The Austin Cookbook by Paula Forbes – Hardback Cookbook

The Austin Cookbook is a 240-page hardback by Austin food writer Paula Forbes that collects recipes and stories from the Texas capital's best restaurants, food trucks and barbecue joints, from smoked brisket to tacos and Tex-Mex. Part cookbook and part love letter to the city, it's shot in full colour by photographer Robert Strickland.

A whole city's cooking in one book

Austin eats like nowhere else: queue-around-the-block brisket, breakfast tacos, old-school Tex-Mex and chefs doing new things with all of it. Paula Forbes reported on that scene for years, and here she gets the recipes out of the kitchens and onto your bench.

What's inside

The book is organised around what Forbes calls Austin's "major food groups", starting with barbecue and moving through tacos, Tex-Mex, Southern cooking and the newer restaurants. Short histories and asides from local chefs sit between the recipes, along with how-tos such as roasting and peeling chillies.

Highlights include Bob Armstrong Dip, Chile con Carne Enchiladas, Chicken Fried Steak with Cream Gravy, Lucy's Fried Chicken, Tacos de Hongos, Grilled Quail with Green Mole, Huevos Rancheros and Odd Duck's Sweet Potato Nachos, plus barbecue staples like brisket and ribs.

Who it's for

Anyone who loves Texas food or has eaten their way around Austin and wants to cook it at home. It's a great read for barbecue fans who also want the tacos and Tex-Mex that go with it, and it makes a cracking gift.

About Paula Forbes

Paula Forbes is a food and restaurant writer based in Austin, Texas. She was the founding editor of Eater Austin and has written for GQ and Food52. This was her first book, and Food & Wine called it the most colourful book of its season.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Word from the docks: this is Austin bottled up, with brisket, tacos and Tex-Mex in one handsome book. Darryl's soft spot is the barbecue chapter up front, because it gives the city's smoked-meat scene the respect it deserves before anything else. Grab a copy and your next taco Tuesday gets an Austin accent. Pair it with Tex-Mex Cookbook for the cheesy classics and Barbacoa for Tex-Mex smoke. Season your fajita steak with Meat Church Dia de la Fajita. — Darryl "Burnt Ends" Rubb

Questions answered

Who wrote The Austin Cookbook?

The Austin Cookbook was written by Paula Forbes, an Austin food writer and the founding editor of Eater Austin.

What's inside The Austin Cookbook?

It has recipes and stories from Austin restaurants, organised by barbecue, tacos, Tex-Mex and more, including Bob Armstrong Dip, Lucy's Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Nachos.

Is The Austin Cookbook good for beginners?

Yes. Most recipes are home-cook friendly, and it includes how-tos such as roasting and peeling chillies.

Is The Austin Cookbook a hardback, and how many pages?

Yes. It's a 240-page hardback published by Abrams in 2018.

Does The Austin Cookbook cover Texas barbecue?

Yes. Barbecue is one of the city's major food groups in the book, alongside tacos and Tex-Mex.