Asheville Chefs Launch New Cookbooks This Autumn
Asheville-based chefs Meherwan Irani and Katie Button are releasing new titles that bring international flavors to the home kitchen.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Recipes
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Following the September 22, 2026, release of his latest book, Meherwan Irani is sharing recipes from his Chai Pani and Botiwalla concepts. Meanwhile, Katie Button is set to debut her second cookbook on October 27, 2026.
Why it matters
These cookbooks aim to demystify complex international cuisines for home cooks by adapting professional techniques and flavors for accessibility. Irani hopes to challenge perceptions of Indian food as a monolith, while Button seeks to integrate Spanish culinary influences into standard American cooking.
Meherwan Irani founded his Chai Pani restaurant in 2009, while Katie Button opened Cúrate in 2011 and released her first cookbook in 2016. Irani's new work features recipes that cost as little as $2 per street snack to replicate at home.
The players
Meherwan Irani
He is an Asheville-based chef and restaurateur who established the Chai Pani and Botiwalla restaurant groups.
Katie Button
She is a celebrated chef and entrepreneur in Asheville known for her Spanish-influenced culinary programs.
The details
Meherwan Irani adapted dishes from his restaurants to celebrate the diversity of Indian street food and village cooking. Katie Button developed her upcoming title to show Americans how to blend Spanish ingredients and techniques with their existing home cooking styles.
Timeline
The original Chai Pani restaurant opened in 2009.
The Cúrate restaurant launched in 2011.
Katie Button published her first cookbook in 2016.
Meherwan Irani published his new cookbook on September 22, 2026.
Katie Button debuts her new cookbook on October 27, 2026.
Culture Shift
These releases align with the broader movement of chef-driven home cooking guides that prioritize accessible ingredients over professional-grade culinary barriers. This transition democratizes high-end restaurant techniques, mirroring the shift toward at-home experiential dining.
Local home cooks can now incorporate recipes from two of the city's most recognizable restaurant brands into their own weekly routines. These books provide step-by-step instructions for preparing dishes that were previously only available at Cúrate or Chai Pani.
The takeaway
By blending professional restaurant techniques with home-accessible ingredients, these authors help simplify complex international flavors. Readers can look for these titles to expand their culinary repertoire with recipes that honor traditions from India and Spain.
Further reading
Find more inspiration for your next meal in our Recipes collection.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mountain Xpress.
Live Poll
Do you find it helpful when chefs adapt complex international recipes for standard home kitchens?
