10 Culinary Bestsellers From Celebrities

Each of us has a celebrity we admire, whether it's their style, manner of speaking, or life story. Some people emulate their idols by dressing like them, others imitate their speech, and some study the facts of their challenging journey to fame to follow in their footsteps. However, the most significant aspect of emulating a celebrity is their dietary habits. As the saying goes, "You are what you eat." Fortunately, celebrities often publish books of their signature recipes, making it easy to cook and eat like them to feel just as satisfied, rich, and famous.

Gwyneth Paltrow – 'The Clean Plate'

For many years, Gwyneth Paltrow has devoted more attention to her wellness empire, Goop, than to acting. It's no surprise that she is deeply concerned about healthy eating. Her collection of a hundred recipes in 'The Clean Plate' stands out among her culinary books. In addition to secrets for preparing various dishes, such as nutmeg squash tacos and iced latte with cashew milk, this book also provides detailed detoxification plans for the body, categorized by Adrenal Support, Heart Health, Candida, and more. Paltrow collaborated with doctors and nutritionists on this book, but it's worth noting that she has faced criticism for her questionable and sometimes potentially risky health recommendations, such as suggesting the treatment of COVID-19 with a ketogenic and plant-based diet, daily fasting until 11 AM, and using infrared saunas.

Danny Trejo – 'Trejo's Tacos'

Film star Danny Trejo, known for his tough guy roles, is the polar opposite of Gwyneth Paltrow in terms of a healthy lifestyle. He struggled with drug addiction from a young age and spent time in prison for armed robberies. However, after serving approximately 11 years behind bars, Trejo became a Pennsylvania state boxing champion and completed the "12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous" program. In his new life, he ventured into acting and appeared in over 300 films, earning a reputation as one of Hollywood's toughest villains. If you visit his restaurant, 'Trejo's Tacos,' in Los Angeles, you won't encounter his legendary machete-wielding persona; instead, you'll be treated to spicy tacos, sweet donuts, and rich carnitas. If you're not planning a visit to LA but still crave something robust like Trejo's, his cookbook contains recipes for all 75 dishes from the restaurant's menu, making it easy to prepare them at home.

Questlove – 'Mixtape Potluck Cookbook'

The Roots drummer and member of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" house band brings back the concept of invitation dinners. Questlove raises the question: what if there were an event where 50 of the best chefs, actors, and musicians were invited, and each of them brought their favorite dishes? For example, Zooey Deschanel would choose bok choy and cucumber salad, Natalie Portman would prepare Greek spinach pie with a phyllo-like pie crust, and chef Eric Ripert would contribute salmon rillettes. As for Questlove himself, he pairs each invited chef with a song that best characterizes their unique creative energy. Delicious food combined with conversations about great music—what could be better?

Ziggy Marley – 'Ziggy Marley and Family Cookbook'

The eldest son of Bob Marley and a Grammy-winning reggae icon, Ziggy Marley began experimenting in the kitchen as a teenager when his go-to meal was cornmeal porridge. He realized early on that traditional Jamaican dishes were tasty but often fried and very salty, and there was another way to eat: a more natural and Rastafarian diet. According to the musician, the latter option helps you feel much healthier and more comfortable. In this book, Ziggy Marley shares the culinary wisdom he has acquired along with his family, introducing the world to their way of eating.

Stanley Tucci – ‘The Tucci Table’

This actor didn't surprise us with his culinary book; he has long been associated with the process of cooking delicious and refined food. This connection is due to his role in the film "Big Night," where Italian immigrant brothers arrive in the United States to open their restaurant. Or, for example, the film "Julie & Julia," where he portrayed the husband of the iconic American chef of French cuisine, Julia Child. It's no wonder that when Tucci's recipe collections started appearing on bookshelves, people grabbed them without hesitation. After all, this sophisticated man knows exactly how to prepare luxurious dishes like pasta alla bottarga or mushroom-stuffed trout. As for 'The Tucci Table,' it's also a story about bringing the whole family together through the process of cooking.

Snoop Dogg – ‘From Crook to Cook’

In 2018, the platinum-selling rap artist delighted his fans with a platinum-selling cookbook, selling over 1 million copies. And no, it's not an underground collection of forbidden baking recipes with marijuana. Snoop Dogg teaches us how not to go hungry and quickly whip up satisfying dishes like Baked Mac & Cheese or Fried Bologna Sandwiches with Chips. These are everyday meals. However, if you have a special occasion, the book also contains recipes for high-end dishes such as Lobster Thermidor or Filet Mignon. And, of course, Snoop Dogg hasn't forgotten the most crucial part – snacks for wild rap parties, like Frito BBQ Twists.

Reese Witherspoon – ‘Whiskey in a Teacup’

'Whiskey in a Teacup' is how a real Southern American woman should be, according to Reese Witherspoon's grandmother's teachings. She believes that such a woman is delicate and charming on the outside but strong and passionate on the inside. The actress willingly shares her grandmother's signature recipes and talks extensively about the traditions of her homeland. These traditions encompass midnight barn parties, backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings, rollicking honky-tonks, and much more. If you want to feel like Reese Witherspoon, this book will help you learn to speak like her, dance like her, recreate her hairstyle, and, of course, cook like her, making traditional Louisiana-style fried chicken.

Ievgen Klopotenko – ‘Ukrainian cuisine in 70 dishes’

The winner of the Ukrainian version of "MasterChef" is doing everything possible to make the world aware of the delicious cuisine of his native country. For example, in the summer of 2022, Ukraine won the so-called "borscht war," ensuring that borscht was no longer mistakenly associated with Russia. UNESCO recognized it as a Ukrainian dish and added it to the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of protection. This epic process of recognizing borscht as Ukrainian was initiated by Ievgen Klopotenko himself. However, Ukrainian cuisine is not just about borscht, dumplings, and lard. There are at least 70 other exquisite dishes, and this book is a useful read for anyone who wants to understand where Ukrainians find the strength and energy to heroically resist and expel the occupant from their territory for over 600 days.

Sophia Loren – ‘Eat with me’

The Italian cinema legend embarked on writing a cookbook at the age of 37 during her long-awaited pregnancy when doctors advised her to avoid any strenuous activity. Cooking a variety of dishes was never exhausting work for Sophia Loren; it was more like relaxation. So she started inventing, testing, and recording her own recipes based on her native Italian cuisine. In addition, Loren devotes a lot of space to reflections on various topics: what smokers think when they have breakfast with non-smokers, why canned and frozen foods are not taboo for a delicious dinner, how to encourage men to cook with women, and more. Moreover, the book's title itself suggests that it's not just about the kitchen but also about the time spent together with one of the most beautiful women of the last century, accompanied by numerous stylish photographs.

Brian Baumgartner – ‘Seriously Good Chili Cookbook’

The actor best known for his role as Kevin Malone from "The Office" became a global chili pepper icon after this particular scene. The minute-long episode gained such immense popularity that not publishing a book where Baumgartner teaches how to cook that perfect pot of chili would be a crime. Especially since the actor, much like his character, in real life, is a passionate fan of this dish. For those who find a single pot insufficient, the book offers an additional 177 chili preparation options, collected by Baumgartner from the world's best chefs.