by Julia Child's The Way To Cook.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

Simone Beck , Louisette Bertholle and Julia Child

This really is the ultimate French cookbook for American cooks. I have tons of other books on French cuisine, but still go back to Julia for her clear, intelligent directions.

The New York Cookbook

Molly O'Neill

The ultimate community cookbook, from the ultimate multi-ethnic, multi-national American city. It makes me nostalgic for the years I lived in New York. Plus, all the recipes I've tried really work well.

Quick & Easy Japanese Cookbook: Great Recipes from Japan's Favorite TV Cooking Show Host

Katsuyo Kobayashi

I love the late Katsuyo Kobayashi, who was a marvelous home cook and a great teacher too. I have dozens of her books in Japanese, but this is the only one available in English. It's a great introduction to practical Japanese home cooking.

Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

Marcella Hazan

The one Italian cuisine book you really need. It's not as enjoyable to read as Julia Child's Master The Art of French Cooking, but it truly gets the job done.

French Provincial Cooking

Elizabeth David

Originally published in 1962, it's the book I relied on first when I moved to Provence. I don't really use it for the recipes much anymore (although they are quite sound), but I still love to re-read her prose from time to time.

Mrs Beeton's All About Cookery

Isabella Beeton

My mother was given a paperback edition of this book by a neighbor when we lived in England when I was a child. I still have that paperback, although it's in two pieces now, plus a couple of other copies of the same, as backups. There are several editions but they all give a fascinating look into British cookery, which has an unfairly bad reputation. Good British cooking is hearty and delicious.

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What's playing in Makiko's kitchen?

I usually listen to podcasts. I listen to music while writing, but not while cooking.