Samin Nosrat, the celebrated author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, returns with “Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love”, a cookbook that goes beyond recipes to celebrate connection, generosity, and joy in the kitchen. In a world increasingly focused on efficiency and convenience, Good Things emphasizes the emotional and communal power of cooking, making it both a culinary and lifestyle guide.
📚 About the Book
Published in 2025, Good Things is not just a collection of recipes—it’s a meditation on how food fosters relationships. The book is organized around themes of celebration, sharing, and creating meaningful experiences, with recipes that range from everyday comfort food to dishes for special occasions. Nosrat combines storytelling, practical tips, and personal anecdotes, giving readers a sense of intimacy and warmth.
Comparison:
- Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Focused on teaching cooking principles and techniques.
- Good Things: Prioritizes human connection, emotional resonance, and rituals alongside culinary mastery.
This shift reflects a broader 2025 trend in cookbooks: moving from pure instruction to experience-driven, mindful eating narratives.
🥘 Recipes: Simple Yet Transformative
One of the standout features of Good Things is its approachable yet thoughtful recipes. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner, a celebratory brunch, or an intimate dessert, each recipe encourages cooks to slow down and savor the process.
Highlights Include:
- Homey Comforts: Stews, roasted vegetables, and seasonal grains that bring warmth and familiarity.
- Entertaining Essentials: Dishes designed for sharing, like fresh pasta, layered salads, and inventive small plates.
- Desserts & Sweet Rituals: Cakes, tarts, and simple sweets meant to be shared with loved ones.
Trend Insight 2025: Readers increasingly value cookbooks that emphasize versatility and accessibility, enabling both novice and experienced cooks to engage meaningfully with their food.
🌟 Rituals and Lifestyle Focus
Beyond recipes, the book explores rituals and practices that enhance the joy of cooking. Nosrat encourages readers to consider:
- Setting a table with intention
- Inviting conversation during meal prep
- Preserving traditions while adding personal touches
Comparison:
- Traditional cookbooks often focus solely on technique.
- Good Things integrates lifestyle, mindfulness, and social connection into the cooking experience, aligning with modern wellness and self-care trends.
This approach turns cooking from a task into a celebration of life, community, and creativity.
🖋️ Writing Style & Accessibility
Samin Nosrat’s approachable, warm tone makes Good Things feel like a personal conversation. She blends humor, nostalgia, and clear guidance in a way that is both informative and emotionally resonant.
Key Features:
- Step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow
- Personal stories that inspire readers to create their own kitchen rituals
- Encouragement to experiment and embrace imperfection
This style reflects 2025’s trend toward inclusive, narrative-driven cookbooks that make readers feel seen and motivated rather than overwhelmed.
🍴 Why It Stands Out
Good Things is particularly notable for:
- Celebration of Sharing: Recipes designed for communal experiences rather than solitary meals.
- Emphasis on Mindful Cooking: Encourages cooks to slow down, savor flavors, and connect with others.
- Versatility: Recipes can be scaled up or down depending on occasion and number of guests.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Beautifully photographed pages and visually inspiring layouts enhance the experience.
Compared to highly technical or celebrity-focused cookbooks, Good Things prioritizes practicality, warmth, and joy, making it accessible to a broad audience.
🔥 Trending in 2025
The popularity of Good Things reflects several 2025 trends in the culinary world:
- Experiential Cooking: Home chefs seek meals that provide memories, not just sustenance.
- Mindful Eating: Focus on slowing down and appreciating food as part of a lifestyle.
- Community-Centric Meals: Sharing and hosting remain central, even in a fast-paced world.
- Sustainable Practices: Emphasis on seasonal ingredients and reducing food waste aligns with modern values.
Nosrat taps into these trends seamlessly, offering a cookbook that resonates with the contemporary desire for connection and intention.
💡 Final Verdict
Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love is more than a cookbook—it’s a guide to cultivating joy, connection, and mindfulness in the kitchen. Samin Nosrat combines accessible recipes, engaging storytelling, and lifestyle guidance to create a holistic culinary experience.
Why You Should Read It:
- Recipes are versatile, approachable, and shareable
- Emphasis on rituals and human connection elevates everyday meals
- Writing style is warm, humorous, and inspiring
- Reflects modern trends in mindful, community-focused cooking
In conclusion, Good Things reminds us that food is not just nourishment for the body but nourishment for the soul. It’s perfect for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation for cooking, hosting, and sharing meals with the people they love.
This blog is around 700 words, written in a review/comparison style, includes headings and icons, and emphasizes current 2025 cookbook and lifestyle trends.
If you want, I can also create a “Good Things vs Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” version highlighting recipes, approach, and style in paragraph form for a more direct comparison.
