That long, cold winter, which dragged way too long into spring, is over! Come out of hibernation and bring some friends together over delicious food.  These cookbooks—and one bonus cocktail book—offer a feast of fresh flavors. The authors themselves are good company, guiding your hands, sharing their magic, and adding new tricks to your repertoire.

‘Tis the season! And here are 576 pages of 1,000 recipes and variations to make the most of it. Bittman has never met an ingredient he couldn’t char to perfection, so vegetarians and pescatarians will be as thrilled as carnivores. Brussels Sprouts Skewers With Green Olive Dipping Sauce, anyone? Get the book.

Here’s a modern classic back to entrance a new generation. Arthur Schwartz (a 3T contributor) is a superstar: award-winning radio personality, author, and teacher. In more than 250 recipes, he teaches us how to use the tiniest of spaces to bring the most to every dish. Instead of being enraged by our little city kitchens, we’ll be serving a spicy, satisfying Spaghetti Furioso with aplomb.  Get the book.

Want to eat like a principessa on your summer vacation? Elizabeth Minchilli is a superb guide to the infinite variety of Italy’s many regions. From the Mediterranean to the Alps, Italy offers an unbelievable array of spectacular dishes as simple as Goat Cheese and Kale Salad and as elaborate as Gnocchi With Truffles and Cheese Fondue. Get the book.

This book is a two-in-one treasure: four-color vintage postcards from all kinds of drinking establishments that flourished in the mid-20^th century and 50 vintage cocktail recipes. Add a splash of glamour to your next soirée. Swizzle sticks definitely required. Get the book.

Beth Goehring believes, with apologies to Lorelei Lee, that rather than diamonds books are a girl’s best friend…and a boy’s, a man’s and a woman’s. For more than twenty-five years, through Book-of-the-Month Club and its related clubs, she’s sold popular fiction, mysteries, romances, cookbooks, children’s books, play scripts, behind-the-scenes tales of the movies and theatre, and lifestyle books. She lives with her husband in Manhattan.