282411 Fri Jan 13 13:44:29 -0800 2006 10 31 Home Cooking 0 1505006 Which Rick Bayless book should I get first? I really enjoy his TV show and would like to try some of his recipes at home. My library is limited when it comes to Mexican, I only have 3 older Diana Kennedy books. Fri Jan 13 13:44:29 -0800 2006 0 sel 1 1505008 I do like Authentic Mexican (his first), Mexican Kitchen, and I would choose one of them first. I also have Mexican Cooking One Plate at a Time and while I like it I find it annoying to have to make all of his "essential" sauces to make a recipe. Sometimes I just read through the sauce and then figure out how to wing it and not go through the extra steps. Fri Jan 13 13:48:02 -0800 2006 1505006 0 Candy 1 1505025 I have all Rick's books (and Diana's as well). Each one kind of has a niche as far as what each does. Authentic Mexican and Mexican Kitchen are good when you've got time, good access or sources for Mexican ingredients and a desire to get as close to authentic as you could. If your interest is more in getting a taste, flavor or the essence of Mexican cooking, then I think Salsa's That Cook, or his new book Everday Mexican would work just fine. I actually like Salsa's That Cook extremely well. The first chapter is 8 basic salsa/sauce recipes that have been scaled for 3 different batch yields. Additionally, he gives you suggestions of chile substitutions for each sauce to change the flavor profile to suit your tastes. The rest of the book is 50 recipes, each of which uses one of the sauces. I like this book and I like the recipes I've made out of it. I recently purchased Everyday Mexican and have started working my way through it. I like it for the ease and simplicity. Is it authentic? No, but he doesn't claim it is. Rather it allows you to work the flavor profile of the Mexican kitchen around a busy schedule and limited time. So far every recipe I've made out of this book has been delicious. My least favorite Rick Bayless book is Mexico, One Plate at a Time. For some reason it just didn't turn my crank. And, just for the record, I actually cook more from my Diana Kennedy books than my Rick Bayless books. Fri Jan 13 14:12:15 -0800 2006 1505006 0 Gayla 2 1505160 Thanks for your response. Would love to hear your impressions on the DK books...am thinking of buying one later this year. Sat Jan 14 11:40:49 -0800 2006 1505025 0 Carb Lover 3 1505175 Oh my god, run don't walk to your nearest bookstore and get a Diana Kennedy book. I like them all, it would be hard to pick "just one" to recommend. I like the Art of Mexican Cooking really well and find that I refer back to that quit a bit. I also like her tortilla book, which is small (compared to her others) with a lot of interesting and easy (by DK standards) everyday recipes. I've heard very good comments about her latest that came out last year. I'm planning to work my way through that one when I'm done with Rick's Everyday Mexican. Diana Kennedy is a purists in every sense of the word, and I have no problem with that. I enjoy traditional Mexican cooking, but I'm finding that I am more and more drawn to contemporary Mexican cooking. The contemporary Mexican I had in D.F. a couple months ago was nothing short of exciting. But, the techniques of the Mexican kitchen are important because they lay the foundation no matter which style is perferred. DK can't be beat for technique. Rick also knows technique, but understands contemporary. I like both of them equally well. IMNSHO, neither is "better" than the other, they each provide valuable information. Each has a voice and perspective worth hearing and exploring. You might also want to eventually check out Marilyn Tausend's "Mexico the Beautiful" cookbook. Yes, it looks like a coffee table book (and it is) but the recipes are good, they work, and Marilyn has been traveling in Mexico for 50+ years. (Disclaimer, I do know Marilyn and have traveled in Mexico with her, but I've also used the cookbook and found it works). I have a dog-earred, paperback copy of Elizabeth Lambert Ortiz's book "The Complete Book of Mexican Cooking" that is truly a gem. Love this book. As "authentic" as DK but a little more approachable in terms of actually turning out a final dish. Sat Jan 14 12:50:25 -0800 2006 1505160 0 Gayla 4 1505184 Marilyn Tausend is a gem - yes, I also know her but that does not change the fact that she is a gem who knows her stuff. Her wonderful, down-to-earth book COCINA de la FAMILIA is about what "real" people eat instead of special-occasion food or restaurant food. Sat Jan 14 13:44:33 -0800 2006 1505175 0 Sherri 5 1505206 Thanks to both you and Gayla for your input! Will check out a few DK books from my library and see which speaks to me. I've never heard of M. Tausend before but now I will keep a look out for her books. Sat Jan 14 16:19:23 -0800 2006 1505184 0 Carb Lover 5 1505213 I really like that book and also the one by Zarela Martinez' mother Aida Gabilondo, Mexican Family Cooking. It is just real food too. Unfortunately it my be out of print. Sat Jan 14 17:09:25 -0800 2006 1505184 0 Candy 6 1505231 I like Mexican Family Cooking too. I've had good luck with the recipes in it. Sat Jan 14 20:13:23 -0800 2006 1505213 0 Gayla 4 1505217 I guess I should explore the Diana Kennedy books that I already have. These include The Cusines of Mexico (1972), Recipes from the Regional Cooks of Mexico (1978) and The Tortilla Book (1975). To be honest, I have tended to read them as reference books but have not tried many of the recipes. Do you know if the updated versions are really much of an improvement? Sat Jan 14 17:22:04 -0800 2006 1505175 0 sel 2 1505212 Thank you so much for your reply! I was worried that this post would go the way of my 12-17-05 post Re: Yucatan cooking/cookbooks that got no responses! For a first selection I think I'll try the Salsas That Cook and then Everyday Mexican for quicker weeknight recipes. Thanks again! Sat Jan 14 17:09:09 -0800 2006 1505025 0 sel