This year's James Beard Media Award winners were announced on Saturday, June 13th at the Art Institute of Chicago. If you're a foodie like me, or just love looking at cookbooks for inspiration, the Media Awards category winners always get my attention! This list highlights excellence in books, broadcast media, and journalism covering food or drink-related content. Denver Public Library's huge cookery collection doesn't disappoint - see below for this year's Beard winners in over a dozen categories, with links directly to the catalog for your convenience. Now get cooking!
Baking and Desserts - Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Spread Joy in 100 Recipes by Helen Goh
Beverage with Recipes - Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat!) Like a Korean by Irene Yoo
Beverage without Recipes - Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond by Cha McCoy with Layla Schlack
Food Issues and Advocacy - Eating Behind Bars: Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison by Leslie Soble, Alex Busansky, and Aishatu Yusuf
General - By Heart: Recipes to Hold Near and Dear by Hailee Catalano
International - Kin: Caribbean Recipes for the Modern Kitchen by Marie Mitchell
Literary Writing - The Last Sweet Bite: Stories and Recipes of Culinary Heritage Lost and Found by Michael Shaikh
Professional and Restaurant - Cook Like A King: Recipes from My California Chinese Kitchen by Melissa King and JJ Goode
Reference, History, and Scholarship - Nile Nightshade: An Egyptian Culinary History of the Tomato by Anny Gaul
Single Subject - The Japanese Art of Pickling & Fermenting: Preserving Vegetables and Family Traditions by Yoko Nakazawa
U.S. Foodways - Umma: A Korean Mom's Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes by Sarah Ahn and Nam Soon Ahn
Vegetable-Focused Cooking - Comida Casera: More Than 100 Vegan Recipes, from Traditional to Modern Mexican Dishes by Dora Ramírez
Emerging Voice in Books - Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria by Ozoz Sokoh
For complete information on the annual James Beard Awards, check out www.jamesbeard.org/stories/james-beard-award-winners-2026.
