October 2009 COTM: Nomination Time!

[yamalam]

Hello all,

It is nomination time for October's COTM selection. We'll gather ideas here until SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13 (midnight EST), then hold a vote and have next month's book chosen by the 15th or so.

Feel free to make suggestions even if you have not previously participated in Cookbook of the Month, as we're always excited to welcome new cooks to our community! For more information on what the heck COTM stands for and how to participate, plus a list of past books we've covered, check out our archive at:

http://www.chow.com/cookbook_of_the_m...

HOW TO POST:

In order to make it easier for participants to scan others’ suggestions and for me to tabulate the results, please make your recommendations in the following format:

TITLE (in all caps), Author: Description of the book or reason you are recommending it (optional but preferred).

If you want to second or third a title that someone else has already mentioned, please repeat the title, typing it in capital letters. Just saying “I agree with Rubee” may well get lost and your choice might not get counted. The more often a particular title is mentioned, the greater the chance it will be among the finalists.

Also, feel free to nominate and discuss multiple books, you can wait for the voting thread to make your final decision.

Thanks for participating!

[Rubee]

I always love really delving into a country's cuisine, so I'll suggest

Diana Kennedy's ESSENTIAL CUISINES OF MEXICO (a compilation of CUISINES OF MEXICO, TORTILLA BOOK, and MEXICAN REGIONAL COOKING).

THAI FOOD by David Thompson

and I'd love to explore a cuisine that I want to learn more about - Japanese. However, can't recommend a book I've cooked out of personally since I don't own any Japanese cookbooks (yet), but how about
JAPANESE COOKING: A SIMPLE ART by Shizuo Tsuji
http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Cookin...

[MMRuth]

Also, I'd throw out there the general idea that we've never done any kind of Indian book for COTM. I've only ever used Mangoes & Curry Leaves, which I like, but it's a large and expensive book, and I'm sure there are lots of other wonderful options out there.

[roxlet]

The book we use over and over is called CURRIED FAVORS by Maia Kaimal MacMillian. The recipes are not complicated, and they always work out.

[yamalam]

I can't believe we've never done Indian! I know Jaffrey has been discussed in the past, as well as 660 Curries, by Iyer (http://www.amazon.com/660-Curries-Rag...). I've not tried either (plus I am the impartial moderator), but just wanted to refresh your memories.

Also checked out the James Beard cookbook awards and saw these, anyone familiar or cooked from them?

Washoku: Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen by Elizabeth Andoh
My Bombay Kitchen: Traditional and Modern Parsi Home Cooking by Niloufer Ichaporia King
1,000 Indian Recipes, Neelam Batra

Let's get the juices flowing!

[yayadave]

By the way this thread looks, there won’t be any Japanese COTM just now, but here are a couple of links about Elizabeth Andou, anyway.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/336893
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/280642

[Rubee]

Thanks for those links - Washoku looks great! I think that's going to be my first purchase for Japanese.....

[yayadave]

I think I read, maybe on Amazon, that plating in a Japanese manner was one of the strengths of this book.

[jen kalb]

Ive cooked from the Neelam Batra good and like it very much but I like Jaffrey better as a basic text. Fewer very good recipes. Bombay Kitchen looks good and could be an adventure, - Ive actually bought it and my library has it too - but its atypical since Parsee food is pretty eclectic and adaptive. I have another Japanese book by Andoh and her recipes work well.

[buttertart]

I like My Bombay Kitchen best of all recent Indian books I have seen/bought/cooked from - and Parsi food is very interesting.

[greedygirl]

I'm up for Indian as well, and will suggest the classic, which is INDIAN COOKING by Maddhur Jaffrey. It's very widely available, cheap and the recipes are authentic and easy to follow. I've had some success with cooking from this book., and it's a great introduction to the food of the Indian subcontinent.

[NYchowcook]

CLASSIC INDIAN COOKING by Julie Sahni might be a nice place to start. Just got named as one of 20 essential cookbooks by James Beard Fdtn

(I've been a short order cook since August -- sigh! -- since I got foster children, but should be back to real cooking by October)

[Gio]

As Rubee said, "I always love really delving into a country's cuisine." I'm interested in the food of Thailand, India and Mexico but I've only cooked from aThai book titled, "The Taste of Thailand" by Vatcharin Bhumichiter that I bought 20 years ago, a couple of Indian curry recipes I grabbed from the net, and the Rick Bayless "Mexican Everyday" so I have to give this more thought. I have no idea if Madhur Jaffrey is the ne plus ultra of Indian cuisine. Don't know which Thai book would be best, and I've read that Diane Kennedy, all inclusive though she may be, perhaps may not be the "right" book of it's type for COTM. At this point the only thing I'm really sure of is that I'd like cook the food from 1 of the 3 countries I mentioned. But which? ((+_+))

[greedygirl]

I've got the Taste of Thailand book as well as a couple of others by the same author. I like them.

[Gio]

GG... I think that's funny. If anyone would have what I thought was a really obscure book you would. Now I have to Google to find out more.

[Gio]

Mr. Bhumichitr's bio according to macmillan.com:
"Vatcharin Bhumichitr is owner and chef at the world-famous Chiang Mai restaurant and the Thai Bistro in London. He is the author of several previous cookbooks, including Thai Vegetarian and A Taste of Thai. He lives in London." (My copy it titled, "The Taste of Thai." I have a Collier edition, 1993... not quite 20 years ago.)

Here are some reviews of his other books:
Thai in Minutes
http://www.ecookbooks.com/p-6075-thai-in-minutes.aspx
Vatch's Thai Cookbook
http://www.ecookbooks.com/p-5469-vatchs-thai-cookbook.aspx
Vatch's Thai Street Food
http://www.ecookbooks.com/p-9689-vatc...

He's getting more interesting by the minute. I guess he's not as obscure as I thought.

[greedygirl]

Is this a polite way of saying that I have a ridiculously huge cookbook collection. lol. Mr GG would probably agree.

As you say below, he lives in London, and I bought the book in the airport in Bangkok!

[nomadchowwoman]

I will also vote for Madhur Jaffrey's INDIAN COOKING. This is a good primer for Indian home cooking, with clearly written, easy-to-follow recipes. I make several dishes from this book pretty regularly, but I would love to explore further with other Hounds and expand my repertoire.

[jen kalb]

Im going to stay out of for the month of Oct since Ill be away for half of the month.
Can only say that I will be very sorry if the group does Thai or Indian while I am gone.

[Emmmily]

I'd love to try a Thai book. I've heard PRACTICAL THAI COOKING by Puangkram Schmitz and Michael Worman, REAL THAI by Nancie McDermott, and THAILAND: THE BEAUTIFUL COOKBOOK by Panurat Poladitmontr are supposed to be quite good too, but I'd be happy with any of the Thai suggestions here.

[Gio]

After doing a little research via Google, I found that the David Thompson book, "Thai Food," may just a bit more daunting than some of the other Thai cookbooks. For one thing, the recipes begin after page 200. It is Very comprehensive in Thai history, including customs, superstitions, and of course cuisine, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Thai-Food-David-Thompson/dp/1580084621

Thailand the Beautiful Cookbook by Panurat Poladitmontri seems authentic, offers a diverse collection of recipes from each section of the country and, apparently the photographs are outstanding. However, the cost from Amazon of $37.12 may be offputting for some.

http://www.amazon.com/Thailand-Beautiful-Cookbook-Panurat-Poladitmontr/dp/0002550296

Which brings me to the Vatcharin Bhumichitr books. The first of which is "The Taste of Thai" which was originally published in 1988 but a 2005 edition is available.....

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/sea...

It's confusing. Perhaps it Is time for Madhur Jaffery after all. ???

[Rubee]

That's actually why I suggested David Thompson's book - I've found some of the COTMs of the months I enjoy most are those that really explore the history, culture, and customs of the country I'm learning about. I feel like it helps me be a better cook when cooking with foreign ingredients and techniques when I learn more about the background. For example, I love how comprehensive the chapter on Ingredients is - 40 pages filled with descriptions, tips, and notes on preparation. I like the specificity when buying ingredients I'm unfamiliar with; it's the type of book I like to learn from when exploring a country's cuisine. I agree though, it's a big book and overwhelming. One of the reasons I'm looking for an excuse to really get into it ; ) I should note too that though the recipes don't start until page 190, they go to page 630 so there are actually hundreds of recipes, so lots to choose from; nice pictures too.

I have the THAILAND: THE BEAUTIFUL COOKBOOK, so I second that suggestion also. I actually have the softcover edition, but don't remember how much I paid for it (it came out in 1992). Gorgeous pictures too, which is always helpful.

Of course, Indian sounds great too! Unfortunately, E is not a big fan (found out he doesn't like Malaysian/Indian either!), so it it would be another month of cooking from on-line recipes. But I love Indian so I would definitely cook along.

So many choices!

[Gio]

Thanks for the explanation, Rubee. Yours are reasons enough to like the Thompson book.

[jen kalb]

just to note, there is a smaller paperbound Thompson thai book out from Ten Speed press. Recipes just as good but maybe not as intimidating bulk or expense wise as the big book.

[The Dairy Queen]

jen, is that same book different binding or different book altogether?

~TDQ

[jen kalb]

different book. Its called Classic Thai Cuisine
it may be published in other countries under different names.

here
http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Thai-Cu...

[greedygirl]

Thailand the Beautiful is £45 here!!

[smtucker]

You could practically fly to Thailand for that amount! Or buy while in NYC.

I would buy any Indian cookbook if it is the winner. I am more hesitant about Thai only because shopping for ingredients would be a more difficult.

Also on my wish list is a month of Korean.

[Rubee]

Oh, good idea - I'd love to do Korean too!

[Gio]

I could go for Korean. The only experience of Korean food I have is reading the chapter on Korea in the Solomon book, "The Complete Asian Cookbook"... and memories of Koreana in Cambridge.

[Rubee]

I had a childhood friend whose boyfriend's mom was Korean - mmmm...home cooking, and I fell in love with her homemade kimchi as a teen.

Haven't been to any Korean restaurants here in AZ yet, but in Boston, used to enjoy Korean dishes at Jae's (remember that place?), Apollo in Chinatown, and the last couple of years before we moved at New Jang Su in Burlington.

Hannaone's Korean recipes always look fantastic, and I've had this thread bookmarked for a couple of years now. Maybe it's time I make my first Korean recipe!

Korean Recipes
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/451127

[Gio]

I Loved Jae's in the SE & Cambridge! I also have Hannaone's recipes on file.... This is all much too funnily coincendental. LOL Do I see a Korean month in our very near future? At least Jen Kalb won't be too disappointed, I hope. BTW: I have no idea which Korean book would be best.

[The Dairy Queen]

I wonder if hannaone would join us if we did a Korean month, or, even if he'd recommend some books for us?

I would love to do Thai or Korean.

RE: Thai, I'm variously intrigued and terrified of David Thompson's book. But, if I'm ever going to do it, this would be the group to do it with.

~TDQ

[The Dairy Queen]

P.S. Here's a thread about Korean cookbook recommendations. Might be interesting as a starting point.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5625...

~TDQ

[Gio]

Yikes! That's $75.00....?

[clepro]

I'm back from my hiatus from chowhound--and most of the rest of the world--and ready to rejoin the cooking!

If we do Indian, I'd like to recommend 660 CURRIES: THE GATEWAY TO INDIAN COOKING, Raghavan Iyer. It's available for $22, is getting great reviews (example: http://jugalbandi.info/2008/05/660-cu... is not limited to curries (abt 1/3 of the recipes aren't curries), and unlike many Indian cookbooks, spans multiple regions. (Note that this is a repeat of a previous post I wrote months ago.).

Wouldn't balk at Madhur Jaffrey either; her recipes are very accessible and consistently good, and her books easy to find and reasonably priced.

Another suggestion in the way of Indian would be to go for the less well-known southern indian foods. Specifically, Indian friends have recently directed me towards The Best of Samaithu Paar: The Classic Guide to Tamil Cuisine (which apparently really is a classic, but I see via Amazon is not readily available and over $50 new), and the very intriguing Dakshin: Vegetarian Cuisine from South India, Chandra Padmanabhan, $15 at Amazon. Said friend has been cooking for me out of Dakshin; all have been fabulous and unlike the usual Indian foods I've eaten.

For Thai, I would add to the list CRACKING THE COCONUT: CLASSIC THAI HOME COOKING, Su-Mei Yu, IACP Cookbook award winner in 2000. From the jacket copy: "A perfect marriage between the practical--wonderfully clear recipes--and the lyrical--beautifully written passages on Thai history and culture, which have molded Thai cuisine."

Additional possibilities for Thai: Chowhounder Sam Fujisaka, whose opinion I value, recommended Schmitz, Puangkram C and Michael J Worman's Practical Thai Cooking as a starter book. Although since he was recommending it for an 11-year-old, perhaps it's too basic. People in the same thread also recommended Quick & Easy Thai by Nancy McDermott, David Thompson's Thai Food, The Original Thai Cookbook by Jennifer Brennan, Thai Home Cooking by Sompon Nabnian and Robert Carmack, and The Best of Thai and Vietnamese Cooking, by Mai Pham, whose Vietnamese cookbook we did last year.

[Rubee]

Oh yes, forgot about CRACKING THE COCONUT. Great book - Now I'm craving the roast duck laab, one of my favorite recipes from that book. Hmmm...may have to make it this week. Or maybe I'll talk my husband into going out for Thai for lunch now that I have a craving!

[smtucker]

[Aside] I have an etiquette question. I pulled out Hazan's book tonight since the stars were aligned. On my kitchen table sat two remaining portions of home made French bread and three gorgeous tomatoes. [Nights are getting cold, so this won't happen for much longer.] So I pulled out this book to make the bread salad. Is it a good thing to revive a thread from 2006 to comment, or should I simply keep my mouth shut about the deliciousness?

[beetlebug]

Personally, I love it when old COTM threads are revived. It reminds me of past books that I've enjoyed and introduces me to new recipes as well.

[MMRuth]

Yes - I love seeming them revived as well, and always take a look to see what someone has cooked.

[pikawicca]

People do this frequently, and as far as I know, no one has ever complained. Don't know why anyone would.

[LulusMom]

I also vote for reviving the old thread if you have tried something new. I'm always happy to see those posts.

[LulusMom]

I think doing an Indian book sounds wonderful, but don't know a thing about most of the books listed. So just count me in as INDIAN.

[Gio]

We seem to all over the map, literally, this month. How on earth is Yamalam going to figure this out? Somehow I think she'll come up with a workable ballot we can vote on.
Good Luck Yamalam!

[pikawicca]

I'm not excited by any of the proposed books, but I have nothing to offer as an alternative. I'm mostly cooking from Arabesque these days, as eggplants and tomatoes dance to the end of their seasons. I love Indian food, but it's too damn fiddly to cook all month, or even once a week.

[oakjoan]

pikawicca: Eggplant pakoras are among my family's faves. There are lots of Indian recipes using aubergines. Jaffrey also has a wonderful tomato soup.