Philadelphia is well known as a melting pot of many cuisines. We offer our picks for the best cookbooks featuring recipes that feature the flavor of Philadelphia, neighborhood specialties as well as recipes from such well-known places as the South Philadelphia Italian Market and the Reading Terminal Market.
1. The Reading Terminal Market Cookbook
This cookbook features dozens of mouth-watering recipes from Philadelphia's "Reading Terminal Market". From Turkey Noodle Soup, Pearl's Fried Oysters, and Delilah's Old-Fashioned Banana Pudding to Mu-Shu Vegetables, Metropolitan Focaccia, and Lavender Jelly, The Reading Terminal Market Cookbook recipes will evoke the sights, smells and flavors of an original bit of culinary Americana.
2. The Philadelphia Italian Market Cookbook: The Tastes of South 9th St.
This was a well-written book which compiles many of the most delicious Italian recipes from some very interesting people in South Philadelphia's Italian Market area.3. The Bean Bible
"A Legumaniac's Guide to Lentils, Peas, and Every Edible Bean on the Planet" by Aliza Green, who writes a weekly food column for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is an accomplished chef who has founded several restaurants in the Philadelphia area4. "Bravo!" - The Philadelphia Orchestra Cookbook II
This is an easy-to-use, new collection of over 400 excellent, well-edited recipes of the nineties for today's busy cook, tied together by a musical theme and including orchestra vignettes and safe food-handling tips.5. The Philadelphia Orchestra Cookbook
Two timeless Philadelphia traditions: a world-class orchestra and a world-class cookbook join for this repertoire of recipes from the musicians and friends of The Philadelphia Orchestra.6. The Original Philadelphia Neighborhood Cookbook
Philadelphia has a colorful culinary history based on ethnic diversity and proximity of great food sources. The authors explores 50 neighborhoods to prepare this cookbook, and they note the neighborhood and ethnicity of recipes from appetizers to desserts and breads. The influences are international: China, Thailand, Italy, Poland, Israel, England, Ireland, India, Puerto Rico, Greece.7. Philadelphia Main Line Classics II: Cooking up a Little History
This book is a sequel to Philadelphia Main Line Classics which was billed as recipes from the suburbs of historic Philadelphia, and was also presented by the Junior Saturday Club, which works along with other local charities to preserve the American heritage housed in their city.8. Philadelphia Homestyle Cookbook
Discover the history of Philadelphia's neighborhoods while savoring delicious recipes from them. Recipes from this cookbook have been featured on NBC's Today Show, and also in Good Housekeeping Magazine.