Maggie Hoffman is the writer and host behind The Dinner Plan, a podcast and Substack where she talks to a cookbook author every week about weeknight cooking realities, kitchen burnout, and what people actually cook at home. She joins Matt for a look back at the standout cookbooks of spring 2026. Here are the spring books mentioned, and listen at the end for our early fall favorites.

And it’s the return of Three Things, where Aliza and Matt discuss what’s interesting in the food world, including Aliza’s swing through the Pacific Northwest for strawberry picking and visits to The Paper Bridge and a Portland Pickles game. Matt tries push-pop sushi at Suka Sushi, pays tribute to the mujaddara at Kalustyan's, and he checks out the new infused oils from Primis Imports.

MAGGIE’S FAVORITE SPRING COOKBOOKS

Özlem Warren’s Istanbul

Natasha Pickowicz’s Everyone Hot Pot

Georgina Hayden’s MEDesque

Hillary Sterling’s AMMAZZA!

Joe Woodhouse’s Weeknight Vegetarian

MATT’S FAVORITE SPRING COOKBOOKS

Ham El-Waylly’s Hello, Home Cooking

Ella Quittner’s Obsessed With the Best

Jena Derman and Jack Schramm’s Solid Wiggles

Adeena Sussman’s Zariz

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