The 31st Gourmand Awards has released their list of top cookbooks, authors, and more.
The Gourmand Awards is an international award-giving body founded by Parisian entrepreneur Edouard Cointreau back in 1955. It honors printed, digital, or televised food publications in an annual awards program, recognizing entries from Africa, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Anglo America.
In 2025, 29% of the winning entries came from the Asia Pacific region. Join us as we break down the winners from Southeast Asia across 7 categories.
Women Chefs
Thailand – Simple Food, Zaab-Lai from Loei Rajabhat University, Published by Karb Studio (1st Place)
Chef’s Competition
Singapore – Pasta Championship Asia from Barilla Professionals
Thailand – Elevating Asian Cuisine To New Heights Thailand Ultimate Chefs Challenge 2025 – Rule Book From World Chef Asia – Thailand Chef Association (2nd Place)
Celebrity Chef English
Thailand – Take Home Thailand by Daniel Green (2nd Place)
Hotels Asia
Singapore – Como Simple by Daniel Moran, Miranda Gate, Introduction Christina Ong, Published by Marshall Cavendish (1st Place)
Team
Indonesia – Lunch Traditions In Indonesia by Amanda Katili Niode, Phd, Translator Awi Chin; Published by Omar Niode Foundation Diomedia (Mentioned)
Best Of The Best Books
Indonesia – Lunch Traditions In Indonesia by Amanda Katili Niode, Phd, Translator Awi Chi; Omar Niode Foundation Diomedia (1st Place)
Bilingual With English
Indonesia – L’indonesie À La Maison by Eka Moncarre (1st Place)
Design & Artwork
Thailand – Bueng Kan: Food + Travel By Office Of Contemporary Art And Culture by Suthipong Suriya, Karb Studio – Ministry Of Culture (1st Place)
Front Cover
Thailand – Sakon Nakhon New Look: Regional Food Culture, Cultural Culinary Tourism In Sakon by Nakhon Suthipong Suriya, Karb Studio – Ministry Of High Education
Foundations
Indonesia – Lunch Traditions In Indonesia by Amanda Katili Niode, Phd, Translator Awi Chin; Omar Niode Foundation Diomedia (Mentioned)
Apps
Malaysia – Sarawak Cultural Village By Scv (Mentioned)
Unesco City Of Gastronomy Book
Philippines – Iloilo, Gastronomic Expressions Of Our City (1st Place)
Regions
Thailand – Nakhon Phanom New Look : Regional Food Culture by Pmu-C Suthipong Suriya, Karb Studio – Ministry Of High Education (Mentioned)
Plurinational Books
Thailand – Global Culinary Stories by Kathleen Pokrud, photos Jenny Chan, Teresa Biesty
Asian Books
Indonesia – Tradisi Makan Siang, Lunch Traditions In Indonesia by Amanda Katili Niode And 40 Authors, Omar Niode Foundation
Myanmar – Myanmar Mornings Are For Mohinga by Bryan Koh, Epigram
Philippines – Kayumanggi by Chef Jam Melchor, DTI (1st Place)
Thailand – Take Home Thailand by Daniel Green
Asian
Thailand – Nam Prik – The Heritage Of Thai Chili Dips by Media Center Of Art And Culture Thai Public Broadcasting
Halal Food Writing
Brunei – The Halal Industry In Asia by Rozaidah Idris, Mohammad Ali Tareq, Siti Fatimahwati Pehin Dato Musa, Wardah Hakimah Sumardi from Springer (1st Place)
Halal Writing
Malaysia – Recognized Foreign Certification Bodies, 23-2-2025 by Islam Development Malaysia (Mentioned)
Street Food
Malaysia – Roti King Cookbook Sugen Sopal by Quadrille (Mentioned)
Vietnam – Vietnamese Food And Food Culture by Paul B. Kennedy, Tuttle (Mentioned)
Asia – Published Outside Asia
Indonesia – L’indonesie À La Maison by Eka Moncarre (1st)
Indonesia (Maluka) – Sudah, On Heritage, Art, Cooking And Family by Jessica Voorwinde, Judith Öfner from Jap Sam Books
Malaysia – Roti King Cookbook Sugen Sopal by Quadrille
Vietnam – Recipes From Vietnam, Savoring The Best Of World Flavors by Mai Pham, Culinary Institute Of America
Portuguese
Timor Leste – Proyecto De Plan Estrategico Para Timor Leste 206-2030 by Wfp (1st Place)
Migrants Books
Indonesia (Maluku) – Sudah, On Heritage, Art, Cooking And Family by Jessica Voorwinde, Judith Ofner from Jap Sam Books
Writing
Malaysia – My Malaysian Food Journey, More Culinary Adventures by Kalsom Taib (1st Place)
Old Cookbooks
Indonesia – Kokki Bitja, A Book About The Oldest Indonesian Cookbook Marjolein Kokosky Deforchaux-Kelderman by Dorothy Parker (Mentioned)
Food Tourism Books
Philippines – Kulinarya Cookbook, Third Edition by Anvil, Department Of Tourism (Mentioned)
Food Tourism English
Brunei – Brunei Gastronomy Food Festival by Brunei Tourism (Mentioned)
Food Heritage Books
Philippines – Kayumanggi by Chef Jam Melchor from DTI (Mentioned)
Food Security
Indonesia – Indonesian Food Policy In Context by Center For Indonesia Policy Studies (Mentioned)
Health And Nutrition – Books
Singapore – Sg60 E-Recipes by Singapore Heart Foundation (Mentioned)
Health And Nutrition
Malaysia – Nkf Pre-Dialysis Cookbook by National Kidney Foundation (Mentioned)
Spices And Herbs
Vietnam – Pepper Crop Report Jos Van Gulick by Nedspice (Mentioned)
Traditional Medicine Books
Singapore – Traditional Medicine In North East Africa Atul Kaushik by Jeevan Jyoti Kaushik from Bentham Science Publishers (Mentioned)
Food Waste
Laos – Rice And Rice Straw Residue In Laos by Scap-Cs (Mentioned)
Subjects
Single Subjects
Thailand – Take Home Thailand by Daniel Green (Silkhorm Books) (1st Place)
Single Subjects – Free
Thailand – Namprik – The Heritage Of Thai Chili Dips by Media Center Of Art And Culture – Thai Public Broadcasting (1st Place)
Fund Raising Asia
Malaysia – Heritage & Hope by Traditional Malaysian Recipes
Myanmar – Food For Thought 3 Sahat Zia Hero And 32 Photographers by David Palazon from Rohingya Photographers Collective
Singapore – The Dine-In Movement Cookbook by Willing Hearts
Singapore – Sg60 E-Recipes by Singapore Heart Foundation
Thailand – Global Culinary Stories by Kathleen Pokrud, Photos Jenny Chan, Teresa Biesty
Gastro Diplomacy
Thailand – Global Culinary Stories by Kathleen Pokrud, Photos Jenny Chan, Teresa Biesty
Heads Of State
Thailand – Democracy On The Plate, The Taste Of Freedom And Participation King Prajadhipok’s Institute by Karb Studio (1st Place)
Special Awards
Indonesia – Island Life: Recipes From Nikoi And Cempedak Island by Baringtonia Investments.
Southeast Asia offers a diverse flavor profile for every cook and foodie out there seeking to broaden their palette. You can check out the full list here.