What cookbooks have you bought recently, or are you lusting after? Early Fall edition [old]

[buttertart]

Hello all, having been rather profligate in my cookbook buying recently, I look forward to doing the same all over again very soon, as I know you do as well. So, what books are finding their ways into your eager mitts these days, or are you madly desiring? Spill.

[DonShirer]

Easy Chinese Recipes and Quick and Easy Thai.
You can guess that I'm a newbie at oriental cooking, but I tried several recipes from library copies of these books, and they indeed were fairly easy but good tasting, so I bought them.

[PuttingUpWithKara]

I really LOVE Mangoes & Curry Leaves by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid!

It features the various cuisines of the Indian subcontinent. The book's authors present a wonderful tone, intriguing stories, and (though unnecessary to a great cookbook) stimulating coffee table book-quality photos.
The recipes are accessible to all skill levels, yet exciting. As a gourmet usually on strict time and money budgets, l enjoy cooking from this book because of the vast array of recipes.

I have my local library's copy held hostage. :)

[buttertart]

Announcing ta-ta-ta-da! the first monthly thread here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8715...

[Gio]

>Pasta: William Sonoma Collection, Erica De Mane, Chuck Williams: to add to my over flowing Italian cookbook collection, based on reading just one recipe. Had to have. Forgot what the recipe was...

>Second Helpings from Union Square Cafe, Danny Meyer, et al: because I can't have just one.

>The Frankies Spuntino Kitchen Companion & Cooking Manual: Frank Castronovo, Frank Meehan, Peter Falcinell: I think I'm on an Italian buying spree.

>Italian Family Dining: Recipes, Menus, and Memories of Meals with a Great American Food Family, Edward Giobbi, Eugenia Giobbi Bone. Well I have 3 of his other books so I needed this one, didn't I?

[angelsmom]

I have the second two you bought.....could not live without Sputinos. Let me know how you like the Union Square. I have their first one.

[Gio]

<"..could not live without Sputinos.">

Well, That's certainly high praise. I've been so busy trying to find recipes to cook from the current and future COTMs I haven't had time to read the Spuntinos through carefully to see what appeals.

I have the Union Sq. first book and have made a few very nice recipes that we enjoyed including the fig and peach chutney. It's great with meats and fish.
http://bytheseason.blogspot.com/2009/...

[angelsmom]

I too have the first US and could to live without their bar nuts, or bruschetta rossa , but the second seems so different, but I may invest in it for a envy.

[angelsmom]

I really like Spuntinos sauce, their Brussels sprout salad and the pork braciole is beyond words.

[Westy]

3 very good, but very different Italian cookbooks:

The Sicilian Gentleman's cookbook. Easy, very red-sauce, but it gets hauled down from the shelf a few times every month.
Patsy's: Totally red sauce, but everything I have ever made came out exactly as he described it.
Bravo! : http://www.amazon.com/Bravo-Stylish-G...

Bravo is better than its theme would suggest....

[Carole_beaudry]

I bought "back in day bakery cookbook". It's a great edition if you like baking. Every recipe that I've tried out of it has been absolutely delicious. I love the fact that the recipes call for things I can find down the baking aisle or already in my cupboard. I hate opening up a cookbook and not recognizing anything in the ingredient list.

[dkennedy]

Despite the fact that I spent an Unholy sum on The Last Course, I am not much of a baker. Back in the Day looks tempting though.

[roxlet]

That book has popped up on my radar a number of times, but I have resisted buying it. What recipes do you particularly love?

[HillJ]

The Day's version of Cinnamon Sticky Buns is really good. Highly requested by my guests.
The cookbook is alot of fun besides being accurate and easy to follow.

[Carole_beaudry]

Ok, that's a hard one since everything is so good. But the crunchy pumpkin bars has been a very big hit, and everyone wants the recipe. The blueberry muffins are the best I've had in some time. Oh the chicken pot pie with biscone topping, the spice combination was great. I just made the lemon bars on Wednesday night had a few delicious pieces and sent the rest with my sister to work. I got an empty pan back at the end of the day, everyone said it was the best lemon bar they had in years.

I should warn people if you're looking for low fat, or low sugar recipes this is not the book for you. On the other hand the recipes are so delicious I don't care about the calorie count.

I've tried a lot of baking cookbooks and this one I'll keep to doom's day. The recipes aren't complicated to make, the ingredients are easy to find, and I've yet to try a recipe that hasn't worked. In fact the part I like the most is that what I produce looks like what's in the photo. And trust me the food tastes as good as it looks.

[rstuart]

Thanks for the reminder of this carole.. I remember looking at it awhile ago and wanting to try it. I'll have to see if we have it in the library..

[emily]

The chocolate cake was very good. It uses 9 oz. unsweetened chocolate for anyone looking for a non-cocoa recipe.

[angelsmom]

This recipe is worth the price of the book.

http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1706...

[dkennedy]

Pretty proud of myself that I went 221 replies without having to confess:

BISTRO COOKING AT HOME
GRAMERCY TAVERN-THE LAST COURSE

[Caitlin McGrath]

Did you luck into a reasonable copy of the Last Course? I only ever see it for crazy $$$$ used online (I bought it when it came out, thankfully).

[dkennedy]

No, I overpaid but I am ok with it.

[Caitlin McGrath]

It's such a shame that it has stayed our of print. Claudia Fleming is very talented. I hope you enjoy having it, unholy sum and all.

[roxlet]

Claudia Fleming owns the North Fork Table and Inn with her husband, and the last time I was there, they had copies of the book for sale by the register. I believe that she had the book reprinted herself. I don't know if they still have copies, but it's worth a call.
http://www.northforktableandinn.com/

[The Dairy Queen]

THat's how I bought mine, by calling the North Fork Table and Inn.

~TDQ

[angelsmom]

I really coveted this book, but would not pay the price. I walked into a cookery ware shop that has at best 100 books. Thry had a brand new copy. I bought it and drove right home to make sure I was still on the earth. Just like I found Sweet Myrtle and Bitter Honey for 4.19.

[dkennedy]

I forgot to mention The Soul of A New Cuisine by Marcus Samuelsson. Already been reviewing this one on the Weekly Cookbook Challenge Thread.

[herby]

Wonder if any of you are familiar with heidi swanson's book Super Natural Cooking: Five Delicious Ways to Incorporate Whole and Natural Foods into Your Cooking. It sounds healthy and delicious but is it really practical? Any comments greatly appreciated - TIA!

The author has 101 Cookbooks blog which some of you are familiar with.

[pluralofcow]

I have Super Natural Everyday, which I think is her second book? There are a few recipes in there that I make pretty frequently. The broccoli gribiche is one of my go-to sides for parties. There are or one two good soups in there too.

There are some baked goods that I haven't attempted, but they look interesting.

[herby]

Thank you for the feedback. Can't decide whether to buy this book or not. Maybe start by making a few dishes from her blog.

[The Dairy Queen]

I had SN Cooking (which I believe is actually her second book) and got rid of it because I never found it inspiring, though I did cook 1-2 things from it with fine, not spectacular results. I do have S-N Everyday (her third book), though, which I bought on picawicca's recommendation. She said S-N Everyday was better than S-N Cooking... Haven't cooked from it yet, alas.

I've cooked a few things from her blog. My favorite has been the Nikki's Healthy Cookies...

~TDQ

[buttertart]

Crikey! What a lot of like-minded people out there. I'll post a monthly thread from now on.

[Harters]

I may have to start a counter thread - cookbooks you're throwing out because they're not worth shelf space. .

[alliegator]

Just ordered Paula Wolfort's "The Food of Morocco", and eagerly awaiting it's Monday arrival!

[Quintious]

I look forward to hearing your review on it. I've had it for like a year now....I don't think I've even thumbed through it., let alone used it yet. It's down on my bottom shelf, which means it never gets seen, heh.

[emily]

Has anyone seen Gran Cocina Latina: The Food of Latin America? Looks intriguing, but I am loathe to order it sight unseen (and all my local bookstores have disappeared!).

[MelMM]

It does indeed look intriguing. So much so, that I just ordered it.

[Allegra_K]

I had asked a similar question about this book a month or two ago. This is the reply that I got from JoanN (I hope it's okay to quote her):

"That definitely caught my eye as well. I know nothing about the chef or her restaurants, but it's being published by Norton which means it's a Maria Guarnaschelli book which means it will probably be excellent if not outstanding.
If you don’t know the name, Maria (yes, mother of the TV chef Alex) has published Julie Sahni, Lynn Kasper Risotto, Rick Bayless, James Oseland, Fucshia Dunlop, Anna Thomas, Rose Levy Berenbaum, Judy Rodgers, Molly Stevens, and dozens of other famous cookbook authors you probably have on your shelves. And Norton knows how to publish cookbooks. If I were going to buy a book sight unseen, it would be one published by Norton, edited by Maria."

I immediately purchased after reading that info.

[pluralofcow]

Oh my. I have been resisting this one every time I log in to Amazon and you are not helping!

Let us know what you think once you receive it.

[bg90027]

That just hooked me too.

just ordered

Grand Cocina Latina
Ludo Bites
660 Curries

[buttertart]

If anybody knows from cookbooks, it's JoanN.

[MelMM]

And maybe 6 mos. to a year from now, when enough people have it, it will be COTM...

Wouldn't that be cool?

[Allegra_K]

I know....I've been thinking the same thing. Maybe it's a good thing the SA Table hasn't won yet. This new one could be better! It would be such a great experience to do a South American COTM. Fingers crossed.

[herby]

My dinner club recently had a Chilean dinner (we have a couple of Chilean members) and most dishes were very tasty. I would love for it to be a COTM one of these days.

[herby]

I read the same comment by JoanN, waited for TGC bundle sale in vain and finally gave in and ordered among a few other books....

[honkman]

Looked at it in a local bookshop and it is quite interesting covering many different cuisines. The book is split up in a rather conventional way with different chapter covering meat, soups/stews, vegetables, desserts etc. but not the different cuisines. I like books which cover very regional cuisines but as a first step I often buy books which cover larger areas (including the regions I am interested ) to get a more geenral idea about the cuisine. I think this book covers this first step to get an idea about the different Latin American cuisines without going too much into detail/depth but for that I will buy other more specialized cookbooks.

[emily]

Okay, okay, I ordered it!

[travelerjjm]

I just found out that Deb Perelman, author of the new Smitten Kitchen cookbook is the daughter of a friend! So I now have to add The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook to my list.

[twyst]

UPS man just dropped off Modernist Cuisine at Home :D

Also anxiously awaiting Faviken, Bouchon Bakery, Origin, and l'astrance

[MelMM]

Burma arrived today... looks fantastic. Also Modern Vegetarian by Maria Elia, which has some pretty interesting-looking dishes in it.

[Quintious]

I may have a disease. I haven't even gotten the giant 40 pound book I ordered yesterday yet, and I've already put in an order for more:

-Vietnamese Cooking at Home
-Roots
-Modern Sauces
-Turkey
-The Sriracha Cookbook (mmmmmmm)
-Morocco
-Burma
-Authentic Norwegian Cooking
-Lemongrass and Ginger Cookbook

I'm was looking at my bookshelf today, and got the bright idea that I should grab some cookbooks that feature some traditionally underrepresented cuisines. Roots, the Vietnamese book, and the Sriracha book I'm really looking forward to, but I have a sneaking suspicion that these other ones might end up like a good 60 or so other cookbooks I have in that I've never done more than thumb through them. Hopefully I'm wrong, heh.

[buttertart]

Welcome Quintious, I see you have it as bad as the rest of us. ;-)

[herby]

I love Turkey and made a few delightful dishes from it. Bought Roots not too long ago but have not even opened it yet:(

[Quintious]

It's good to hear. I *love* Turkish cuisine, but I fear it'll always take a back seat to something that "sounds better" on any given night. Hopefully that's not the case.

Pretty much everything from that whole Mediterranean region tends to fall by the wayside for me. Case in point: I bought a Le Creuset Tagine that I saw for 80% off at Sur La Table 2 months ago, thinking "this is gonna be AWESOME! I *love* Moroccan food!". Yeah, haven't used it one time, in spite of having a book titled "Tagine: Spicy Stews From Morocco" that I know I bought probably 4 years ago and still haven't used. Same with the cookbooks centred around Greek, Lebanese, etc.

[herby]

"Turkey" does not require very specific spices/ingredients making it easy to cook from. I made Zucchini Fritters (p. 95) that everyone liked, Lentil, Mint and Feta Salad (p. 103) made very nice lunch and so did White Bean Salad with Tahini Dressing and Grilled Shrimp (p.112). I have a few recipes marked to make:
Bulgur Kofte p.126
Turluturlu p.108
Imam Biyaldi p. 98
Red Lentil Soup p.55
Octopus p.22

I love Moroccan food and make tagines now and then but do not cook enough of this woderful, flavourul cuisine.

[LulusMom]

I love both Turkish and Moroccan foods. You might be interested in checking out the threads from when Arabesque was COTM: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/387069

[Quintious]

I made 3 pre-orders and picked up one that I've been drooling over for a while now.

I've pre-ordered:

-Bouchon Bakery (Thomas Keller)
-The Dahlia Bakery Cookbook (Tom Douglas)
-More from Macrina Bakery (Leslie Mackie)

I honestly don't know which one I'm more excited about. I actually think it might be the Tom Douglas book.

My big purchase today was Modernist Cuisine: The Art & Science of Cooking. I don't think I've ever paid over $400 for a....well, it's 5 books, so I guess I can't really say it's "a cookbook". I'm absolutely dying to get my hands on it, though.

In terms of what I've recently purchased and am already using, I've been having a love affair with Passion & Palate from John Howie. What an amazing, amazing cookbook. So technical in nature, and goes into such detail on everything from ingredients to plating. Great story in it as well, and the pictures are to die for.

[roxlet]

Can you tell us more about Passion and Palate? Amazon has no information on this book, and I had never heard of it before.

[Quintious]

John Howie is one of Seattle's most well-known chefs (honestly, it's a crime he doesn't have a James Beard award yet). He owns Seastar and John Howie Steak out here in Seattle/Bellevue. Per a talk he did at the Seattle library the other day, he had offers to publish the book with the traditional large-scale houses but wanted to retain complete control over how the book would be presented, so went with local publishers. Said he was concerned they (large scale) would want to chop up all the ink about presentation, dictate how heavily weighted the book was to one type of food over another, etc in order to chase revenue over execution.

It's absolutely fantastic. It's quintessential Northwest cuisine and, as someone who dines at one of his restaurants probably twice a month, I can verify that he hasn't taken ingredients out of the recipes in the cookbook that he also serves in the restaurants to ensure that his restaurant food "tastes better" than what he's offering to the reader. What I especially like about it is it's not dumbed down. He gives you the recipe as it was perfected. For a home cook like myself that is so technical in nature and who really likes making a complete dish as opposed to one that's merely acceptable after being stripped down in order to appeal to the 30 minute meal crowd, it was a breath of fresh air. And, as someone who struggles with presentation, I really admire the lengths he's gone to in order to provide step-by-step instructions on how to PLATE what you've made on a recipe-by-recipe basis to make it look the most appetizing from methods to give a dish height, how to arrange the components on the dish, right down to the best ways to dot the plate with sauces.

http://www.eatbellevue.com/2011/11/passion-and-palate-chef-john-howie-shares-techniques-and-tales-in-new-bookrecipes-for-a-generous-recipes-for-a-generous-table-chef-john-howie-shares-techniques-and-tales-in-new-book/

http://www.johnhowiesteak.com/Cookbook

[flourgirl]

I was so intrigued by your decription of this book that I immediately bought a used copy on Amazon. There were only two used copies available yesterday - now there's none.

[Quintious]

You will *love* it. The Thai Beef was especially an eye opener (I know - it doesn't sound like much, just trust me).

And (for yet another surprise) do the deviled eggs! I know....they're just deviled eggs, right? WRONG. My girlfriend HATES egg yolks. Can't stand em. Never eats deviled eggs. She ate four of these. And I don't mean 4 halves. I mean 4 of the eggs - and she's a tiny little thing. I've modified the recipe a bit and made a variation with salmon gravlax per a suggestion he makes at his restaurant....might be even better. They're absolutely unbelievable. The salmon recipes are outstanding, just made a...ya know, I think I'll just make a big formal review of it for the "review a cookbook a week" thread. There's just too much to go over.

[dkennedy]

I look forward to reading your review on the Cookbook a Week thread. Just went online to get more info on the book and there wasn't a lot out there. I see it hasn't been indexed yet by EYB. I am intrigued by the Thai Beef recipe.

[Quintious]

As promised, the review is up.

[Gio]

OK... here I am... sitting and watching a 26 book set plus extra indexes with only 2 duplicate books on offer at that devil EBay. The present bid is 11.50 US. 2 hours to go before bids close.

Time Life Foods of the World spiral bound cookbooks...

WHAT would YOU do?

[Gio]

1h 43m left

[The Dairy Queen]

Assuming the shipping was reasonable, if I had the space, I'd definitely bid on them based on all of the rave reviews from other 'hounds...

~TDQ

[The Dairy Queen]

See discussion here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/3156...

~TDQ

[Gio]

Thanks TDQ. I did a search with our less than perfect system here and although I remember that thread nothing vaguely resembling it came up.

Anyway, economy shipping is $4.00 but the thing is I can't decide if I want to clear or find the space for them. Perhaps I'll just settle for 1 or 2 books of the series...

[The Dairy Queen]

It's a tough call, isn't it?

~TDQ

[LulusMom]

26 is a LOT of book space. But if you have it ...

[The Dairy Queen]

26 is about 10% of my cookbook collection...but, then again, I imagine these books as very skinny ones. I really have no idea, though.

Another consideration for me would be: are they indexed on EYB?

~TDQ

[LulusMom]

That is a great consideration. And if they're available at her local library.

I can't imagine adding 10% more to my cookbook collection all at once. I'm seriously running out of space, so I guess I'm projecting.

I imagine we aren't helping much, are we Gio?? Sorry!

[Allegra_K]

Just to fuel the fire.....they are indexed on EYB! All except one, I believe. They don't take up too much space (tho that is relative!), the spiral bound books are maaaybe 1/2 inch thick, the hardcover maybe 3/4"?? A steal of a price, I would say!

[The Dairy Queen]

Not to be an enabler, but if you got an amazing price on them, you could just buy them simply to get a look at them. Surely it would be easy to get rid of them if you decided you didn't want them.

Does the seller say they are in good condition?

~TDQ

[Gio]

They're "Good/very good".

If I asked my daughter if she thinks I should bid I just know she'd say a loud NO. LOL

[roxlet]

Aw, what does she know? I imagine you could sell off or give away the ones you don't want. At that price, why not?

[The Dairy Queen]

HA!

Do you use the two you already have and do you cherish them?

Does the seller have a good rating?

~TDQ

[Gio]

Actually, you Are, LLM. You're both right... 26, actually 30 considering the indexes and duplicates of winch there are 2... would take up quite a lot of space. (I've been donating some books from our own personal library that we don't "need" anymore) to make room for my burgeoning cookbook collection. The built in bookcase in the kitchen reached its limit long ago. Very few of the T-LB are indexed on EYB. I think.

[Gio]

I'm not going to go for it... I set a limit of 20.00 max and I've been outbid. I don't think I'll miss them. I can always buy a few that I really would like to see... some are really cheap from re-sellers.
Thanks everyone.

[Gio]

BTW: The hardcover books are indexed on EYB, not the spiral bound...

[The Dairy Queen]

I'm glad you figured it out. Ebay can be really stressful when you're caught up in the bidding and trying to weigh how much something is really worth to you...

For the most part, I have the attitude that I don't have to be in a hurry to acquire most cookbooks. I'm feeling so space and time constrained that I'd rather pay a couple bucks more for a book that I am certain I'll use than make an impulse purchase for a bargain price.

The problem with the T-L books, as you know, is that the whole set is (presumably: I've actually never looked) not that easy to come by in good condition at a good price.

I'm trying to be more strict about the books I buy, but I still have bought way too many impulse books lately. The problem is, I feel too guilty to get rid of them. I really need to get over that.

~TDQ

[Gio]

I agree with you TDQ. Too many cookbooks, too little time to properly take advantage of them, and too many things in the fire already. I'll have more time now to search and discover those that will really be interesting to own: The African book, for example, or Latin American Cooking, The Cooking of Scandinavia... food I've never cooked before.

[Gio]

That was fascinating to watch. The winning bid was 27.00. At the final 30 second mark 4 bids came in with the winning bid at about 1 second to go. I thought that would happen...

[The Dairy Queen]

Those 4 bids were probably me, LulusMom, roxlet, and allegraK. HAHAHA Just kidding. Pretty good price, it seems, with shipping, it averages out to just a little more than $1 a book...

~TDQ

[Gio]

Wouldn't it be funny if a CH Was bidding?

[The Dairy Queen]

Yes, in an "the internet is freakishly small" kind of way.

~TDQ

[buttertart]

There are services that bombard eBay with bids close to the deadline for you. Not sure how much they charge.
I'd get them, Gio. They really are very good.
There are more recipes in them than in the hardbounds, so if a recipe comes up on EYB itwill definitely be in the spiral.

[nomadchowwoman]

Oh I wish i'd seen this earlier; I'd have made a beeline for ebay. When I met my husband, he owned the whole set (a story in itself as he does not cook), in pristine condition; they were lost in Katrina. I've gotten a few odd ones here and there since, but I'd love to have that whole set.

[buttertart]

Keep an eye on eBay. Sad.
I'm attached to mine because my mom subscribed for me when I was a teenager.

[The Dairy Queen]

Those all sound like books worth exploring, two of which I own and have never cooked from. I had a Scandinavia book that I culled in the great purge of 2011.

I think I'm going to start a thread on Not About Food about how you decide when to splurge for a cookbook... I'll start that thread and then I'll edit this post to link it here. Edited to add: link to new thread: "What are your criteria for adding a cookbook to your collection?" http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8708...

Sometimes in the excitement, I forget what my criteria are! I need more discipline!

~TDQ

[Breadcrumbs]

Big Night In by Domenica Marchetti

Lorenza's Pasta by Lorenza De'Medici (as soon as I figure out what pasta is on the cover, I'll be making it...mmmm!)

A Taste of Australia - The Bathers Pavilion Cookbook by Victoria Alexander & Genevieve Harris

[Westy]

hey Breadcrumbs - What are the recipes in the Australian cookbook like? I have started to really enjoy Bill Granger and Neil Perry. So far, it sort of resembles the British cooking movement (Slater/Oliver/New Voices in Food book series) but a little more of an Asian perspective.

[LulusMom]

I'm kind of all itchy about the Bill Granger books, based on what I've read on CH. I'd love to hear any/all perspectives on how they are to cook from.

[lilham]

LLM, Granger has a new book out called Easy http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/00...

The reviews are very mixed, with some saying it's been dumbed down too much. I'm lusting after it though. Has anyone cooked from this yet?

I have cooked from Everyday Asian a lot and it's definitely weeknight meals friendly. Got myself Bill's Food a couple of months ago and have cooked a few things from it. The raspberry pancakes are really good, and I made double the sauce to use on plain yoghurt the following week. Delicious. Another one is the home made sweet chilli sauce. I made it first to serve with the sweetcorn fritters from the book. Very good. "Froze" half of the sauce to use on the chicken as suggested from the book. This made a very quick second dinner. (The sauce doesn't actually freeze, but I put it in the freezer anyway).

[LulusMom]

Everyday Asian is the one I am especially interested in, so I'm happy to hear that it has weeknight friendly meals. I'm assuming that you like what you've made?

Two people here asking for any firsthand experience with Bill Granger's books. SOS!

[lilham]

Yes, everything I've made from Everyday Asian have been delicious. But DH and I are from NZ, so his food is comfort food to us. We live in the UK now, and find the food of many highly regarded celeberity chefs here very bland. For example, Delia and Hugh F-W. (Though I've only got Hugh F-W Everyday Veg, and I've been told it's his weakest book).

[Harters]

Delia and Hugh probably represent the two largest strands of serious British home cooking. That's the sort of food we like to eat.

[greedygirl]

I like Everyday Asian. The meatball sandwich was a particular hit, but there have been others which I can't recall at the moment! Will have a look and report back later.

[The Dairy Queen]

I just picked up a copy of Granger's Everyday Asian, but haven't cooked from it. I'd love to hear some of your favs, lilham.

My immediate impression is that he isn't hung up on "authenticity" so purists might be a little put off by that. For me, right now, that's a good thing because it makes it easier to source ingredients (ie., I don't have to make a special trip to an ethnic market.) As long as the food tastes good, of course, and it's mostly reminiscient of the dish it's trying to be.

~TDQ

[Jon Tseng]

Off the top of my heard

The Square - Philip Howard
Memories of Gascony - Pierre Koffman
Astrance (Paris ***) has a cookbook coming out I think
Too Many Chefs, Only One Indian - Sat Bains
Favikan cookbook (although its by Phaidon - ugh)

Those are the main ones I think - all a bit cheffy!

J

[pikawicca]

Arrived today:

The Sprouted Kitchen
Vietnamese Home Cooking

Both look good.

[Tae082]

I can't wait for Bouchon Bakery to come out.

[foodie_guru]

+1....I am going on Oct 30 in Toronto for a meet and greet, Q&A, book signing with Thomas Keller for the new Bouchon Bakery book. I am sooo excited.

and for other Torontonians,

Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi -- Jerusalem
Sunday October 21st, 2 pm.
George Ignatieff Theatre
On Stage interview, followed by Q & A and book signing
Gosh are we excited about meeting these guys and we know you will be as well. This London based duo have created the most fabulous food shops called Ottolenghi and their restaurant Nopi. Their ground breaking cookbooks Ottolenghi and Plenty have been bestsellers capturing Eastern Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flavours to great acclaim. Now comes their new cookbook Jerusalem. In this book the duo go back to Jerusalem the city of their birth, Ottolenghi on the Jewish west side and Tamimi on the Arab east side to capture this melting pot cuisine.
Location: George Ignatieff Theatre. Off site event
Ticket: $50 includes the new book
Ticket only no book: $25. Available from The Cookbook Store 416-920-2665.

[MelMM]

Burma is in the mail!

[qianning]

Ha! I filched one recipe, Shan Aromatic Chicken Curry, from the Amazon "Look Inside" feature. Un-bowdlerized Shan cooking, amazing. Needless to say I'll be back on the right side of the copyright laws soon, as the net result was to order a copy immediately.

[Allegra_K]

Heh, heh. You caved.

Happy to hear that it has your (and presumably your husband's) seal of approval.

[qianning]

Ha! He's the one who pushed the "buy" button, I'd have waited until having a chance to look at it in a bookstore, the recipe I really want is for the shan tofu, which is blocked, so hard to say if it is better than what's already available on the web. But deep down I know we are going to use this book a lot, so probably better to cave sooner than later.

[bg90027]

Last three:

Simply French: Patricia Wells Presents the Cuisine of Joel Robuchon by Patricia Wells
Sauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making by James Petersen
Desserts by the Yard: From Brooklyn to Beverly Hills: Recipes from the Sweetest Life Ever by Sherry Yard

[dkennedy]

Simply French is one of my favorite cookbooks. Try Grandmother's Roast Chicken - page 193.

[bg90027]

Thanks for the tip. I actually had noticed your note about that recipe on EYB.

[HillJ]

Smitten Kitchen's cookbook is out next month, book touring is shaping up. What I've seen of the preview sounds appealing and fun.

I'm lusting after a cookbook on creative ways to use ginger. An all-ginger recipe book.

[The Dairy Queen]

Check out Bruce Cost's Ginger: East to West.

~TDQ

[HillJ]

Thanks, DQ. Appreciate the suggestion.

[MelMM]

Recently Purchased for iPad:
Japanese Farm Food
My Berlin Kitchen (I regret this)
The Union Square Cafe Cookbook - after COTM discussion, and it looks great
The Mediterranean Slow Cooker (Michel Scicolone) - on Pre-Order
The Gluten-Free Table (by the Lagasse girls) - Pre-Ordered
Made In Sicily, Giorgio Locatelli - Pre-Ordered
Jerusalem - Pre-Ordered

Recently ordered from UK:
The Kitchen Diaries II
Indochine, Luke Nguyen
Veggiestan, Sally Butcher

Plan to order:
Burma
Roots, Diane Morgan
Modernist Cuisine at Home

[sr44]

Why do you regret My Berlin Kitchen?

[emily]

I read the preview on Amazon and it did not catch my interest. Seemed like a collection of uninteresting food memories...

[MelMM]

Same reason I didn't like "My Homemade Life", which I refer to in my mind as "My Boring Life". The author just hasn't done anything interesting enough to warrant a memoir. And when a memoir devolves into wedding planning, I check out. No one - and I mean NO ONE on this planet - has a wedding interesting enough for me to want to read about it.

[sr44]

Oh dear. I was hoping to give this to my niece who lives in Berlin, but maybe not a good Idea.

[angelsmom]

I loved this book and the culmination and description of her very simple Itslian wedding was memorable. There are mant great recipes too.

[buttertart]

Boy am I with you on the Wizenberg...too cute by half. And the whole romance story mad me gag.

[greedygirl]

Veggiestan is interesting. Sally Butcher's Iranian cookbook is apparently very good - I've actually met her a few times as she runs a fantastic grocery store which isn't too far from my house.

Kitchen Diaries II looks great and is on my Christmas list.

[buttertart]

You are another bad lady, gg...Iranian cookbook??? I only see Veggiestan on Amazon UK.

[greedygirl]

It's called Persia in Peckham: Recipes from Persepolis (which is her shop).

[JaneEYB]

Veggiestan has been published in the USA as The New Middle Eastern Vegetarian - identical but different title. Maybe the publisher thought Veggiestan would be a turn-off to Americans?

[roxlet]

That's really funny, and a very funny title! Did you ever see the fabulous cover of the New Yorker that divided the 5 boroughs of Manhattan into various "Stans?" I saved it somewhere.

[MelMM]

I loved that cover!

[buttertart]

Hilarious and badly needed at the time (quite soon after 9/11).

[buttertart]

The title makes the book with Veggiestan. I bet more sell in the UK than here.

[JaneEYB]

The US publisher kept Veggiestan in the sub-title - Modern Recipes from Veggiestan. Yes, it will be interesting to see how it sells in the USA. So far the split on EYB is 5 US and 16 UK though the UK edition has been out 6 months longer.

[buttertart]

Hmm.

[Harters]

Be interested to know how you get on with the Locatelli book.

Having eaten at his restaurant (which is nowhere near as good as it likes to think it is), we bought his "Made in Italy" (which is nowhere near as good as it likes to think it is). Curious that he's done a Sicilian book, as he's from the north.

[MelMM]

I have "Made in Italy", although I think I've only made one recipe from it. I was also curious as to how a Sicilian book came about. I got this for the iPad, so that makes me more willing to take a risk on it. If it is good, it will fill a hole in my Italian library, as I don't have any books on Sicilian cooking.

[buttertart]

Received "Vietnamese Home Cooking" by Charles Phan today. Beautiful book.

[Breadcrumbs]

bt do you do a lot of Vietnamese cooking? I love Vietnamese food but despite having purchased a past COTM, I've never tried it at home.

[buttertart]

The only thing I've ever made was a good Cornish hen dish that's in Jennifer Brennan's "One-Dish Meals of Asia". She's a very interesting person/writer actually, wrote the first (or one of the first) Thai cookbooks in English, and one on the Raj (Curries and Bugles) that's fun to read. Also a complete Asian book, iirc.
But I love eating the food out, so why not give it a whirl chez nous?

[Breadcrumbs]

Thanks bt. I look forward to hearing how it all turns out. About JB....I have her "Tradewinds and Coconuts" ....absolutely loved it. Read it cover to cover. Haven't cooked a blasted thing. Must add this one to my Cookbook a Week thread to-do list too!!

[buttertart]

Uh oh, I don't have that one!

[Breadcrumbs]

well back at ya' then!! ; )

...and this is why we all have more cookbooks than living space!!!

[flourgirl]

."..and this is why we all have more cookbooks than living space!!!"

Yep.

[flourgirl]

Can't wait for this one!

[Caitlin McGrath]

There was a story and several recipes from "Vietnamese Home Cooking" in the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday, if anyone's interested in a little preview: http://www.sfgate.com/recipes/article...

[roxlet]

I was intrigued by a recipe on Leite's Culinaria for a almond cookie, so on a whim, I bought the book it came from calle Eat Ate by Guy Mirabella. I was so surprised that on the cover of the book was one of my family's heritage recipes for casateddi, and indeed, the recipe inside is very close to what I make. This is a very beautiful book divided into sections based on emotions, like love or passion, and at the beginning of each section there is a small booklet bound into the book that is a story of part of Mirabella's life. I'd say it's a memoir based cookbook. The photographs are scrumptious, as are several of the recipes that caught my eye.

[Breadcrumbs]

I bought that book as well roxlet as it was on sale (and still seems to be for any Cdn hounds interested) at Chapters, a national bookstore. I agree that it's a beautiful book but I've yet to cook from it. It's great to know about your cookie though and I'll add a personal note in EYB. Maybe I'll have to pull this book for one of my Cookbook a Week Challenges. Thanks for the reminder.

[roxlet]

I was able to buy a new copy for $6, so mine was a super bargain too!

[buttertart]

Uh oh...had a look...want to see this up close. Anybody who cites Lampedusa in the first pages is okeydokey with me.

[flourgirl]

I bought this book uber cheap when Borders was going out of business. (sniff) .I had never heard of it but just flipping through it, it looked very interesting and beautiful so I grabbed it. I haven't had a chance to read it or use it yet, but I'm laid up for a few weeks with a broken ankle (and the other one is sprained, gosh darn it, so I have plenty of time to catch up on all my neglected cookbook purchases. You inspired me to put this on close to the top of the pile!

[buttertart]

Ouch! But how wonderful to be laid up with a pile of books ;-) feel better soon.

[flourgirl]

Thank you! Yes, having a big pile of wonderful books to wallow in is definitely making this a little easier to bear.

[roxlet]

Not fun! So sorry to hear about your ankle, so take the time to treat yourself to some leisurely reading.

[flourgirl]

Thanks, and I will. :)

[jpr54_1]

Just received e-mail-
Burma was sent out-I will receive it by Thursday 9/27

[Gio]

This is a book I'm interested in. It will probably be the next cookbook I buy along with the Japanese Farm book. Love reading her blog... I should say, I love looking at her photographs.

[pluralofcow]

Mine arrived this weekend. I spent some time reading it last night and I haven't identified anything I don't want to cook.

At first glance it looks like many of the recipes are a bit simpler than in her other Asia books. Maybe that's just the nature of Burmese cuisine, but I can see a lot of the dishes making good weeknight meals whereas I tend to pull out Hot Sour Salty Sweet or Beyond the Great Wall on the weekends.

[sr44]

I think this is the first book she's written on her own, so the recipes might be different. I'm hoping it's not a huge clunker of a book, and hard to cook from.

[jpr54_1]

I also received e-mail stating Vietnamese Home Cooking will also arrive on Thursday.
The mailman's bag will be heavy.

[rasputina]

I got the recipe book for Food's of the World series The Cooking of Vienna's Empire and I got both books in the set for Scandinavia.

[buttertart]

Now get Quintet of Cuisines. :)

[rasputina]

It's on my list.

[Harters]

I presume the reference to Vienna's Empire dates the cusiine to pre-1918 as the empire dissolved at the end of the Great War. Are there any recipes specifically from the wartime period?

[rasputina]

I don't think it's a reference to the dates of the recipes but instead it outlines the regions included in the book. IE Austria, Hungary, Czech, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia. Those are the countries referenced in the recipes.

[Breadcrumbs]

After years of nothing but great things to say about my Abe's books purchases I have to say I've had 3 disappointments in the past month. Still waiting on one book I ordered over a month ago now (and paid $9.99 in shipping for) and two others arrived in horrible shape, not at all as described. Granted I did receive credit for the last 2 but its an inconvenience and frustrating when things aren't as committed.

Ok, so sorry about the rant!! All that said, I did manage to acquire some great books over the past weeks including (& yes, I do have a thing for Italian books) :

ROME AT HOME by Suzanne Dunaway - a thrift store purchase that I'd never heard of but immediately fell in love with. The quality of the book, beautiful paper, stunning artwork has totally captivated me. I hope the recipes are as rewarding as the aesthetics.

PASTA E VERDURA by Jack Bishop - mr bc doesn't love veggies but he does love pasta...I thought this might be helpful in getting more veggies into his gullet!!

LA CUCINA SICILIANA DI GANGIVECCHIO - Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene - I have the author's more recent Sicilian book and love it. I saw this one for a great price and couldn't resist. This has received more critical acclaim than the latest one it seems.

ETA: oops, I almost totally forgot to mention that the stunningly beautiful and entirely engaging JAPANESE FARM FOOD also arrived. I take this to bed w me at night. Love reading this book. I wish it was lighter so I could schlep it w me on my daily commute!

[roxlet]

Breadcrumbs, my husband is always reminding me that abebooks.com is not so much a web site of its own, but rather an association of used book dealers. It sounds as if the sellers of your last purchases were real lemons! Fortunately, I have had great success with abebooks. I hope my luck holds!

[Breadcrumbs]

I know roxlet and I've always had amazing success w Abes. What I especially appreciate is that they stand by any of the orders from the booksellers on their site. So if you do have an issue and the bookseller ignores it, Abes is there to help/resolve. Still no sign of my Neil Perry, The Food I Love and, no word from GIANTBOOKSALE (not yelling, that's how they type it!)...looks like I'll be emailing Abes tomorrow :(

[Bean Counter]

Just bought 660 curries for COTM. Seem to be developing a pattern where I buy the book, mark a bunch of recipes and then get completely off track once the whole thing starts. Aiming not to do that this month. Need to get with the cookbook of the week program as well.

[rstuart]

I made the mistake of wandering into Winners today after a long, hard day at work, and somehow left with Lisa Yockelson's "Baking Style"
http://www.amazon.ca/Baking-Style-Art...
It was quite a good price, especially for a big heavy hardcover. I am torn about whether or not I will keep it; it's a very busy, not well organized book. But I keep on turning pages and discovering new recipes that I Want To Make...

[soccermom13]

Interesting, rstuart. I have Yokelson's Baking by Flavor and love it. But I'm just not sure either about Baking Style...... If I'm not being too nosy, would you be willing to share what you paid?
Thanks.

[rstuart]

It was $13.. pretty cheap! I'm never shy of boasting about a deal ;)

[soccermom13]

VERY good price :0)

[flourgirl]

There's used copies of Baking Style in "new" condition selling for $3.49 on Amazon, so with shipping, the total would be $7.48. That's pretty cheap for a fairly new book with a list price of $45!

[rstuart]

Wow.. an even better price!

[JonDough]

I just got Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Hachisu and I really enjoy it. Probably my favorite cookbook of the year.

I am really looking forward to the Modernist Cuisine at Home.

I haven't decided if I want to buy SPQR: Modern Italian Food and Wine & Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate By Richard Blais.

[angelsmom]

I have a huge wish list, none yet released.
The Tucci Cookbook
Jacques Pepin New Complete Techniques
Nigellissima easy Italian inspired recipes
Barefoot Contessa Foolproof Recipes
Nick Malgieris Bread
Not quite sure about the New RAmsay one.

[Hungryhughy]

I've been trying to learn to cook and so have bought a few cookbooks based on discussions on the COTM thread, which I've followed for over a year but have not participated in. Recently I've bought Mozza, BBQ PLanet, the big NYT cookbook, Molto Gusto, Truly Mexican. Which brings this wannabe cook,s collection up to about 8.

[Gio]

That's a really good start, Hungryhughy... Welcome. I have yet to buy Mozza and Truly Mexican but since you've been reading the COTM board you know you'll get quite a few delicious meals from those books and your other choices.

[dkennedy]

Hungryhungry,

Sounds like you have nearly doubled your collection. Be warned, that is how it starts! But seriously, your recent selections are really great choices. I have The NYT, BBQ and Mozza. Of those 3 I cook the most out of Mozza. Nancy Silverton's recipes are very reliable. Both Truly Mexican and Molto Gusto are on my most coveted list. I checked Molto Gusto out of the library back when it was a COTM and have been eyeing it ever since. Truly Mexican will probably be a COTM soon.

[Hungryhughy]

It now looks liKe I'll be buying #9. I am looking forward to cooking with the masters next month and trying my hand at Indian curry.

[pluralofcow]

I am very eagerly awaiting the arrival of Duguid's Burma next week. Thursday to be exact!

I spent a few weeks in Yangon for work in 2010 and loved the food. Looking forward to hopefully recreating some of it, ingredient availability permitting.

[jpr54_1]

I am also awaiting this book

as well as Vietnamese Home Cooking

[emily]

me three

[jpr54_1]

Everyday Cooking with Jacques Pepin
Martin Yan"s Asian Favorites
Martin Yan's Asia
Discovery of a Continent by Marcus Samuelsson

arrived today

[herby]

Would love to hear your impressions of Samuelsson's book.

[jpr54_1]

My autographed copy of UNion Square Cafe Cookbook arrived this morning.
It was abargain $4.25 including shipping

[Westy]

That IS a wonderful bargain. The second one is excellent, too.

[jpr54_1]

Both books arrived this afternoon-
also received $2.00 off my pre=ordered vietnamese cookbook

[qianning]

The "look inside" feature on Amazon is up & running for "Burma", I did some virtual page flipping, and I must say the book looks fantastic.

[Allegra_K]

Ooh, thanks for that heads up! For some reason the book I purchased doesn't come out until Oct 9 (even though another seemingly identical copy is relesed Sept 25) and the suspense is killing me! I will happily peruse online until then.

[jpr54_1]

Duguid is going to speak next week at Books & Books in Coral Gables.Photographs from Burma
will also be shown.
Not sure if I can go.

[Westy]

Bill Granger Everyday
Bill Granger's Asian book
Masala Farm

[Allegra_K]

Just ordered a used copy of Cradle of Flavor (finally! I've been wanting it forever!), and should hopefully have it in my hands by late next week.

Also couldn't keep my eyes off of this very promising tome--Gran Cocina Latina by Maricel Presilla....so it, too, will be added to the collection upon release.

[qianning]

Almost for sure you'll like Cradle of Flavor. & in case you missed it, COF was a COTM back a while, some good threads.

[SocksManly]

How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson (because I don't have enough of her books)
Cook Italy by Katie Caldesi (beautiful pictures all through the book, $15, couldn't pass it up)

[rstuart]

How to be a Domestic Goddess is my favorite one of hers (I am more of a baker than a cook). It has my favorite brownie recipe, the Nutella cake that I make every year for my birthday, and a peanut butter chocolate square recipe that is better than a Reese' Peanut Butter Cup..

[SocksManly]

Thanks! The brownies were the first thing I made out of the book, and they were indeed really delicious. So delicious, and with no icing. I wouldn't even want icing on them.

[rstuart]

They are wonderful! I make them without nuts, and they're great..

[avallance]

Beware the Caldesi book...the recipes are poorly tested...the measurements are off for some recipes. If you follow your gut, you should be fine.

[meatn3]

Not to be an enabler, but yesterday my Costco had several good canning books selling for about half off list price:
*The Ball Book
*The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving: Over 300 Recipes to Use Year-Round
*The Complete Book of Pickling: 250 Recipes from Pickles and Relishes to Chutneys and Salsas

[LulusMom]

and you're the queen of preserves, aren't you? I hope and assume you got all three.

[meatn3]

I have two of them already - I'm trying to resist the siren call of the third. The Complete Book of Pickling has been very good to me!

[jpr54_1]

I have all 3
they r all good

[pitterpatter]

Can't get my mind off of Modernist Cuisine At Home. $140 and it seems Amazon is not discounting it. For that reason, it will probably stay in my mind only.

[Harters]

Kitchen Diaries 2 has arrived. And looks as tempting as the original. Slater fans will not be disappointed with this one.

Next time I'm in town, I'm popping into the bookshop to have a nosy at "Clarissa's Comfort Food", Clarissa Dickson Wright (the surviving one of the Two Fat Ladies). Comfort food seems to fit the coming season. I'll also be looking at "Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course" which accompanies his current daily programme on Channel 4. This is good simple home cooked food with hardly a cheffy trick to it. Subtitled "100 recipes to stake your like on". It's almost endearing him to me. Almost - but not quite.

[greedygirl]

Am going to have to check out the Nigel too. Have been away and have missed the Ramsay thing. I have quite a few of his books and the recipes are good but have been finding him increasingly irritating of late. Is it worth catching up with on 4OD ( bearing in mind there's the Great British Bake-Off as well!).

[buttertart]

Great British Bakeoff??? You're killing me. BBC America, listten up, give us some good cooking shows!

[JaneEYB]

I know, I would lve to see The Great British Bake-off in the USA too. That is one cooking show I know I would be glued to. Though I read a review of it recently that said the test recipes are getting more and more complicated as they have already done all the baking standards.

[greedygirl]

That programme is so up your street it's ridiculous. It's also been a surprise hit for the BBC, and one of the judges, Paul Hollywood, has become a bit of a heartthrob (baking woman's crumpet)! He's got a book out that I need to have a look at...

[roxlet]

Well, with that name, no wonder! Paul Hollywood! Sounds like he should be a character in The Day of the Locusts!

[buttertart]

Hmm...must see if a friend will aid and abet me...DVDs play on the computer...

[Harters]

GG - yes, Ramsay is worth catching up on. I'm not normally a fan of his shouty style but this is good home cooking - the sort of food you're going to want to rustle up for a Tuesday night dinner after a long day at work.

Mrs H has taken to baking as a significant hobby in her retirement and is a Bake-Off addict. Hollywood's book is waiting to be cooked from - although she refers to him as the Smoothie Scouser, rather than crumpet. It is not intended as a compliment.

[Harters]

Ramsey book now ordered. I am ashamed to admit it but I've become quite addicted to the TV programme. Whoda thought it - me - a Ramsay fan.

[greedygirl]

I really like the programme too and there are some really good tips on it.

[abby d]

i'm being restrained but have been unable to resist buying Jerusalem (wonderful, i'm loving cooking from it - there are recipes on the UK's Guardian and Telegraph websites including their fabulous meatballs with broad beans and lemon) and Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries 2 (not yet arrived; some recipes on the Guardian website).

[The Dairy Queen]

Oh, please do report on your experiences in the "Cooking from Jerusalem" thread! I'm really on the fence about this book, although picawicca says I need it. (And she's usually right...)

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8691...

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

My copy of Jerusalem was waiting for me when I got home from holiday very late last night. I haven't finished looking through it yet, but I'm finding it really exciting and can't wait to get started. There are quite a few Turkish-style dishes which seems appropriate given I'm just back from there. Pasta with yoghurt - sounds gross but is lovely!

[JaneEYB]

Very excited today - Jerusalem and Nigellissima both arrived across the Atlantic. I only had time for a quick look-through at all the recipes, no reading yet. First impressions are that I want to cook (and eat) every single recipe in Jerusalem but that I'm sure I will end up cooking more from Nigellissima due to my fussy daughter who much prefers Italian to middle Eastern food. She goes off to college next year and then I can go crazy. I'm going to try to sneak in at least one recipe from Jerusalem before the books go off for indexing.

[Zalbar]

Just got Salumi by Michael Ruhlman interesting so far.

[meatn3]

Please post your thoughts once you've looked it over. I'm really very, very tempted...

[onigiri]

Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Hachisu

I used to buy so many cookbooks that are just sitting on shelves now. The ones I buy now are the ones I really, really have to have.

[flourgirl]

I only buy books I really really have to have too.

The problem is that I really really have to have a lot of books! And yes, I buy so many that many of them end up languishing on my shelves waiting for me to make my way around to them. At least, thanks to Eat Your Books, I'm using a lot more of my books than I used to, even if I didn't get around to reading all of them front to back like I would like to.

[emily]

Recent purchases/pre-orders:

Smitten Kitchen

Jerusalem

Sugar and Spice: Sweet Treats from Around the World

Japanese Farm Food

Vietnamese Home Cooking

Sky High: Irresistible Layer Cakes

Cracking the Coconut: Classic Thai Home Cooking

[LulusMom]

I'll be getting Jerusalem when it comes out too. And the new Burmese book looks interesting, but I think I can hold off on that one. Oh, and the Jamie Oliver 15 minute meals book. I have to have that one.

[prima]

Trying to cut down on cookbook purchases, but I'm going to picking up a copy of Jerusalem, too.
Might also go to the following event, being held in Toronto on Oct 21, 2012.

From the Cookbook Store:
Jerusalem Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi -- Jerusalem
Sunday October 21st, 2 pm.
George Ignatieff Theatre
On Stage interview, followed by Q & A and book signing
Gosh are we excited about meeting these guys and we know you will be as well. This London based duo have created the most fabulous food shops called Ottolenghi and their restaurant Nopi. Their ground breaking cookbooks Ottolenghi and Plenty have been bestsellers capturing Eastern Mediterranean/Middle Eastern flavours to great acclaim. Now comes their new cookbook Jerusalem. In this book the duo go back to Jerusalem the city of their birth, Ottolenghi on the Jewish west side and Tamimi on the Arab east side to capture this melting pot cuisine.
Location: George Ignatieff Theatre. Off site event
Ticket: $50 includes the new book
Ticket only no book: $25. Available from The Cookbook Store 416-920-2665.

[Breadcrumbs]

TORONTO Hounds may also be interested in this Bonnie Stern hosted event where the authors are actually there for a meal:

YOTAM OTTOLENGHI AND SAMI TAMINI: JERUSALEM
I am so excited and proud to be presenting Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamini, authors of the beautiful and delicious new cookbook Jerusalem. Although we don’t usually feature cookbooks at my book club, I think this book is very special.

Everything Ottolenghi and Tamini cook, and how they present it, bursts with flavour and beauty - at Ottolenghi, their magical food shops in London England, at NOPI, their new restaurant or in their bestselling cookbooks Ottolenghi and Plenty. But in this book they return to their roots. They both grew up in Jerusalem at the same time – Yotam in the Jewish west and Sami in the Muslim east, but they never met until they moved to London and ended up working in the same restaurant. Now these talented chefs are introducing the food of their Jerusalem to the world. How wonderful is that?

We are holding this book club event at one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto, Tabule. Diana Sideris and Rony Goraichy are preparing a feast! I hope you can join us.
Date: Sunday, October 21, 2012
Time: 5:00pm to 8:30pm
Place: Tabule
2009 Yonge Street, Toronto
Fee: $150 plus HST*
(includes dinner, beverages, gratuity and a copy of Jerusalem sent out after registration)
Advance registration only: Bonnie Stern 416 484 4810

[prima]

Good to know! Thanks for posting this, Breadcrumbs!

[prima]

Turns out the feast at Tabule is sold out, but I understand there is a waiting list.
Hope you have a great time if you're attending, Breadcrumbs. ;-)

[buttertart]

Those are deals/steals including the book!

[lilham]

Amazon just emailed me that my copy of Jamie 15min meals has been dispatched!

[LulusMom]

I just checked amazon (US) this morning and didn't see a release date. Chomping at the bit on this one.

[The Dairy Queen]

Lucky you! Mine hasn't shipped yet according to Amazon.

~TDQ

[lilham]

If you are on facebook, there are two meals from the book available
* Ricotta fritters, tomato sauce and courgette salad
* Seared asian beef, best noodle salad and ginger dressing

https://www.facebook.com/jamieoliver/...

[LulusMom]

I'm not on facebook. I went to his website this morning hoping to find some info (seriously, I'm getting obsessive about this book) and there was nothing.
Thanks for trying for us!

[lilham]

Actually the same two meals are on his website too. Have you checked again?

[LulusMom]

Will do! Am currently making a River Cafe pasta (which is sorta kinda related to him). I think my normal fan-hood of JO mixed with my current need for quicker meals is what has me panting especially hard.

[lilham]

I wanted to show a colleague the recipes online this morning and it wasn't there on his site. It turns out you get a different page on the phone vs the PC. But here are the direct links, which hopefully works on the PC too.

http://m.jamieoliver.com/recipes/cheese-recipes/ricotta-fritters-with-tomato-sauce-courg

http://m.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef...

[The Dairy Queen]

Nope, just checked again (obsessively!). My book still hasn't shipped yet. Such a bummer that there's just not much on his website. He had a bunch of stuff on his website when 30 Minute Meals came out. This time, all he has is shopping list for pantry items (so you can be prepared for when your book finally comes???? ) and videos posted by random people who have cooked from the book. Also, an odd video conversation between Jamie and the food stylists for the book.

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

I read a newspaper article yesterday where three people attempted to make the recipes in 15 minutes. They all failed - but had tasty sounding meals on the table in 30 minutes or less. I'd be happy with that.

ETA: Have just realised that all the meals provide nutritional information as well - useful!

[The Dairy Queen]

Link, please. :) (ETA: never mind: i'm pretty sure I found it--see my post below).

I'd be happy with 30 mins, too especially if it were healthful and delicious. And, yes, I think the having the nutritional info is really fabulous!

~TDQ

[lilham]

There's one on the guardian today, but it's a chef vs a useless home cook. The home cook doesn't even know how long to cook a packet of noodles and have no pepper at home. She clocked in at over 30min. On the other hand, the chef did it in just over 10min.

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

[LulusMom]

Oooh, thanks so much! I agree with TDQ, 30 minutes is still great.

[The Dairy Queen]

I hate to say, I kind of cook like the hapless home cook in that article...

~TDQ

[sr44]

But with pepper to hand.

[The Dairy Queen]

Ha! Here's one where a professional chef and a home cook did one recipe, the former completing the recipe in about 10 mins and the latter completing it in 35. Also, the home cook didn't think there was enough food to feed 4. Also, that the recipe was very shopping intensive. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/sep/27/how-to-make-jamies-15-minute-meals?newsfeed=true

THere's a lot to be said for an organized kitchen...

Ah, I'll bet this is the article greedygirl read. http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/f...

And, yes, another person mentioned that it was a lot shopping. That's how it goes with fresh food, folks!

~TDQ

[lilham]

Have you looked at the ingredient list for the beef salad? http://m.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef...

It's really not that bad. The salad asks for a lot of different type of leaves. But I would substitute it to be just lettuce, cucumber, carrots and radishes. I would also order them all in my weekly shop. (Meal planning is the key)! All the things will keep in the fridge, you just have to be organised. Like you say, you can't have fresh food if you don't want to 'shop'.

And thanks for the link to the other article. I'm going to read it over lunch now!

[The Dairy Queen]

That's the thing, isn't it. You have to put time into planning, organizing, shopping or cooking.

~TDQ

[Gio]

In my larder at the moment are all the ingredients for the salad except the sprouts and various seeds, which I wouldn't use anyway... so there's tonight's salad.

[The Dairy Queen]

I just got cold feet on the JO 15-minute book and cancelled my Amazon order. I think I'm going to wait until a couple of hounds have it in hand before I decide whether to buy it.

~TDQ

[herby]

Wise decision:) There has been so much hype lately about food cooked fast and faster. I think it is impossible to make meals in 15 minutes in a sustainable way. Cooking time doesn't matter as much as prep and clean-up time. Even shopping is becoming less of an issues with online ordering and next day delivery. If I want to make a potroast or soup, casserole and any dish that requires long cooking, I will start it the night before or prep one night, cook the next night and eat the following night. Meal planning is the key!

[The Dairy Queen]

I think I'm coming to see the light on that!

~TDQ

[greedygirl]

I had a look in WHSmith just now. Was sorely tempted, especially as it was half price. Loads of good ideas for quick dinners, and they're all nutritionally balanced and calorie counted. Genius!

[Harters]

I think I may pass on this one. We weren't that thrilled with his 30 Minute one and a couple of others of his have recently found their way to the charity shop as there was nothing we wanted to cook. I'd still affirm that, by far, his best was the original Naked Chef, closely followed by Return of the Naked Chef. It's been a bit downhill from there on in.

I think I'm just getting a bit jaded by chefs' attempt to do home cooking (the current Ramsay one excepted). Where's all the good British home cooks gone?

[qianning]

"Cracking the Coconut", will be interested to hear what you think. I like her spice pastes/curries a lot and really should use that book more often....

[emily]

I bought it because it sounded more approachable than David Thompson's tome (which I still have yet to cook from), but dedicated to doing it the "traditional way."

[qianning]

exactly. and fwiw, i think her spicing/flavor control is often really wonderful.

[emily]

Also received "The Cooking Country of Greece" by Kochilas. I don't find the recipes compelling (other than some of the pita), so it's likely going back.

[flourgirl]

Oh rats! I just got that too, but I didn't have a chance to flip through it yet.

[herby]

Every time I come to NY I go on a book buying spree mainly justified by excellent prices I can get through TGC sales and Abe's, Amazon and their re-sellars and so on. This time is no exeption and I will be going home with:

Asian Tofu by Andrea Nguyen

Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Hachisu

The NYT Passover Cookbook edited by Linda Amster

Big Small Plates by Cindy Pawlcyn

A Year in My Kitchen by Skye Gyngell

Roots by Diane Morgan

And a few other cookbooks on pre-order...

Now I really need to read all and cook a few dishes from each before I buy any more! Let's see how strong my willpower is and how long will it last:)

[The Dairy Queen]

Nope! I'm not going to even OPEN this thread. Definitely am NOT going to read it!

But since I'm here, you have to let us know how Asian Tofu and Big Small PLates are! I've had my eye on both!

~TDQ

[herby]

Will do, TDQ, once I am back at home and have some free time on my hands to read and cook. Both books look very good at a first glance and EYB has a few good reviews of Asian Tofu recipes.

[LulusMom]

It was thanks to you, TDQ, that I first heard about Asian Tofu and bought it. Been too busy to have much of a look at it, but really really need to do so. I love tofu, I love asian food, and I'm always looking for more vegetarian meals to serve my family.

[Rivard]

I can't wait to start cooking from Jerusalem - long anticipated. Luckily my local library has it,so it will be in my hands very very soon -- for free :) Could be a way to try out the others on your list without committing... I also feel like I have to take advantage of the cookbook while I have it checked out, so I do get around to trying recipes if I've borrowed the book from the library

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/775415538

[travelerjjm]

I want
Japanese Farm Food

Mrs. Chiang's Szechwan Cookbook: Szechwan Home Cooking
by Jung-feng Chiang

Pig: King of the Southern Table
by James Villas

Bakewise
by Shirley Corriher

[emily]

I was happy to find that Mrs. Chiang's book (while out of print) is available as an e-book for under $6:
http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Chiangs-Sze...