New Fall Cookbooks, eek.

[roxlet]

As expected, there is a whole raft of upcoming titles that sound enormously appealing. Among the titles that I am anxious to see are:
The Mozza Cookbook
Momofuko Milk Bar
Volt
Eleven Madison Park
Cooking Without Borders -- Anita Lo
Heston Blumenthal at Home
Home Cooking with Jean-Georges
Molto Batali - Simple Family Meals from My Home to Yours
Lidia's Italy in America

And sadly, the list goes on.

What new arrivals are you anxious to get your hands on?

[buttertart]

To go back to roxlet's list, I really want the Blumenthal...have kicked myself ever since I didn't buy it when I saw it in Waterstone's Picadilly.

[dkennedy]

FANCY PANTRY

I am not sure where I read about it but I believe it was today on this board. Can't seem to find the reference so I am responding here. Bought it. Also bought BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT by the same author. Really excited about both. Thank you for the referral.

[buttertart]

You'll love them. I like the first one (Better...) better.

[herby]

I made many things from the Fancy Pantry - love the book! And it is next in line to be indexed on EYB!

[roxlet]

Yes, when I look at the original list, I'm sad that TGC is offering most of them -- at least thus far!

[roxlet]

For those of you who are members of thegoodcook.com, they are having one of their big sales this week -- 2 for $25, 3 for $33, and 4+ for $10 each.

[The Dairy Queen]

Free shipping?

~TDQ

[roxlet]

Nope, not this time.

[The Dairy Queen]

Weird. I don't have this promotion in my email or when I login to TGC. But, I could easily find four books I would be willing to buy at $10 each... Maybe even that Alice Waters one to round out the quartet (or square it out?). I'm feeling sentimental today.

~TDQ

[dkennedy]

I also did not get the notice about this sale. I am going to call TGC on Monday to find out why. I'll report back with my findings.

[buttertart]

Email me (in profile) and I'll send you the link. The promo prices appear after you log into the site. It's all week so no worries of missing it. Got Illustrated Baking (a DK publishing company book), Essential Pépin, Dolci, Brasserie, and the Chez Panisse book (for sentimental reasons too, our first and last meals in Berkeley were there, and we often went to the café - also have fond memories of Jeremiah Tower brunches).

[roxlet]

That's so weird -- I went back to the site this morning using my email as the link, and it didn't have the sale. That web site is just soooo wonky. I will give it another try later. As you say, bt, the sale is all week...

Ha! I just clicked on the email again, and there it was. The site is so weird.

[bushwickgirl]

It can be, I have the sales email, thank you, and a bunch of books in my cart, then I used another email from them to check the cart; all the prices changed to regular; well, maybe that's not so wonky but a bit slick on their part. Or it's just the way it is with TGC for the sales.

In my cart: The Homesick Texan, Fast Breads, Chocolate Cakes (separate books) both by Elinor Klivans, Dolci, I may add another one, TBD.

[roxlet]

I looked at the Homesick Texan. I'm wondering what made you decide to put it in your cart?

[buttertart]

They have another email out today, $10 new arrivals...

[The Dairy Queen]

I just received my email announcing the bundle sale. I've already bought 4 more books, including two I didn't even know I wanted (a quinoa one and one on making your own pop). Mine! Mine!

I see Jamie Olivers' 30 minute meals (or whatever it's being called in the US) is available for pre-order on TGC. I know that might not appeal to everyone, but I've been intrigued by the concept ever since I heard the buzz about the book when it was released in the UK. Mine!

Oh, it's not free shipping, but it is that $2.50 flat rate shipping after you've spent (I think) $25 or something...

Now all I need to do is some actual cooking and I'll be in great shape.

~TDQ

[dkennedy]

Yesterday I went onto TGC website and couldn't find a book to buy. Today I decided to go on to buy $10.00 books to put aside for the holidays and found 4 I couldn't live without:

The Brisket Cookbook
Off the Menu
The Cheesemonger's Kitchen
Jaime Oliver's Meals in Minutes

all pre-orders. Oddly, I still haven't gotten my own email for the sale. Thank you buttertart for emailing me a link so I could take advantage of the sale!!!

Still trying to decide which books would make a good holiday stocking stuffer for teachers and the like. I am leaning toward Mozza since the restaurant is so hot here in L.A. Last year gave out Around My French Table, which I think everyone could benefit from having on their shelves.

[buttertart]

You're very welcome, the offer stands for any interested parties.

[roxlet]

What a great idea to give Mozza -- and at $10 a pop, those would be great for teachers and such. We are not allowed to give teacher gifts -- you donate to a general fund, and then they divvy it up and give the teachers the money.

[Katie Nell]

I won the soda book (assuming you're talking about Homemade Sodas, by Andrew Schloss) from Zester Daily, but haven't received it yet! Let me know if you try anything from it. The descriptions on Amazon of some of the recipes sound delicious!

[pelo2000]

Did you find the list on Amazon? Sounds like some great books.

[Berheenia]

Got a copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks from the library and felt like she was sneaking around our kitchen back in the 90's when we were feeding a teenager - all my favorites that are too fattening for the 60yo bods. Lasagna (and she makes it with cottage cheese- bless her heart- just like our friend Margie did and she was the best pot luck cook I ever met), and enchiladas ala mid west and perfect pot roast and boiled icing (another Margie recipe).. We may buy some elastic waist pants and go for it -

[greedygirl]

Hugh Fearnley-Whatsisname of River Cottage fame has a new vegetable book out in September, which is previewed in today's Guardian. It looks nice.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyl...

[The Dairy Queen]

Oh no, that sweet potato gratin doesn't look good at all! Nor the roasted new potatoes with harissa. Or the chiles stuff with beans. Nope, this isn't a book I need... I wouldn't suppose the Good Cook will get it?

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

lol. Does the Good Gook normally get British books? It doesn't appear to be on Amazon.com.

[The Dairy Queen]

Nah, TGC doesn't normally get British books. And not boutiquey US books, either. Mostly mass market books. You can't pre-order it on Amazon US but you can ask to be notified when it's in. It say Sept 2011. I wonder why you can't pre-order it.

BUT, I just went to the Amazon UK site to look at it (available for pre-order there), but then I saw RC came out with a baby and toddler cookbook earlier this year. Totally not on my radar. I really need THAT book for sure. And I can have it right now. I wouldn't suppose anyone has tried the RC baby and toddler book?

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

Not me, but the reviews are really good.

[The Dairy Queen]

I like the idea is that it's food you cook for your whole family that baby can eat. Maybe I can get a volume discount for buying both books. :).

~TDQ

[LulusMom]

Baby can eat almost anything as long as you put it in the blender first. Get those taste buds used to everything.

[The Dairy Queen]

Buy one, get one free on TGC today with free shipping. If you still need to buy one at the full member price to meet your purchase commitment, this is one of the best deals TGC offers... (remember: books less than $13.99 don't count towards your purchase commitment...I got snared up on that last time...)

I'm thinking "Mozza" and "Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume" (I know the latter is not a "new" fall book, but I'm behind.)

~TDQ

[roxlet]

I definitely want Mozza, but I haven't come up with another "must have" for this sale...

[The Dairy Queen]

That's always the hard thing about the good cook.

~TDQ

[dkennedy]

Oddly, that special does not seem to be coming up on my account. It doesn't really matter to me, as I already have Mozza coming to me on bonus points and don't need anything else TODAY. But, I wonder why this is.

[The Dairy Queen]

You have to login to their site via a link in an email they sent this morning "flash sale" to get the deal, I think. There's a cute cookbook that they have that belongs to the "If you give a mouse a cookie" series. I'm very tempted. It's four children's books in one with recipes sprinkled in between, and a music CD,

~TDQ

[dkennedy]

Interesting. I got my flash sale notice three days ago. Used the free shipping on my bonus points purchase, so I guess I am on a different schedule then the rest of you.

[buttertart]

They had one over the weekend and one announced today.

[roxlet]

DOn't you find it annoying that thegoodcook does not filter for cookbooks on their "What's new" and "What's coming" sections. Not the I don't love crafts, but it's a pain wading through all these other books.

[The Dairy Queen]

I find everything about TGC annoying, except for the great bargains I get when I'm being smart about it.

~TDQ

[roxlet]

That was why it took me so long to join. But I love those $11 sales.

[jen kalb]

I have Purple Citrus home from the library. Shes a UK chef and TV personality born in bulgaria, Turkish father - her book is very pretty and the focus is (mostly) variations on turkish, ottoman and some syrian dishes. She uses lots of flowers and non-turkish ingredients like avocado in turkish dishes. Some of the recipes look enticing and Im hoping to try (not the flowers, tho), others at the more creatirve (but very colorful) end of the spectrum Im a little dubious of. Be interested to hear more reports of actual cooking from this book.

[beetlebug]

Another one that looks great - All About Roasting by Molly Stevens. Release date in November. All About Braising is one of my favorites.

http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Roast...

Also, LLM, you should buy the cookbooks. I'm enabling away.

[The Dairy Queen]

Ohohoh! All about Roasting! I'll bet it's going to be FANTASTIC!

~TDQ

[dkennedy]

Now that will make a fantastic COTM!

[Becca Porter]

preordered. I love AAB so much!

[bayoucook]

I have Barbara Kafka's Roasting book, do I want Molly's, too? HELL YES!

[beetlebug]

Has anyone heard of Mighty Spice by John Gregory-Smith? I saw it in the bookstore today and was just drawn to it. I didn't buy it but I love the concept.

http://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Spice-Co...

[Gio]

Well now I'm drawn to the book too... Thanks a bunch...! Is it similar to the Ana Sortun book which I did not buy when it was COTM? And that's very uncharacteristic of me.

[beetlebug]

It seems quite different than Ana Sortun's Spice. That book focused on middle eastern cuisine. This book is more international. It's almost like a quick and easy book that crosses country lines. Each recipe won't have more than 5 spices (including garlic, ginger and hot chiles). Here are some sample recipes. They look promising.

http://www.johngregorysmith.com/Site/Mighty_Spice.html

http://www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/12496/john-gregorysmiths-grilled-halloumi-salad

http://fussfreeflavours.com/2011/07/recipe-stir-fried-beef/

http://giventodistractingothers.blogspot.com/2011/07/mighty-spice-cookbook-and-chicken.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/a...

The recipe that really screamed to me in the bookstore was a thai garlic chicken - where the garlic gets really dried and crisp. I haven't found a link to it yet.

[Gio]

Many thanks for the links, beetlebug. I'll have a good look at the recipes and may even make one or two. The Thai garlic chicken sounds like something I'd likely make too.

[LulusMom]

This review (from a British paper, I believe, and hope) scares one a little - as if spices were scary things that we only touch in our most daring moments:

"Spices are the sad victims of wasteful neglect. Bought for that let’s-try-something-different moment, they languish unloved on the shelf after just a soupçon has been used, until called upon again when there’s another culinary rush of blood to the head – only for the ‘best before’ date to reveal itself as some time in the last millennium."

Do we know, is the author British?

[beetlebug]

I don't know but I strongly suspect he is British. There are a couple of YouTube videos but I haven't watched any.

On the amazon uk page, his cookbook was linked to a Simon Hopkinson cookbook.

[Jay F]

Oh, I don't know. It pretty fairly sums up my experience with buying and using Indian spices.

[greedygirl]

It is a British newspaper - we call it the Daily Fail, the Hate Mail or the Daily Hell in our household (we are not fans, but Mr GG reads it online obsessively in the interests of research, and knowing thine enemy).

[beetlebug]

I made the lemongrass chicken with chiles and it turned out great.

http://www.johngregorysmith.com/Site/...

The spicing might be ok but it's hard to tell since I didn't make the full amount. All the on-line recipes use 1 lb. 2 oz of protein. I have a smaller wok (12 inches) and have found that 1 lb of meat pushes the limit between stir fry and steam. So, I usually get around 3/4 lb and a 1 lb of meat. I did so with the chicken recipe as well.

So, I didn't use the full amt of lemongrass, garlic and ginger. I did use two thai chile peppers (could have used more but I didn't know how spicy they were). But, when I put in the fish and soy sauce, I forgot to use less. And, it was a bit too much for the amount of meat I had in there.

But, other than prepping the lemongrass, this was a quick, easy and delicious meal. I'm going to make a few more on-line recipes and hope that the library will soon acquire a copy so that I can take a closer look. But, if this one recipe is any indication, this could be a winner of a cookbook.

[LulusMom]

I bit the bullet and bought this yesterday (along with the M. Samuelsson Africa book) so should have it early next week. Once I get a chance to look through it and make something(s), I'll let you know. But I'm happy to hear that the lemongrass chicken was a hit.

[LulusMom]

So, the Mighty Spice book came yesterday, and I got a chance to sit down with it. I'm in love, at least theoretically. I picked out 27 recipes that I want to make, and 14 of those got my "make as soon as possible" sign next to them. That is a pretty high percentage. Will probably be a week or so until I can try something, but will report back when I do. But I'm very excited about this one.

[dkennedy]

Can't wait to hear how the dishes turn out. I was paging through it at B&N and it is now on my ever growing wish list.

[The Dairy Queen]

Argh! I really don't want to want this book, because there's so many books I already want. And the good cook doesn't have it.

What do you love about it, LLM? Is this a book for a new mom?

~TDQ

[LulusMom]

I can't say for sure about that new book/new mom thing yet, TDQ, because I haven't cooked from it yet. The instructions bit is very short in almost all the recipes, but that, as we all know, can be misleading. I promise to report as soon as I try something.

And if you do like spicy food, then you DO want this book. Sorry. I hate to be the pusher-man.

[The Dairy Queen]

I LOVE spicy food and I really crave it when I haven't had any in awhile. Well, report back, please (as I know you will)...

~TDQ

[jen kalb]

Call me a skeptic- , I have little interest in spice books per se , but I like all kinds of cuisines that use spices extensively. it seems hardly likely to me that the same degree of spice sophistication would be displayed here as say in indian, moroccan , georgian, middle eastern, mexican. sichuan, thai or malaysian books.

[roxlet]

From what I understand of this book, I think it's supposed to be spice simplicity, i.e. using few spices for maximum flavor. I don't think I'm much interested in this book either...

[buttertart]

It didn't grab me overly much when I looked at it on Amazon - and looked at the guy's website, I have to say. The writer develops recipes for women's weekly magazines (sorry if that sounds snobbish, which it is, but I've never been tempted to cook from such sources). Same reasons as jen kalb.

[The Dairy Queen]

I'm invisioning this to be the spice version of "Radically Simple," as in how to achieve maximum flavor with minimum effort, which I'm thinking could be my ticket out of boring weeknight meals. Lately my husband has been doing all of the cooking, bless his heart, but it's all bland, bland, bland. But, if these are simple, not too intimidating recipes I can teach my husband --or that I can do one-handed with baby on my hip-- that yield good results, I will not be too proud to buy it.

I can't wait to hear what LulusMom thinks of the recipes once she's got one or two under her belt.

~TDQ

[buttertart]

Good point - LulusMom knows whereof she speaks!

[LulusMom]

I'm blushing. Coming from you two - high praise indeed!

[roxlet]

Don't blush when someone tells the truth!

[buttertart]

Precisely.

[greedygirl]

Nigel Slater started his career as food writer for Marie Claire. His first cookbook, The Marie Claire Cookbook, was also one of mine and has some good recipes.

[buttertart]

Marie Claire is not Weekly Woman's World. ;-)
I love Nigel too.
It may be a wonderful book, it just didn't grab me by the neck and say BUY ME!!! like some of them do.

[greedygirl]

Some of the Australian Woman's Weekly books are quite good...

Anyhow, talk to me about The China Moon Cafe cookbook and Barbara Tropp. Picked a copy up at the charity shop yesterday and am somewhat regretting it. Hasn't really been adapted for home cooks, and the cookie recipes look great, but make enough for an army!

[buttertart]

I'm not a huge fan of Barbara Tropp and don't have this one - I've seen others here discuss it, though. The restaurant was open in SF when we lived out there but reports on it never really appealed enough to motivate us to go there.

I recently rebought her big Chinese cooking book (which I had when it came out, which was when we were just back from Taipei and I knew everything there was to know about Chinese food ha ha, so didn't like it much - but I had a yen - or yuan - for something else comprehensive on the subject) and started reading through it, but rather lost interest. I know there are some here who swear by it who do know their Chinese food.
Roll on February and Fuchsia.

[The Dairy Queen]

I think that's a good way of summarizing the China Moon Cookbook, that it hasn't been adapted to the home cook. I think these are the scaled, real recipes they used at China Moon Cafe (which was one of my favorites back in the day). You can make the recipes at home, but she's not going to spare you one ounce of work!

She did write a book more oriented to home cooks: The Modern Art of Chinese Cooking, which I think has been surpassed now.

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

And who wants to make 5 dozen cookies - maybe for a street party but that's about it!

[The Dairy Queen]

That's a lot of cookies. I suppose you could cut the recipe in half, but they should have just done that for you. I think that happens a lot with adapting restaurant recipes. Restaurants are doing them in such huge quantities that they can add a smidge of this and that that adds a little something to the final product. But, when they scale it down for the home cook, those little smidges "disappear" if the recipe gets scaled down too far. If you want to keep the recipe true to the restaurants and retain all of the ingredients that add subtle nuance, then you can only scale the recipe down so far.

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

I must admit to being somewhat mystified by the quantities given. For example, the recipe for crystallised ginger butter squares says it makes six dozen, but the recipe calls for only 4oz of butter and a cup of flour. How the heck will that make 72 cookies?

[buttertart]

Not even teenyweeny mignardise-size. Chuck the book.

[The Dairy Queen]

She just bought the book! At least that's very efficient culling. :).

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

I got it from the Oxfam shop so I can just see it as a donation to charity! Actually, I will probably make some of the pantry items, especially the pickled ginger and the flavoured oils.

[buttertart]

The Modern Art was "subpassed" by Irene Kuo's "The Key to Chinese Cooking" which came out a few years before. Still the best one out there. Come ON, Fuchsia!

[The Dairy Queen]

HAHA! Subpassed. I like that.

You STILL think Kuo's is the best? Better than Dunlop?

~TDQ

[jen kalb]

Dunlops books are regional - i dont think she has the same intent of presenting the cuisine as a whole.

[buttertart]

For general Chinese cooking, yes. She goes into all of the techniques and recipes from all the major cuisines. Not in any way to take away from FD's books which are fabulous, but limited to Sichuan and Hunan.
Once my goddess's new book comes out, I probably won't be pushing Kuo any more.

[Gio]

After reading your discussion of Barbara Tropp's restaurant and books I came across the following article about Bill Grainger, the Austrailian chef, and how he got his start in The Industry after going to China Moon ... Some of his recipes are there as well:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddri...

Does anyone have any of his books? What do you think of them?

[greedygirl]

I have his Holiday book which I picked up at a bargain book shop for about one English pound. It's nice to look at but I haven't got round to cooking from it yet! Had no idea he'd moved to London.

[The Dairy Queen]

Very interesting! I hadn't heard that story about Bill Granger before. He's on the Cooking Channel: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/bill-...

~TDQ

[beetlebug]

I hope that chicken with garlic one is high on the list. Wildly curious about that one.

[LulusMom]

The one with the garlic and black pepper? That looks incredible. It's on the list. This week, mainly due to the fact that I have most of the ingredients on hand, I'll be making the mexican chicken with yogurt and orange. Not the most exciting recipe in the book, but it is a busy week, and a short hop to the store makes this easier. But next week I'm thinking the calamari with chilies, and maybe the surf and turf Singapore noodles (but maybe something else, waffling).

[beetlebug]

I think so. It's the first one I saw when I opened the book in the store. It's thai inspired.

Can't wait to read your reports.

[LulusMom]

Yep, I bet that is it. It's called Bangkok Garlic and Black Pepper Chicken. 8 garlic cloves (along with black pepper, fish sauce, sugar, and lime). Sounds great. And looks very easy.

[LulusMom]

I started thinking, and it flashed into my mind that one of my very few (if not only) real losers from the Gourmet cookbook was the Singapore noodles. So, going to relook and maybe find something else.

[LulusMom]

I'm thinking maybe I should start a thread for this book, but will anyone join me? I know Pikawicca got it, and beetlebug (who enticed me with it in the first place) has been cooking from it off the web. I plan to make two more from it in the coming week, and tonight I made the Mexican Chicken with Yogurt and Almonds (p. 75). I will be honest with you - this choice of recipe was based more on having certain ingredients around the house that I needed to get rid of more than it being the most intriguing. That said, we really liked this very much. Homey, delicious, spicy but not overwhelmingly so so that I didn't have to worry about Lulu who (thanks to a friend) has suddenly started saying "I don't like spicy food" (as she eats spicy food that she hasn't been told is spicy). I sort of made 1 and a half times the recipe, so some of the spicing might have been a bit off, although I think I did a pretty good job of keeping it right as he wrote it. I could have taken it spicier, but I was thrilled with it nonetheless. Again - very homey, delicious. Basically braised chicken thighs, some garlic, then roasted red peppers (I added a yellow one too for more color) and roasted jalapenos (he called for red ones, I used green serranos), almonds ground but with still a bit of chunk to them, sliced scallions, juice of an orange, yogurt. Serve with tortilla chips (family *very* happy). I especially liked that bit with the little chunks of almonds in there. I have a feeling the leftovers will be even better. This would be great sitting in front of the tv watching football; fancier than chili but still very tasty and comfort food-ish.

Dessert is avocado popsicles, thanks to the paletas book.

[dkennedy]

LulusMom

Are you referring to the China Moon Cookbook?

[LulusMom]

No, so sorry, I should have been clearer. This recipe is from Mighty Spice.

[greedygirl]

I just received my copy in the post but haven't had much of a chance to look through it. Glad to hear you've had a success already.

[dkennedy]

Lulu's Mom,

If you start a thread, you know you will be compelling me to buy this book.

[pikawicca]

I'll play.

[LulusMom]

After a few days of waffling on dkennedy's behalf, I've gone ahead and started a thread for Mighty Spice. You'll find it here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/805269

[beetlebug]

I made the chicken kadahi as one of my hurricane meals and it was really good, even with my less then stellar planning.

http://giventodistractingothers.blogs...

What I really like about these recipes is that they are pantry ready recipes and I only had to buy the protein.

Once again, I made about 2/3 of the recipe (3/4 lbs of meat) but kept the spicing levels the same. I also only had one large CSA tomato v. the 4 tomatoes (apparently, I ate the others without thinking about it) and the squirrels had decimated my own. But, this was still a delicious dish.

Stir fry cumin, briefly, then add a chopped onion. Cook until golden and then add in chopped garlic, ginger, chili (I used red jalepeno), tomato, garam masala, tumeric and salt. Stir fry until the tomato begins to break down. Then add the chopped chicken and green pepper and cook until done (about 15 more minutes). Add a swirl of lemon juice and serve with basmati rice.

Lots of flavors and textures in this dish. While it may not have the complexity of some indian dishes, this took a significantly less time. This is more similar to a Madhur Jaffrey indian recipe v. a Julie Sahni one. It actually reminds me of MJ's Quick and Easy Indian Cookbook, which I really need to pull out again.

I served this with sauteed greens and broccoli.

[LulusMom]

Oh good, this is another one on my list.

[beetlebug]

Note: my jalapenos are really spicy this year. Esp the red ones. More so than in the previous years. I found that out when I cut the pepper, and then later, rubbed my eyes and face. Ouch.

[LulusMom]

Ouch! Not a good way to find out.

[LulusMom]

Holy cow, that looks great. Wish there were some reviews. Will check out the links below, but I've put it into my shopping cart for now.

[beetlebug]

Here are some reviews from Amazon.uk. Although, I suspect that some may be friends of the authors.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mighty-Spice-...

[LulusMom]

It looks like he is British, and the spicing looks like it might need a bit of ramping up for my tastes, but it still looks amazing. I'd be more than willing to try a recipe upping the spice just to see how it comes together. One of the recipes I saw called for half a chili pepper, which might be enough for most people. For me, probably not. But still, it sounded wonderful aside from that.

[beetlebug]

I agree on the spicing. Although, I usually up the chile pepper anyway for most recipes. I watched the video where he made the chicken kadahi (sp) and it looked great. He is also very likable and adorable.

[LulusMom]

I like trying a source (like Bittman and Gourmet) before upping the spicing, just in case there is someone who is as spice-happy as I am writing the recipes, but I do usually (almost always, especially Bittman) end up adding more spice.

I'm having to hold myself back from just immediately buying this book. And why? I deserve some retail therapy, right??

[LulusMom]

What, no enablers out there??

[roxlet]

OK, I'll be it! Buy it, buy it!!!

[LulusMom]

Oh, thank goodness. I've been tapping my fingers not-very-patiently! But now I've realized that I may need to buy a book for whatever turns out to be COTM, so I may wait until that gets decided. But .. yay! thank you!

[roxlet]

Wow, that does sound good! I guess that it has only been out here for about 10 days, hence no reviews on US Amazon...

[Jay F]

It matters what country the reviews come from?

[roxlet]

Obviously not, but I went to the Amazon US web site and saw no reviews. The reviews on the UK site are glowing, but beetlebug above suspected that some of the UK reviews might be friends of the authors, so I thought it worth noting that there are none in the US.

[LulusMom]

No, Jay F, it doesn't matter. But the link was from the US site, and there were no reviews.

[Jay F]

Oh, I'm sorry. The link I clicked was to UK amazon, and it didn't occur to me that the reviews might be stacked.

[beetlebug]

My suspicion comes from those glowing reviews and that 5 or 6 of the reviews (out of 8) are single shot reviewers. Or it could be that they loved the cookbook so much that they were motivated to post and that I am a bit cynical.

[roxlet]

Good detective work, beetlebug!

[The Dairy Queen]

I guess Roden's Food of Spain is a summer book, not a fall book? I'm surprised it's not on this list. (I'm so far behind!)

~TDQ

[Caitlin McGrath]

It has been out for a couple of months, I think.

[LulusMom]

I feel like I'm a little tired of chef's cookbooks, but I have to say, the subtitle of Besh's book certainly entices me.

[The Dairy Queen]

I was thinking the exact same thing. And the cover photo is of him and a little boy, his son perhaps? which is very appealing. I was hoping I could preorder it through the good cook but they don't have it yet that I could tell.

~TDQ

[bayoucook]

I have Mozza coming next month, looks great.

[dkennedy]

I am coveting this one.

[Gio]

I have preorders for:
Made in Italy by David Rocco, he of the Dolce Vita program on the Cooking Channel
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030788922X

Basic to Brilliant, Y'all: 150 Refined Southern Recipes and Ways to Dress them Up for Company by Virginia Willis
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607...

[roxlet]

Do you have his Dolce Vita, Gia? I noticed many four star ratings for it on Amazon.

[Gio]

I don't have his Dolce Vita, Roxlet. Too expensive at 35.00+ used for the hardcover which I prefer. I'll wait a bit till the price comes down.

His a link to his online recipes...
http://www.davidrocco.com/recipes/

[roxlet]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that -- I really don't know him at all!

[The Dairy Queen]

OK, which FOUR books should I put in my cart at The Good Cook?

1. Food of Spain
2. Essential Pepin

I was thinking "Splendid Table How to Eat Weekends"...

And, "Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume," but I already have Arabesque that I don't cook from much. Does anyone know what might distinguish this book from Arabesque?

I looked at Tupelo Honey Cafe, but too heavy a reliance on produce that doesn't grow where I live.

I was thinking Peterson's "Kitchen Simple" given the recent chaos in my life... Anyone seen or heard anything about this book?

~TDQ

[pikawicca]

"Purple Citrus" strays much further from traditional Middle Eastern cuisine than does Arabesque, but in a good way. It's very creative, and I've liked everything I've made from it so far. I believe Candy is a fan, as well.

[Njchicaa]

I pre-ordered Cook Like A Rock Star by Anne Burrell. I'm interested in the Molto Batali one as well. First time hearing about it.

[shallots]

I've had Lisa Fain's "The Homesick Texan Cookbook" on pre-order since April.

I have much used tattered print outs of so many of her recipes, that I owe her the buying of her book.

[emglow101]

I have been a Lidia fan for 20+ years. Yes I will purchase her book, I have all of her books, and the recipies I have tried worked.They are a great for reference .So many cook books have recipie sabotage.

[Candy]

Purple Citrus and Sweet Perfume, Southern Biscuits (the cream biscuits are great and a snap to make), Tupelo Cafe.

[roxlet]

Candy -- unless you're waiting for the fall, I think these titles are out already...

[bushwickgirl]

They are out now, and that dang cookbook club has them all.

[buttertart]

Was reading through Purple Citrus last night and in the words of Leonard Cohen, was deeply unimpressed. Nothing seemed that exciting. Beautiful photos, though.

[jen kalb]

I thnk some of the ottoman style rice recipes looked interesting but the recipes are strking me as being more about visual effect than anything else. Its also hard to take it seriously as a regional book (its really not) with all the exotic ingredients, such as avocado in a Gazientep dish. Even the purple citrus.

[honkman]

The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria
Odd Bits: How to Cook the Rest of the Animal

[wattacetti]

Pre-ordered those too a while back.

[ChiliDude]

My wife won't let me have any more cookbooks, so I rely on the 'net for new ideas. I have 5 book shelves of cookbooks. My wife has created 2 cook notebooks of clippings from various sources. She cooks because she says she has to. I cook because I like to and to eat something other than pasta. I've seen enough pasta for 3 lifetimes in our 51+ years of marriage. Do you get the message that my genes did not originate in Italy?

[bushwickgirl]

If you've eaten that much pasta in your life, you are now honorary Italian at the very least, and consider that you've probably experienced some minor gene mutation.

Back to the subject of cookbook purchasing:

Essential Pepin
Words to Eat By: Five Foods and the Culinary History of the English Language (released)
Cooking Without Borders
Off the Menu: Staff Meals from America's Top Restaurants
Lidia's Italy in America
The Food of Morocco - I had Couscous and Other Good Food of Morocco way back when, hopefully this publication will really expand on the cuisine.

That should just about break the bank.

[roxlet]

Wait for a thegoodcook.com sale!

[bushwickgirl]

Will do, I expect Pepin, Off the Menu and Wolfert over there, maybe Lidia also. I think you can pre order Pepin now.

[buttertart]

That Words to Eat By (v v interesting) looks like a good Kindle candidate.

[bushwickgirl]

Does indeed. More my focus these days, she says, over cookbooks per se.

[buttertart]

Makes sense to me.

[dkennedy]

Chili Dude I think you need to renegotiate with your wife to expand the boundaries of your cookbook shelves. Maybe one new cookbook a year or every quarter? No more EVER seems like a prison sentence to a cookbook lover like me.

[greedygirl]

I want Turkish Cookery by Gillie Bhasan which is currently out of print but being reissued in November. And the new Dunlop, obviously, but it's not out until next February.

[wattacetti]

Momofuko Milk Bar
Volt
Heston Blumenthal at Home
Essential Pépin

Also have Martin Picard's treatise on maple syrup on the order sheets.

Buttertart: you can find titles at least on the Amazon.ca site by sorting via publication date.

[buttertart]

I dare not tread that path. Although the other chef's books don't grab me.

[buttertart]

The one and only, the divine Fuchsia Dunlop's "Every Grain of Rice" featuring recipes from all over China (which, despite David Sedaris' snarky opinion of it, is the country with the most varied, sophisticated, delicious, and wonderful cuisines in the world, and a country I am very happy to have spent considerable time in, eating my brains out). I cannot wait to get my hands on this book.
The Pépin.
Saw the Blumenthal in London and have kicked myself for not getting it ever since.
The Field (how is it revised, one wonders?). It's one of the best cookbooks ever, period.
Where are you finding out about these, roxlet, you evil woman?

[roxlet]

I was on Amazon, as wattacetti says, and I started seeing all these interesting cookbooks, all of which were pre-pub.

[SilverlakeGirl]

I know you're aware of this, but for those who are not, her website is a delight:

http://www.fuchsiadunlop.com/

Love the fact she is growing Sichuan Peppercorns at home. :0)

[buttertart]

I had been following it a while back, and will again, now. The Sichuan peppercorn thing is very amusing. (I'm so crazy about her I named my new, superspunky, and adorable Russian blue-ish kitty Fuchsia.)

[Candy]

She is also on FB

[LaLa]

Tart Love by Holly Herrick

[emily]

I've already pre-ordered:
The Mozza Cookbook
Momofuku Milk bar
PDT Cocktail Book
Make the Bread, Buy the Butter (not really a cookbook, but I like her blog + it's about food)
The Food of Morocco (Wolfert)
The Italian Baker, Revised (never bought the original)

Interested in (some are 2012):
Mission Street Food
My Pizza (Jim Lahey)
Asian Tofu
Ploughman's Feast and the Miser's Lunch
Rustic Italian Food (Vetri)
Dolci: Italy's Sweets
The Great American Cookbook
Neue Cuisine
Essential Pepin
One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes
Mourad: New Moroccan
Home Cooking with Jean Georges

[roxlet]

I have the original Italian Baker, and i's great. I'm also looking forward to Jacques Pepin's new book too.

[Candy]

I was one of the testers for Asian Tofu. There are some mighty fine tofu recipes in it. They can turn someone who is not a tofu lover into a tofu eater. It comes out in Feb.

[buttertart]

I want it, I love tofu.

[The Dairy Queen]

oh, it's andrea! i want it too. and the new dunlop. i feel like i should want pepin...

~TDQ

[LulusMom]

I love tofu, and I love asian food. I'm there. And yes, the new Dunlop for sure.

[The Dairy Queen]

Forty Years of Chez Panisse. (Although, it appears to have no recipes...)

~TDQ

[pikawicca]

This is not a cookbook, but seems to be a paean to the Genius of Alice. I'll pass.

[The Dairy Queen]

Yes, the more I read about it, the more I agree with you. I was hoping/thinking it was a cookbook, or, would at least have representative recipes over the years or something. Nope.

I think this will be a library book instead of a purchased book. I do want to see it, but I don't think I need to own it. Bah.

~TDQ

[oakjoan]

emily: Is the Food of Morocco by Paula Wolfert a NEW book or her old one?