Raeann Mason
A reading list for those who know the kitchen is political.
1. The Cooking Gene
by Michael W. Twitty
A brilliant exploration of food, ancestry, and Black Southern identity by a culinary historian and activist.
2. In Bibi’s Kitchen
by Hawa Hassan
A cookbook that doubles as oral history, spotlighting grandmothers from eight African nations through recipes and stories.
3. A Tiger in the Kitchen
by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan
A Singaporean writer returns home to rediscover her roots through the food of her childhood.
4. Yes, Chef
by Marcus Samuelsson
From Ethiopian orphan to global culinary star, Samuelsson’s story is a powerful tale of identity, perseverance, and spice.
5. Notes from a Young Black Chef
by Kwame Onwuachi
A raw and relevant memoir of race, class, ambition, and food from a rising star in American cuisine.
6. The Language of Baklava
by Diana Abu-Jaber
Poetic and poignant, this memoir uses food as a thread to explore identity, family, and home between the U.S. and Jordan.
7. Buttermilk Graffiti
by Edward Lee
Part travelogue, part love story to America’s immigrant kitchens—a celebration of flavor and diversity.
8. The Flavor Equation
by Nik Sharma
A gorgeous blend of science, storytelling, and Indian-inspired recipes by a queer, immigrant food writer.
9. Hungry
by Jeff Gordinier
A globetrotting food adventure with Danish chef René Redzepi, chasing the future of food in a world of contradictions.
10. The Third Plate
by Dan Barber
A call to revolutionize how and what we eat, moving beyond farm-to-table into deep sustainability.
11. Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper
by Fuchsia Dunlop
A memoir of culinary immersion in China from the first Westerner to train at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine.
12. Tender at the Bone
by Ruth Reichl
Wickedly funny and emotionally rich, this coming-of-age memoir proves that who we are is often shaped by what we eat.
13. Kitchen Confidential
by Anthony Bourdain
The book that changed food writing forever—equal parts chef memoir, behind-the-scenes exposé, and punk manifesto
Raeann Mason
Raeann is a travel writer, editor, and content strategist whose work sits at the intersection of cultural immersion, international solidarity, and ethical travel. As Senior Content Manager at Catalyst Planet, she has spearheaded the platform’s editorial voice and strategic growth, leading major initiatives from global travel guides to educational programming. Her storytelling invites readers to look deeper to see travel not as escape, but as meaningful engagement with the world. content@catalystplanet.com