Best contemporary vegetarian cookbook

[sushigirlie]

There are lots of threads on vegetarian cookbooks. Unfortunately, I can't tell if the recommendations are what I'm looking for.

I'm not a vegetarian, but from time to time I eat at somewhat high-end vegetarian restaurants that knock my socks off. It's not really the vegetarian-ness that interests me, so much as it is the creative use of diverse ingredients (think raw kelp noodles and mixed mushrooms in coconut curry). I'm looking for a cookbook that can help me start cooking dishes in that mold.

[sushigirlie]

Thanks everyone! These look like great suggestions.

[leonora1974]

sorry--not ottolenghi: the cookbook. the title is "plenty" and it's by the same guy, yotam ottolenghi.

[leonora1974]

ottolenghi: the cookbook is amazing and the recipes are very creative

[sarahcooks]

I like World Vegetarian Classics.

http://www.amazon.com/World-Vegetaria...

It's organized by region and the recipes are for things that were always meant to be vegetarian rather than making a recipe vegetarian by substituting tofu.

[MelMM]

There's a book called Great Chefs Cook Vegan, that has exactly those kind of high-end "cheffy" dishes. Also Charlie Trotter did both a vegetable book and a raw book.

[tazia]

Millenium in SF is one of the best well-known higher-end vegan restaurants. We went once and were impressed, though not blown away. They certainly did some interesting things though and do have a cookbook:
http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/r...

[Eat.Choui]

I like Cafe Gratitude vegan restaurant in San Francisco, so I got the book and enjoy the recipes. Note: It's vegan and raw and the book is a bit "out there," but the recipes sound like what you may be looking for:

http://www.amazon.com/Am-Grateful-Recipes-Lifestyle-Gratitude/dp/1556436475

SF location menu:
http://www.cafegratitude.com/images/C...

[cheesecake17]

I went there a few years ago and the food was delicious, but definitely a bit out there. Do the recipes require any special equipment?

[Eat.Choui]

A food processor is used quite a bit, but no fancy equipment.

[cheesecake17]

The cookbook from The Gate restaurant in London is fantastic. I think it's what you're looking for. Creative dishes with interesting ingredients and combinations. The recipes focus on vegetables rather than faux meats. Beautiful photos, too.