This cookbook was so much fun to get into, and I was so appreciative of how much dates can be so delicious and flavorful. I mean, I already love dates as they are but to explore the so many recipes? Heck yeah! And to top it, just learning the varieties (had no idea there were so many), I was in recipe/ingredient learning heaven. I definitely want to explore so many (if not all) pages of this book.

And the photography and just the tone - it was amazing to go through. I was in such awe throughout this work. Never truly thought to make savory dishes with dates but here I am noting a good amount of recipes. Marked a good amount for sweets as well to try for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Very informative and highly entertaining cookbook on the subject of dates, a little-covered cookbook topic. Seems very desirable to complete a home cook’s collection and would make a unique gift for others.

Rawaan Alkhatib's Hot Date! is part cookbook, part journal, part doodling (in the best possible way), and all fun.

If you've ever looked at a date and thought, "What do I do with this other than just eat it," Hot Date! is the book for you. Divided into six sections, Hot Date! explores the myriad ways in which dates can be enjoyed, whether sweet or savory, cooked or not. There are some standout recipes, like the tater tots, Dibs Barbeque Sauce, Hot Date Butter, Winter Elixir, the breakfast sandwich and, yes please, the Mushrooms en Papillot with much garlic.
The book,, with its artwork, is simply beautiful and would be best served in print. If there is one drawback, it would be that there are not enough pictures. With a book about a food item that isn't widely used, in the US, in the ways described in the book, it would have the book better to see some pictures of more of the foods, especially the entrees. That said, this cookbook is a fun discover of the types of dates that exist (move over medjool) and the ways they can be used.

Hot Date focuses on sweet and savory date recipes. The Sections are Party Food; Breakfast; Mains; Soups, Salads & Sides; Sweets; and Drinks & Condiments. The author writes some context about the history and different types of dates before heading into all the recipes. I love the graphic design and how create the recipes were. I am excited to try a lot of the recipes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's a good sign if while you're reading a cookbook, you're constantly taking breaks to search for ingredients because the recipes are so intriguing and look delicious.

From the history, geography, types of dates to the variety of recipes, this is a great cookbook. Beautiful drawings and photography make you hungry just flipping the pages.

Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the advance copy of this book!

Dates are a deeply underrated fruit that deserve to be adored, and this cookbook does a beautiful job of putting the date on a pedestal. I learned so much through this book, because I had no idea that there were so many varieties of dates. There are tons of creative recipes in here that I'm really eager to try - Halwa-Stuffed French Toast?! Sign me up.

The illustrations and photography in this cookbook are so beautiful and make the cookbook a worthwhile addition to your collection. I'm absolutely buying a print copy of this cookbook ASAP.

Highly recommend this wonderful cookbook!

I needed a few dates for a recipe and ended up with a rather large tub of them. Who knew this lovely book would show up just at the right moment! So many fantastic recipes that I cannot wait to try. I absolutely love the illustrations... but would appreciate if each recipe had a photo for reference.

I'm that person who came into this saying "I like a date. I wonder what else I can do with it?" and left knowing that there are many different kinds of dates, there's an entire best way to store them, and an endless way to prepare them. My mind is honestly blown and this cookbook really enlightened my world to an entire new way to eat food that includes dates. A Date Shake? Come on, now. How incredible is that?!

The first recipe I tried was the Tater Tots Tossed in Hot Date! Butter and my entire life is changed. There's a before and there's an after. Anyone who met me before I tried this recipe-I'm sorry you didn't meet the best me. And for anyone who meets me going forward- you're welcome for stuffing these tots into your mouth because your life will also be changed for the better. Even the kids liked this one. It's a new staple in our house and I don't see it going away anytime soon. The popcorn suggestion is our next venture!

The other stand out recipe for me was the Dibs Barbecue Sauce. It's dangerous- if you put that on your table it will be gone in five minutes and a fight will break out because you introduced this amazing sauce that disappeared too quickly. Make a double batch.

As with all cookbooks, I do wish there had been more pictures of the prepared food. While I am an experienced home cook, sometimes I just need a picture to know that what I am doing is on the right track, especially when trying something new. There were a few recipes where I felt lost without a picture. That being said, the artwork in this book is beautiful. I don't think I've ever seen artwork in a cookbook that left me with existential questions as to who I am holding this delicious food.

This is a great cookbook for anyone, especially someone who wants to incorporate dates into their routine meals.

This book is a work of art. Who knew there were so many varieties of dates! It is informative and entertaining with many, many recipes I want to try! Any cookbook with the first recipe is Bacon Wrapped Dates and then later one for Sticky Toffee Pudding is going to rank high for me. Even the small amount of photos, which is usually a must for me in cookbooks, doesn’t lower the rating for this one. This is a must for anyone who likes dates.

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle for an ARC of this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed this niche cookbook featuring dates. There was a much wider variety of recipes than I expected. I don't think this is a cookbook I would use for everyday cooking, but it would be fantastic to pull out around the holidays.

The hand drawn artwork is gorgeous, but I would have liked to see more photos of the food too.

I loved all the info it included about the different kinds of dates, and how they are grown. I learned quite a bit! I think this cookbook would be a great gift for someone that does a lot of parties and holiday gatherings.

I really enjoyed this cookbook and will be purchasing it for personal use as well as for the library! I leaned a lot of fascinating information about dates and the history of the fruit as well. The illustrations are beautiful and the food sounds incredible.

The most fun I've ever had reading a cookbook! It is beautifully illustrated, structured well (e.g., party food, breakfast, mains, etc.), and as a fan of dates, I was delighted to find out there are so many varieties.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Hot Date! is a cookbook in which dates are the main ingredient. It details the different types of dates and various recipes using dates as the main ingredient.

Beautiful cookbook. The art is amazing. It has a variety of Middle Eastern inspired recipes and I learned a lot about different varieties of dates. The recipes are kind of involved, and I would have to get specialized ingredients, so I would mainly choose these recipes for a special occasion or as a fun project.

Great cookbook! Love the feel of the book, the general mood is cozy and informational, would love to have a physical copy some day!

This cookbook is a date lover’s dream! Hot Date! isn’t just about recipes—it’s a vibrant celebration of the humble, versatile, and downright magical fruit that’s been stealing the show for centuries. Whether you’re a longtime date fan or a total newbie, this book will have you stocking up on Medjools like they’re going out of style.

Rawaan Alkhatib weaves her passion for dates into every page, blending history, art, and global flavors into a truly unique package. The recipes? Oh, they’re next-level. From stuffed dates perfect for party apps to date chili crisp (hello, new addiction) and even decadent desserts, every dish feels like a fresh adventure. Plus, the vibrant illustrations and fascinating tidbits about date culture, farming, and history make it as fun to flip through as it is to cook from.

What really stands out is how Hot Date! doesn’t treat dates like a boring health food. Instead, Alkhatib elevates them, showcasing their deep, caramel-y magic in both traditional and modern ways. And can we talk about how gorgeous this book is? It’s part cookbook, part coffee-table eye candy, and 100% perfect for gifting.

If you’re ready to level up your pantry game, get this book. Dates have never been so cool—or so delicious!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Who knew you could do so much with dates? There are a few recipes I home to try.

I had such high hopes for Hot Date!: Sweet & Savory Recipes Celebrating the Date, from Party Food to Everyday Feasts by Rawaan Alkhatib. I love dates and thought this book would be full of healthy Mediterranean recipes and maybe even several vegan ones, too. Unfortunately, most of the recipes contained meat and/or dairy so they won't work for me. One thing I did like though was all the information this book contains about dates. I had no idea there were so many varieties! The illustrations of the different types were very engaging.

I definitely requested this book based on the title not even reading the synopsis. I was pleasantly surprised on the recipes that were included. I don't really have access to all the ingredients so I'm going to look for some and try one of the recipes but I thought the information provided was decent. I enjoyed the history behind the different types of dates.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and #Netgalley for the early copy.

I'm learning so much from my hot date! Jokes aside, I truly have gained a greater knowledge of the sometimes forgotten superfood that is the date. From the anatomy to the different varieties, flavour notes, and forms you can transform them into. The recipes are unique and fun having pairings I would never even think to have combined with a date. My most favourite aspect of this cookbook is the illustrations, they pop out from the pages and make reading this book even more enjoyable.