468258 Mon Dec 10 15:21:43 -0800 2007 10 33 Food Media and News 0 3196357 I'm gifting a cheese board set for Xmas and would like to include a good reference book on cheeses. I'm kind of between " Cheese : A Connoisseur's Guide to the World's Best " and "The Cheese Primer." Does anyone have either of these books or another one they'd recommend. Thanks a lot. Mon Dec 10 15:21:43 -0800 2007 126845 malvern girl 1 3196405 I asked for, and got, "The Cheese Primer" last year for Christmas. To paraphrase "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" I chose poorly. While somewhat marginally informative, it is seriously dated in its coverage and listings of cheese makers and sources. I'd recommend passing on this option--there's got to be something better out there. This is a tired, slapdash effort. Mon Dec 10 15:38:02 -0800 2007 3196357 15817 ecustard 2 3198571 I have, use and love Paula Lambert's book, "The Cheeselovers guide." Tue Dec 11 10:38:02 -0800 2007 3196405 52499 ChefJune 1 3196433 Like ecustard said, Cheese Primer is seriously outdated, and consequently cheeses listed as "unavailable" are quite available now. I like the 2 Max McCalman books, as they have more contenporary info, and you can tell by reading that he just loves cheese and introducing it. *edited after more carefully reading the OP* Given your specs, I'd recommend "The Cheese Plate" by Max McCalman. Since you are giving a serving set, it's a great book for thinking about how to put together a proper cheese plate, with recommendations, tips on how to place, etc. Mon Dec 10 15:46:46 -0800 2007 3196357 50776 cheesemonger 2 3196538 Thanks for the suggestions. The Max McCalman book it is. How to put together the proper cheese plate is exactly what I'm looking for. Mon Dec 10 16:21:33 -0800 2007 3196433 126845 malvern girl 3 3196563 and, as a bonus, the pics are really pretty. :D Mon Dec 10 16:29:44 -0800 2007 3196538 50776 cheesemonger 4 3196573 Can't wait! Mon Dec 10 16:32:58 -0800 2007 3196563 126845 malvern girl 1 3197019 I like The Cheese Course: Enjoying the World's Best Cheeses at Your Table By Janet Kessel Fletcher She's such a smart, readable cheese writer. You can read her column in the Wine Section of San Francisco Chronicle by going to sfgate.com and typing in Fletcher as the byline. The pics there aren't as pretty as the ones in the book, but the prose is great. Mon Dec 10 19:20:01 -0800 2007 3196357 18222 maria lorraine 1 3197620 I just got Laura Werlin's newest book called Laura Werlin's Cheese Essentials: An Insider's Guide to Buying and Serving Cheese. I'm new to cheese connoisseurship and have learned a great deal from this book already. In addition to very specific information about each type of cheese, it has pictures, serving suggestions and recipes. Finally, I showed it to a friend last night who commented on what a beautiful book it is, so it'd definitely make a good gift. Tue Dec 11 05:06:57 -0800 2007 3196357 13396 Velda Mae 2 3198129 I would heartily second Velda Mae's recommendation of Laura Werlin's book, as well as Janet Fletcher's. As a cheese specialist in the Sonoma wine country, I've met Laura and have had the opportunity to meet and work with several of our finest cheese artisans here, ie Cowgirl Creamery, Bellwether Farms, Vella, etc. Laura also has an earlier book on wine and cheese pairings, but it's a bit out of date at this point. Worth picking up, though, if you buy through the used book sellers on Amazon, for example. Tue Dec 11 08:40:24 -0800 2007 3197620 97804 cmvan 1 3520794 It ain't pretty, but it is useful: The Herbst & Herbst "Cheese Lovers Companion" (from Barons- the same duo & publisher that write the Food Lovers Companion) Just about as much background info as Jenkins, but in a good paper-back book sized reference manual. I keep that one behind my counter. Sun Mar 23 19:57:08 -0700 2008 3196357 39914 lunchbox