A cornucopia of cookbooks to savor and share

Internet recipes have their place, but the top cookbooks of 2019 prove that some collections work best on the printed page. That’s true not just of all-encompassing guidebooks like the newly revised “Joy of Cooking,” but also of titles that slice off a smaller section of culinary territory and explore it to the fullest. While the topics diverge widely, all the books featured here brim with distinct personality and expert advice. 

Earlier this year, an online squabble revolved around whether recipes should tell a story or stick to directions. In book form,

Flour Bakery dominates pastryVietnamese dishes for home cooksJust getting dinner onMiddle Eastern food with a fresh twistBeyond soul food