November 2012 Nomination Thread for Cookbook of the Month

[blue room]

I know, I know, another untimely intrusion into a month just underway. (Underway in a big way I’d say, with curries galore (which I adore, bring more, encore!)

But now November needs nurturing -- a germ, a pod, a sprout,

a cookbook suggestion for the month, please.

For me, (western USA) November will re-introduce cool weather, and

the Thanksgiving holiday will gobble up some attention in the fourth week. The rest of the month is up to you!

Absolutely everyone and everybody is welcome to join in. Please look here for more information:

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

That link explains our purpose and process, and shows earlier book choices.

Nominations will be open until Monday, October 15th at 9 p.m. EDT.

Please put your choice(s) in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, and use this thread to discuss them. Lots of people find this the best part of COTM!

Here’s my stated feeling about multiple nominations:

“…I won't balk at more than two, but keeping it around that manageable number will be appreciated…”

The books with the most nominations will progress to the voting stage.

So, cooking plans for November begins @now!

[dkennedy]

Voting thread is up!

Here is a link:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/873713

[blue room]

All done! Nominations are closed, I'll put up a voting thread. Will link from here too.

Thank you!

You can now vote here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/873713

[dkennedy]

My copy of Bistro Cooking at Home just shipped (for the second time). Whether it makes it to the voting round or not, I am looking forward to cooking out of it!

[qianning]

I confess I am completely confused by where things stand with the various soup nominations....good luck sorting it out BR. I'd be up for a soup book, but just because the one thing Mr. QN will not eat for dinner is veg soup, it would be grand if some non-veg book was included even as a companion thread.

Still in all I think BISTRO COOKING AT HOME is the one that really calls me of the various options.

[nomadchowwoman]

BISTRO COOKING AT HOME or
UNION SQUARE COOKBOOKS

And I'd love the nudge to do more with Ad Hoc, now or at some later date, but I'll stick to those two nominations.

[smtucker]

Though not really a contender this month, this group might enjoy the NYTimes review of Burma. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/din...

[qianning]

Thanks! Read it while one of Duguid's recipes was steaming away on my stove.

[MelMM]

I've been out of town throughout the nomination process so far, so I'm going to sneak my nomination just under the wire. As excited as I am about Burma and Jerusalem, these books are way too new to be viable as COTM for November. Heck, I pre-ordered Jerusalem for my iPad, and it still isn't due to download until tomorrow. What business do we have nominating books we haven't even seen yet? And then to expect everyone to obtain a copy within two weeks? Not gonna happen.

But soup month doesn't really appeal to me either. Maybe it should. That's probably just the kind of practical thing I should be making.

So I'm going with

BISTRO COOKING AT HOME and/or
UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOK

[greedygirl]

Those of us who've nominated Jerusalem have the UK edition, which has been out for a month.

[geekmom]

Also, Ottolenghi has posted quite a few recipes from the book on his Guardian blog, so trying those out gives one a pretty good idea of what's in store (not to mention the success of his two previous cookbooks).

[Quintious]

Be that as it may, it's still a brand new book. I'm not sure what the rush is to make it an "of the month" when it will have plenty of months going forward to have its moment, if that's its fate.

Especially given the fact that, even if the Euro version of the book is great (haven't seen it, don't know) there is a long history of books out there that were fine in metric-land, but when they got converted to standard for the US market, it didn't work out so well. We have no way of knowing yet.

[gingershelley]

Since time is wasting away...

UNION SQUARE COOKBOOK

G Hamersley's BISTRO COOKING AT HOME

BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD, C. Wright

I want an Otolenghi book, but jeruselem is just coming out, and hard to get ahold of.

[dkennedy]

Adding to my original nomination of Bistro Cooking (still want this, but already nominated it above).

Also would like to see

UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOKS or

AD HOC

over a soup month.

[L.Nightshade]

As we are running out of time, I'm going to nominate....
THE UNION SQUARE COOKBOOKS (on the assumption that Second Helpings is included),
AD HOC AT HOME.
That's what I own out of the current mentions, so that's where my nom is going.
Thanks Blue Room!

[blue room]

Everyone please note

today is Monday, October 15, so nominations will close tonight at 9 p.m. EDT (a little over 12 hours away as I write this.)

To be counted, put your choice(s) in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.

[greedygirl]

Like others, I don't really want to add another soup book to my collection, so I'm going to nominate JERUSALEM by the sainted Ottolenghi and Tamimi, and THE UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOK(S), which I can get for pennies on Amazon.

[Breadcrumbs]

I've already nominated and have no intention of adding another but I just received my Food 52 email and saw the Fried Chicken recipe from Micheael Ruhlman's Twenty. I was lucky enough to find this book at a thrift store. I loved his The Soul of a Chef book and The Making of a Chef. I really felt his passion for cooking and I know folks who just love Twenty. Wondering if anyone here has cooked from it and whether this might be worth exploring as a future COTM...?

[dkennedy]

Bought it, had a very hard time getting into it. Thinking of regifting it but feel bad about regifting something I don't find worth keeping myself. Would love to hear that others had a better experience with it.

[blue room]

I don't know if it's appropriate for the month's coordinator to suggest stuff, even if it's just a direction in which to go. (I could use an alter ego, I'll call her Rue Bloom haha.) Here's my thought -- we have over 80 former COTM books. Maybe use the soup recipes from *those* books in addition to a new choice?

Of course, the final vote could change the whole enchilada, if you'll excuse the expression.

[L.Nightshade]

I think it's fine for the coordinator to chime in, wherever and whenever!
Are your talking about a companion thread? The only thing about this idea that is a bit less appealing to me, is that we can always post on the old COTM threads, and it might be nice to get into some soup books that have never been COTMs. That said, when posting a soup to an old COTM thread, we could post a link in the new companion thread. Does that make sense?

[herby]

I also would prefer to get into my soup books that are sitting neglected on the shelf and post to old COTM thread if I happen to cook from one of COTM books; doubt though that I would be cooking soups from any other books but the soup ones.

[blue room]

Oh yeah, you're right -- double posting would be a hassle. I was thinking it would get some more use out of "forgotten" books but ones that many posters have in common.

[dkennedy]

Well it seems as if it will be a soup month of one kind or another if the tides do not shift soon. I have looked for Soup Love and Soups of the World in my library system and neither are there. I have numerous soup books on my shelves: Daily Soup, Soup Kitchen, The Complete International Soup Kitchen, Soups On!, Great Soup, Empty Bowl, not to mention all the fantastic soup recipes contained my other cookbooks. If we go with a soup month, perhaps we can have a companion thread for Other Soup Cookbooks? I don't think I could justify buying another soup cookbook, but I'd love to cook along with the rest of you. Thoughts?

[herby]

I would love a companion thread as I have other soup books too and do not use them often enough.

[Gio]

I don't especially feel the need to buy another soup cookbook either, DK, so I would definitely champion a soup companion thread. I have and use frequently The New England Soup Factory cookbook plus the two Gourmet slow cooker books, and as you say, the numerous soup chapters in the numerous cookbooks on my shelves... Also, don't forget the impromptu and extemporaneous soups concocted everyday in our own kitchens all over the world.

To clarify, we're talking Soups and not Stews, right?

[smtucker]

The New England Soup Factory cookbook is one I should add to my collection. I have never made it over to their outlets, but everyone raves about those soups. Guess I need to find a reason to head over to Brookline and give them a try!

[L.Nightshade]

I'm a little flummoxed by this thread. According to EYB I have five books that are just about soup (not to mention about 6,500 soup recipes in other books), but none of the soup books mentioned here. I'm probably not up for jumping onto a new soup book. I'll just keep watching for now, and see what happens...

[dkennedy]

Assuming it goes the soup way, I am officially nominating

COMPANION OTHER SOUP COOKBOOKS THREAD

is that legal?

[The Dairy Queen]

There's no reason to nominate the companion thread--you can just volunteer that you'd be happy put one up should a soup book win. I'd be happy to do that if no one else wants to.

~TDQ

[L.Nightshade]

I don't see why it wouldn't be legal, as a companion thread. It just wouldn't get a sticky, as the team explained above. I'd be happy to join in if things go that way.

[L.Nightshade]

I've had good luck with Peterson's Splendid Soups. I also have a Barbara Kafka soup book that I don't think I've ever cooked from.

[gingershelley]

Right now, there is already going a 'soup' thread in general topics (not sure why it's not in "home cooking", http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/872700

and this 'soup' thread from way back last January http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/826224

[L.Nightshade]

The difference would be that this would be an offshoot of COTM, so we'd be cooking from books. I think there are a lot of soup-related threads, but I think the cookbook threads are a little different.

[dkennedy]

My goodness, I only have 1,736 soup recipes. How many cookbooks do you have LN?????

[smtucker]

And I only have 771, though I admit that is after removing any soup with cream.

[The Dairy Queen]

I have 4,071... That's insane. I have The "Culinary Institute of America Book of Soups: More Than 100 Recipes for Perfect Soups by The Culinary Institute of America"--a book no one has mentioned.

~TDQ

[LulusMom]

That happens to be the one soup only book that I have.

[blue room]

Yes, the # of soup recipes here is insane, but what's important isn't how many we have, it's *which ones* !

[herby]

I have four soup books and 1,608 recipes in soup books and other books combined. So, if I make one soup every week it will take me 30+ years....

[L.Nightshade]

Hahaha, more than I need, I assure you. But fewer than some of us! According to EYB, I have 596, but I have two long shelves of books I haven't even entered yet, and a slew of vintage books that I can't enter.

If I wasn't working extended hours, and had time to cook from all of them, I would be a happy cook!

[Gio]

This is crazy, LOL. I have:
205 cookbooks listed
2 soup books (The Soup Factory & Tom Valenti's Soups etc.)
3,376 recipes

I think I have enough soup recipes for now...

[pikawicca]

JERUSALEM (Of course, since I love this book.) Can't see a soup book playing out well -- doubt if anyone's up for soup more than once a week.

[LulusMom]

Man, my husband would be insanely happy if I gave him soup every night. And his father's very favorite food is "soup" which cracks me up. Reminds me of Joey on Friends saying his favorite food was sandwiches.

[blue room]

My Mr. would be happy with soup every night too, as long as it was followed by the main!

[LulusMom]

For mine it would be as long as it came with copious amounts of good bread. But he wouldn't turn down a main, that's for sure.

[smtucker]

We have decided in the smtucker household that this is the Winter of Soups. I generally like very simple soups that highlight just one or two ingredients. Simple soups for dinner has been the key to my recent weight loss. Mr. smtucker hasn't lost as much, but he hasn't gained either. For some reason, there is nothing like a supper of soup. So I will nominate THE BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD.

[Westminstress]

Based on the fact that the best soups in the world is not available in my library system whereas love soup is, and that some people in fact prefer simple vegetarian soups, if I am allowed a third nomination, I nominate SOUP MONTH, consisting of both Love Soup and the Best Soups in the World. Even though both books are on soup, there isn't a lot of overlap, and I actually think the two books complement each other well.

[greeneggsnham]

Good idea! And I have to admit total ignorance of the merits of each individual soup book. I think a soup month sounds great. I think pairing 2 soup books would work well.

[sarahcooks]

My husband is doing a very low calorie diet now to try and lose some weight, so I've been planning on doing lots of soup this winter too. So I'd definitely like to do
THE BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD

I've had that on my wish list for a while now. I'd be happy to do soup month too.

[DonShirer]

I've been reading
EASY CHINESE RECIPES by Bee Yinn Low

Beautiful pictures, and the recipes seem fairly easy to my untutored eyes. I've just made the first one tonight (Sichuan Green Beans with Pork) and it turned out delish!

[Gio]

This book is written by the gal who writes the Rasa Malaysia blog, right? I've made a couple of her recipes that we liked very much, the last was a killer roast chicken. I've been thinking about getting the book...

[DonShirer]

Yes, that's her.

[BigSal]

This thread is so dangerous. I've already purchased two books, Holiday Dinners and Thanksgiving Dinner, but fortunately they were only $.01 each. Although I would gladly cook from At Hoc at Home or the Union Square Cookbook (that chicken liver risotto recipe has been calling out to me), I'd like to nominate THE BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD and my second nomination is for BISTRO COOKING AT HOME (G.Hamersley). Thank you blue room.

[dkennedy]

Which T book did you buy? I have The Thanksgiving Table which is somewhat dated buy has some great info in it and I have The New Thanksgiving Table which is the better of the two, in my opinion.

[BigSal]

Uh oh. I bought Thanksgiving Table. How is the New Thanksgiving Table? Are the recipes still fairly traditional? Thanksgiving and Christmas are the times where deviation from the traditional is never well received. :)

[JoanN]

Did you buy "Thanksgiving Table" or "Thanksgiving Dinner"? The latter is the one I referenced above and is the one I see on Amazon for $.01.

[BigSal]

Good catch. I ordered Thanksgiving Dinner. What would you recommend from this book?

[dkennedy]

Oh dear, now I am looking up Thanksgiving Dinner!

[dkennedy]

For what it is worth, I really like The New Thanksgiving Table. It was just recently indexed on EYB so you can get a sense of what the recipes are like. It is a very well organized and visually appealing book. There are a few things about this book that are really noteworthy. (1) The author assumes you need to know everything about cooking a T dinner and so leaves nothing out. She covers turkey size, necessary equipment, everything you need to know without dumbing things down for those of us who already know what we are doing. She does this in a very compact book that just has a few recipes for each course. I like this because it is not overwhelming. (2) The chapters are laid out by course, starting with Appetizers and ending with Leftovers. At the beginning of each chapter, there is table of contents with page numbers for all the recipes contained in that chapter. I find this feature very helpful. (3) The pictures scattered throughout the book show finished dishes as they should be presented, giving you lots of ideas for simple but tasteful decorating. (4) My favorite feature in this book is the chapter that talks about regional T menus with timetables. Here, the author lays out 4 potential menus. She lists the recipes with page numbers that she has paired to make up this menu. Then she lays out a time line from 3 weeks ahead straight through serving time for that menu. The four menus are a New England Thanksgiving, A Heartland (Midwest) Thanksgiving, a Southern Thanksgiving, and A Pacific Northwest Thanksgiving. (5) The recipes are traditional but not dated. I love, love, love this book!

[BigSal]

Thank you. I'll go to EYB to explore further.

[JoanN]

I've made so many recipes from that book I hardly know where to start. But I'll start by saying that I first made the Savory Wild Rice Stuffing maybe 20 years ago and the one year I tried something different my family had conniption fits. He says in the book that it's "a first-class leftover" and he's right. It also freezes beautifully and I love having some on hand to serve with roast chicken, pork chops, whatever, long after Thanks giving is over. I like his chutneys and compotes and usually have at least one of them on the table:Meem's Prune Chutney and Onion, Prune, and Chestnut Compote are two favorites. I made, by request, Schatze's Corn Pudding for a number of years running. The Marinated Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Seeds and Walnuts is a two-base hit since it can be made mostly the day before and can also be served at room temp. The Chestnut Soup is excellent, but my family keeps asking for the Kabocha Squash soup from "Sunday Suppers." And I've made a couple of his gravy recipes; they were very good, but more often than not I end up making a gravy that can be prepared a week or so in advance and frozen. I'd have to go back and check my menu notes to see what else I've made from the book, but I've been so pleased with so many of the recipes that some five years after I first started cooking from it I sent the author a mash note and received a lovely reply recommending I try the oyster stuffing. Unfortunately, I never did since it's not something my family would have wanted.

[dkennedy]

Joan, you are making me want this book! My family also insists on the Sunday Suppers soup. I also make the stuffing out of Sunday Suppers.

[BigSal]

Thanks, JoanN!

[gingershelley]

Joan, I am a bit confused as to which book you are reffering too, what with the discussion above of TK table, vs. Tk dinner, etc....

Can you clarify?

[JoanN]

The book I'm talking about is called "Thanksgiving Dinner" by Anthony Dias Blue and Kathryn K. Blue. It was originally published in 1990 by Harper Collins. I have the paperback edition which was published in 1992.

http://www.amazon.com/Thanksgiving-Di...

[gingershelley]

Thanks, JoanN for clarifying for me - I can get confused;) Will check it out....

[Breadcrumbs]

I'm back from vacation and I can't believe how much I've missed!! How on earth did it get to be mid-October already?!!!! With little time to think about this I'm going to stick w the book I nominated last month as it continues to hold great appeal:

BISTRO COOKING AT HOME by Gordon Hamersely

[blue room]

I've been wondering where the Crumbs o' Bread had been scattered...
eat much out there?

[Breadcrumbs]

We had some amazing meals blue room...thanks! One of our favourite and most memorable food moments wasn't a "meal" at all though. We were offered just picked "Sugar Apples" ...a first for us and one of those magical food experiences when you taste something completely unlike anything you had before. In terms of flavour and texture this fruit was a delight. The fruit itself is super-sweet, subtly flavoured and creamy...similar to custard of all things! mr bc and I were blown away. Simply one of the best fruits we've ever tasted!!

Here's a link if anyone is curious:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple

[qianning]

Oh a Custard Apple, gosh where were you? Some place warm I take it. Any Mangosteens?

[JoanN]

Yes, custard apple. That was the named I learned for it in Thailand. Wasn't sure what BC meant by sugar apple until I clicked on the link.

[Breadcrumbs]

qianning & Joan, so happy to know of other fans of this fruit!! We were in the most idyllic island of Antigua. No Mangosteens qianning but we'll definitely be on the lookout on our next vist!!

[herby]

BC, you can buy custard apples in Canada too - one the "winter" fruit in India and I love it.

[Breadcrumbs]

Oh wow, that's good to know herby. I'm imagining I'd be most likely to find them at the Kensington Mkt in Toronto if they're available. I'll have to check that out herby. Thank-you!

[herby]

They are seasonal, though. I will be at home next week and check the produce store where I usually see them. I imagine oriental markets would carry custard apples too.

[Breadcrumbs]

Thanks herby, in that case I can check out Chinatown as well.

[qianning]

Antigua sounds grand. Joan N hit the nail on the head, though, I equate custard apples, and mangosteens, with Thailand. But come to think of it the last time I had a good mangosteen was in Toronto!

[dkennedy]

So many great ideas have been put out here so far.

I love the idea of a holiday book, but maybe for December. I already have my T-Day menu set and I own two Thanksgiving Cookbooks so I don't think I would get much use out of it until Hanukhah, Xmas, New Years.

I also love the idea of a soup cookbook. I own so many soup cookbooks....but I am sure I could be convinced to get another one. I have been assigned the soup course for my next supper club. I plan on making the Kobocha squash soup recipe out of Sunday Suppers. I'd post a link here to the recipe but that got me into trouble last month. Suffice to say, it is online if anyone is interested.

Bistro cooking sounds just about right to me for October. I bought it during last month's nomination process but my copy never came in the mail :( (also checked it out of the library in the past) so I just reordered another copy a minute ago. Crossing my fingers that this one comes. I looked at all the reviews on Amazon and on Chowhound and compiled quite a list of must tries. NB: the book is available used for a pretty good price and it is indexed on EYB.

Own Ad Hoc and Union Square and would cook out of either willingly. Both are way underused by me and are on my list for the Weekly Cookbook Challenge thread.

My Nomination goes to:

BISTRO COOKING AT HOME

[dkennedy]

Another fun book I just bought as a gift for my hubby would make a great companion thread for most of the choices this month. It's a cocktail book put out by the folks who brought you Gramercy Tavern. We are truly loving it. Be warned, the book may be available used at a very good price, but stocking your bar with all the yummies to make all these delightful cocktails will set you back!

Nominating, as a companion to whatever is chosen:

MIX, SHAKE, STIR

http://www.amazon.com/Mix-Shake-Stir-...

[Gio]

{As usual when these nominating threads are started I begin by having definite wants for COTMs but by the time others have had a say or three I can't decide which cookbook I truly want to spend a month with. Some immediately have appeal and I go full throttle cooking almost every recipe, some I sit with staring into the oblivion of the pages not even wanting to start. (witness my non-involvement with the present COTM.)}

Because I really believe the Union Sq. cookbooks would make fine CsOTM with many diverse recipes suitable for this time of year I'll second Angelsmom's...

UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOKS. .

ETA: to be clear, my nomination is for :
The Union Square Cafe Cookbook: 160 Favorite Recipes from New York's Acclaimed Restaurant
and
Second Helpings from Union Square Cafe: 140 New Recipes from New York's Acclaimed Restaurant

[LulusMom]

If I'm allowed another nomination I will also get behind UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOKS.

[JoanN]

I'll second both

UNION SQUARE CAFE

and

AD HOC AT HOME

And if I could add a third, it would be the Hamersley. Would be very happy to see any one of them win.

[The Dairy Queen]

Dare I nominate AD HOC AT HOME?

And Lulu's mom, is your nomination for just the first Union Square book or also the "second helpings" book?

~TDQ

[geekmom]

This sounds awesome. I agree, I posted three ideas and then all these other cool-sounding books started being suggested...

[Gio]

Geekmom, I just remembered there's a "Cooking From" thread for Jerusalem that one of our cook-along home cooks, Pikawicca, began in September. Perhaps you'd like to take a look at it while we wait for the book to arrive. I expect my copy of Jerusalem to arrive next week... fingers crossed. Here's the link...
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/869192

Here's a link to the master thread for Non-COTM threads. Some went on to become COTM and some are Companion threads...
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/842251

That one is what LulusMom mentions up thread.

[geekmom]

w00t, thanks Gio!! I have been sitting on the fence about waiting till next summer when I'll be visiting the UK to actually buy Jerusalem, so I can have a copy that a) I bought from Ottolenghi and b) has metric instead of US measurements... but I will definitely check out the thread!

[Gio]

Sheesh... can you at least get excited...haha... And for your edification I've added a few recipes from his Guardian UK Jerusalem blog...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/yot...

[geekmom]

Sorry, I have a fangirl thing going for Ottolenghi & I think it's coming across just a teeny bit here. haha

[Gio]

You're not alone, Dearie, believe me... same thing with Fuchsia Dunlop.

[blue room]

Haha -- I've noticed that Ottolenghi fervor. I'll never loiter in front of a "Jerusalem" display in a bookstore!

[geekmom]

In my eyes he is a genius and can do no wrong. My family is so tired of hearing me go on and on about this guy, but I notice they have no objection to eating the things I cook out of his books, and are quite happy to go along with my plan for us to eat there multiple times next time we are in London.

[LulusMom]

Try Nopi (hope I have the name right). It is their fancier restaurant in London and it is fun and wonderful. I had a great time there this summer with Lulu and a fellow CH regular.

[geekmom]

Ooh, I may have to add this to my steadily growing list of restaurants to hit while we are there. I have been toying with the idea of dinner at Le Gavroche, but we may not be able to afford it; Ottolenghi at least is relatively cheap (eating out in the UK is so expensive compared to Canada!)

[LulusMom]

Here is a link to give you some idea of what they offer and the prices: http://www.nopi-restaurant.com/ I *think* that if you eat downstairs it might be a bit less expensive, although i didn't find it especially pricey (by London standards that is). I love eating small plates - you get to taste so much more, and we had tons when we went. Almost everything was wonderful.

[geekmom]

Cool, that sounds really delicious & that's a good tip to try the downstairs. It's reassuring you were able to eat there with a child as I will have mine with me (although my youngest is going to be 12 by then).

[LulusMom]

Lulu was 5 at the time and they had absolutely no problem with her being there. In fact, when they brought out our initial sparkling wines they brought her a fancy something or other in the same sort of glass so that she wouldn't feel left out. The food was wonderful.

[greedygirl]

There's also a cheaper option which is Honey & Co - run by two former Ottolenghi chefs and currently only open at lunchtimes. Had a wonderful meal there earlier this week - and it was only £30 a head (that's cheap for London). You will need to book.

[geekmom]

Thanks, greedygirl!

[oakjoan]

geekmom, you certainly are NOT alone in adoring Ottolenghi. I've had a couple of his cookbooks for several years now and I have NEVER grown tired of them. Wonderful!

[geekmom]

I'm so, so happy to find this community of people who "get" my Ottolenghi thing. :-)

[herby]

My "Jerusalem" just shipped - very happy :)

[oakjoan]

I nominate Ottolenghi for Kind of the World. His books and those of Paula Wolfert, have inspired me, Ottolenghi for a couple of years and Wolfert for decades. My two faves.

I vote for THE BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD for Nov. I'm also interest in the Union Square book but haven't seen it yet and so am not certain.

PS: People who have been saying that I moved to New Caledonia or was convicted of arson and homicide and hit-and-run are WRONG!

[smtucker]

Does that mean you haven't gone to live with pirates too?

[dkennedy]

Can someone post a link to The best soups in the world. I tried looking it up and I can't seem to find a book with that exact title.

[herby]

Here you go:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Soups-Worl...

[blue room]

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Soups-Worl...

[angelsmom]

Yes, both of them, I agree

[blue room]

Ok, angelsmom, I see that you mean both.

[angelsmom]

I had the first one for quite some time, but just spent an inordinate amount of money on the second one......all of $.01 plus shipping.

[greeneggsnham]

I will also nominate the UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOKS (both)

[soypower]

Is Love Soup a vegetarian cookbook? I'd love to do a soup cookbook that utilizes meat as well. Any suggestions on one of those?

[blue room]

According to the information on Amazon, Love Soup is a vegetarian cookbook. The other all-soup cookbook mentioned so far, 300 Sensational Soups, is not vegetarian.

[Quintious]

If it's a soup book you're after, look up "BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD" by Clifford Wright.

....when in doubt, go with the James Beard award winner.

[herby]

I am happy to get behind THE BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD. Have the book and have not cooked one thing out of it yet! November is a great month for soups with all fall veggies still pretty fresh and lost of meats coming to the markets as well and the weather getting cooler by the day - we'll most likely have snow in November this year..

[Quintious]

I live in the Pac. Northwest. Soup season up here doesn't really start till December, when crab season starts anew and some of our other seafood hits its peak season. I really hope the November book isn't on soups, cause it'll be a month early for us :(.

[herby]

You did nominate it, right? I am confused....

[Quintious]

Me? No, I nominated a Bradley Ogden book above. I just said for soups, that one is fantastic.

[blue room]

Hello Quintious -- I'm the coordinator for this month. I saw your nomination for the Ogden Holiday book, and also your post regarding Clifford Wright's soup book.
But in Cookbook of the Month, nominations and votes that *get counted* are the ones in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. So let me know here if you are not nominating the soup book.

[Quintious]

I would nominate the holiday book - more fitting for the month.

The soup book, the only reason I mentioned it was some people were clamoring for a soup book, and that happens to be one in my collection I'm especially fond of.

[blue room]

Ok, thanks!

[herby]

Well, you have the title in caps - that's nomination but never mind.

[Quintious]

I think we're getting caught up on hair splitting here :). I mean, if people want that to be the book, then by all means, let it be the book. I've got it in-hand, I've made at least a dozen soups out of it, it's fantastic. But if someone tells me "you have to pick ONE book for November, it'd be the Ogden book just because there are only 2 months out of the year that it's even relevant (especially given its reliance on fall/winter harvest goods), whereas soup books are good year-round, though November is the weakest month for them due to seafood seasons.

[gingershelley]

Quintious, I don't think anyone is trying to 'split hairs' - clear you would rather have the Ogden holiday book, but BR just was letting you know that you in theory DID nominate another book by ALL CAPS naming.....

I think just a gentle reminder of the guidlines. I can sure nominate the Clifford Wright book instead, since you have a nomination you want to stick with.

[Quintious]

I just figure since I see some people nominating 2, 3 books in one post that there's not some sort of set limit to nominations, which is where my splitting hairs thing comes in at. I dunno, it's all in fun anyways.

[gingershelley]

Yes, I believe we can nominate as many as we like, as long as in voting, we only cast one vote:) It is in fun, for sure!

[Westminstress]

Maybe the soup folks prefer other options by now, but how about combining love soup with the best soups in the world? I've looked at both books and love soup is much more appealing to me because it's vegetarian and seasonal. However I can understand not everyone would want a vegetarian soup book.

[LulusMom]

Seems very sensible to me. If the non-vegetarian one wins, we can always do a side thread with the vegetarian book.

[Westminstress]

That's true. Does the moderator set up the side thread or can anyone do it?

[LulusMom]

You can do it yourself, but I think if it ends up happening you would need to ask to have it stickied (that's when it stays up at the top of the page).

[blue room]

Westminstress, anyone can set up a thread for a cookbook -- please see here for a list of them:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/842251
These have all been started independently by posters here. You can do it anytime. I did it for a Asian dumpling book.
I think in order to be "stickied" at the top it has to have been voted on, in other words, a COTM.

[BigSal]

If you label the post a Companion Thread for COTM, it can be stickied (voting not required). These typically posts are meant to be paired with the current COTM. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/810109
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/831292
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/825929

[blue room]

Ah, I wasn't aware--
the mods will sticky a book as a companion for COTM, with no group decision involved?

[BigSal]

Yes. I declared what I was doing to make sure no one objected, but no group decision. When I posted, I just reported on my own thread and requested it to be made a sticky topic. Here's another one. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/846970 Caitlin posted one in January to include other Pepin books. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/825929. It's been fairly common each month, but always very directly related to the main COTM.

[The Chowhound Team]

We'd like to offer some clarification regarding how we handle companion or adjunct threads. While it's true that several of these threads were stickied earlier this year that hasn't always been the case, and after some discussion, we've decided to go with our original policy of not stickying them because having too many stickied threads at the top of the board can make things a bit unwieldy for users.

We definitely encourage posters to start dedicated threads for discussing specific cookbooks, and when there is a thread begun as a complement to a current COTM, we can add a link to it in the first post in the master thread so it's easy to find. The coordinator need only request that we do so using the Report button.

[delys77]

I nominate the BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD. I am also in the Pacific Northwest (actually South West for me since I'm in Canada but let's not split hairs) and the weather has just changed from beautiful sunshine to the grey drizzle that always inspires me to make soup. Plus having looked at the book on EYB it seems the recipe list is very international, which might make it easier for people to find things they are attracted to.

[greeneggsnham]

I can get behind BEST SOUPS IN THE WORLD.

Would love to expand the soup repertoire

[gingershelley]

Like this suggestion! I am all for a soup book (with options beyond vegetarian) - and who can't get behind a Clifford Wright book!

Good suggestion!

[Quintious]

Yeah, the vegetarian books are kind of non-starters for me - I don't own a single one, and wouldn't buy one....I'd venture a guess that a purely vegetarian book would not have many participants, comparatively speaking.

But what I'm curious about is the "can't get behind a Clifford Wright book". Is there some sort of boycott against him here that I haven't seen?

[The Dairy Queen]

I think she meant, "And who can't get behind a Clifford Wright book" to mean, "Everyone can get behind a Clifford Wright book."

~TDQ

[gingershelley]

yes - Dairy Queen - that is what I meant. Clifford is a good writer. Enjoyable to read his stuff, and cook from it.

[Westminstress]

To the contrary, we have had several vegetarian COTMs and all have had good participation. I am not vegetarian by the way.

[LulusMom]

I'm not a vegetarian either (although I eat very little red meat), but love to eat that was as often as possible.

[pagesinthesun]

I'm a fairly new to COTM, but I love 300 SENSATIONAL SOUPS if this hasn't been reviewed. Otherwise, I would back up LOVE SOUP. Although I'm in AZ, October brings on the desire to make soup for dinner!

[LulusMom]

Total props to Caitlin McG on this. I'm going to nominate THE ESSENTIAL MEDITERRANEAN: How Regional Cooks Transform Essential Ingredients into the World's Favorite Cuisine, by Nancy Harmon Jenkins.

[ellabee]

Especially because so much of the month is Thanksgiving-focused, something simpler seems in order. I second the nomination of

LOVE SOUP by Anna Thomas.

It's in the local library and I've already made a few things from a previous check-out.

[Westminstress]

You know, this is a strong point. I looked love soup up on amazon and it looks great! So I will third the nomination for LOVE SOUP.

[Westminstress]

I know we normally like to wait for books to be available through the library, but I am excited about BURMA.

[Quintious]

I'd like to see Burma get its moment in the sun, but there probably needs to be some time for people to get it and digest it. I'd like to see it get a lot of response when (let's face it, it's a when, not if) it gets its month in the sun - because I made my first meal from it last night (Poached fish salad w/ shallots & herbs, tamarind pumpkin curry, smoky napa stir-fry, deep-fried chayote fingers, and lemongrass-ginger sliders) and, honestly? I was a little underwhelmed. The chayote fingers were quite good, but the salad kind of whiffed, the stir fry didn't even get finished, and the sliders didn't come off as very authentic to me (though admittedly, it's been years since I've been to the country formerly known as Burma). My dining companions had similar statements, with the exception of the sliders, as none of them had a point of authentic reference to compare to.

I'm willing to believe I just chose the recipes poorly - I really wanted to do the kachin pounded beef w/ herbs, but lacked the ingredients on-hand - before dismissing the book. But I'd like to see most of the book get made over the span of that month so I can get a decent guide as to what works and what doesn't.

[qianning]

Lot's of good ideas already, you folks are amazing. I'm already hard pressed to say which way i lean.

A bistro book has real appeal in the cooler November weather, but then again I know I've got lots of holiday cooking ahead of me next month, so something in that direction would be great too. Burma and Jerusalem are both really exciting too, although it might be better to wait until they've had a chance to hit the bookstore, and especially the library shelves.

[geekmom]

JERUSALEM -- Ottolenghi & Tamimi
THE SMITTEN KITCHEN COOKBOOK -- Perelman
BURMA -- Naomi Duguid

From what I've seen on these forums, a very large number of Chowhounders, like me, plan to acquire these books & will have them in hand by November 1st :-)

[LulusMom]

The problem with new books like these is that they're not available in libraries yet. Some people have limited cookbook budgets.

[geekmom]

Well, my library has them on order; I've got my name down for all of them...

[The Dairy Queen]

Even if my library has these new books (and my library is actually pretty great about buying new cookbooks), the waiting list for them is several months long.

We used to have a rule that the COTM needed to be at least a year old, though that seems to have fallen by the wayside over the past couple of years.

~TDQ

[Quintious]

I think that's actually a really good rule. Gives people time to digest them.

[The Dairy Queen]

Yes, also, it gives some people time to cook from a book and get a feel for the book so they can advocate for it and describe it to people during the nominations and voting processes. I think it really helps when a book has an advocate who is familiar with the book and can help us understand what it would be like to cook from it for a month.

~TDQ

[geekmom]

You both make good points; I guess the reason I posted three new books is that I thought it would be incredibly fun to have a group of people who are all excitedly discovering these new books together, finding a great recipe and encouraging others to try it. I think about my own favourites and I honestly don't think I would post much in a COTM thread if they were chosen, simply because I have already tried so many of the recipes & made the ones I liked best multiple times.

[The Dairy Queen]

I believe overwhelming passion for a particular book is most important in selecting a COTM, and then there are lots of secondary and tertiary considerations... :). At the end of the day, it's just what most people really want. If enough people are really excited about a book, even a new one, it's likely to be a lively month.

~TDQ

[geekmom]

Judging by the comments so far, people are feeling pretty darn passionate about soup right now :-D

[The Dairy Queen]

It's early in the process...you never know!

~TDQ

[blue room]

Ah, clever DQ, the perfect name for my frequent cooking results-- "Tertiary Dinners."

[geekmom]

Clearly I spend too much time on facebook; I wanted to click "like" for this :-)

[LulusMom]

How about starting a "cooking the book" thread for one of them? I love those threads and quite often they end up leading to the book becoming COTM.

[geekmom]

That rule does seem like a good idea. I did sign onto the library waiting list as soon as I could, but I have no idea whether I'll get them in time for Nov 1st.

[pikawicca]

There has never been such a rule. Some of us thought it was a good idea, but it's never been a "rule."

[The Dairy Queen]

We're going to have to disagree on this. The only real rules are the ones set forth by the coordinator in her nominations/suggestions or voting posts: I agree with you that I don't recall any time where such a rule was stated in the coordinator's OP. But, there were informal rules--call them what you will--that were applied during the nominatiors or voting process and any new books were tossed out of consideration or discouraged or filtered out. (I think it was something oakjoan said in one of the threads when she was coordinator and I was new to COTM back in 2007/2008) I interpreted this as a rule.

Neverthess, this rule or norm or whatever you want to call it, has been not all all enforced or even much discussed in 2011 and 2012 though, as far as I can tell, as many books that had been published within the previous 12 months (in 2012 thus far: Homesick Texan, Food of Spain, Essential Pepin, Cook This Now) have been COTM, so it's definitely not a rule anymore.

~TDQ

[blue room]

Actually, I think the only *real* rules are set by Chowhound--the coordinator just gets to ask nicely.
I'm sticking to the all-caps for nominations and votes stipulation, and of course one vote per person applies.
If a book is very hard to get or very expensive I figure it won't win in the end, so you can leave the book choice to the voters. The marketplace will sort it out.

[The Dairy Queen]

That's the great thing about COTM--it was entirely conceived by and is entirely administered by the users, not by the moderators or by CBS. As you know, the coordinator role is passed from one coordinator to the next, and the "rules" and procedures are passed down to each new coordinator with the role. And the rules and procedures have gradually developed and changed over time. Each coordinator has put her own stamp on the process. "Chowhound" didn't develop and doesn't dictate the COTM rules (except to enforce the site's already existing rules such as no verbatim copying of recipes from the book into our posts) , though they do maintain the COTM archive for us. But, really, the rules and procedures have been developed by all of us (but mostly by the coordinators) over the six or seven years we've been doing it.

~TDQ

[blinknoodle]

I don't do COTM often but loving 660 Curries.

May I suggest LOVE SOUP for one of these winter months?

It is my favourite soup cookbook and has soups for every season. It is a vegetarian cookbook, btw.

[Quintious]

Gah, responded to the wrong post.

[Quintious]

It's holiday time from November on. I say stick with the theme and thus nominate:

HOLIDAY DINNERS WITH BRADLEY OGDEN – 150 FESTIVE RECIPES TO BRING FAMILY & FRIENDS TOGETHER” by Bradley Ogden.

I've already reviewed it in the "Cookbook a week" thread for anyone interested in learning more about it. Great friggin' book. I still can't believe how few people had heard of it, given the guy has 2 JB awards - aside from it never appearing on The Good Cook (which seems to be a kiss of death these days if you don't market with them, heh).

[JoanN]

Okay, okay. I ordered it. For $.17 on Amazon for what they claim is a new book, how could I not? I just hope it's half as good as "Thanksgiving Dinner" by Anthony Dias Blue or "John Clancy's Christmas Cookbook," two books that have been helping me through the holidays for years.

[blue room]

I have the Clancy book, yes, it's a good one!

[herby]

I ordered it too just because of your glorious review, Quintious - it better deliver!:)

[Quintious]

You're gonna love it :). If you don't, I'll Paypal you the .17. Course, Paypal will take it all in fees, but that's life.

[JulesLP]

I would like to nominate two different books for November:

THE FOOD OF MOROCCO by Paula Wolfert
or
BISTRO COOKING AT HOME by Gordon Hamersely

[LulusMom]

I could definitely get behind BISTRO COOKING AT HOME by G. Hamersely (sp?).

[ChefJune]

that would be HAMERSLEY. and it's a wonderful book. ;)

[LulusMom]

Had a strong feeling I wasn't spelling it correctly. Thanks.

[angelsmom]

I will try once more......UNION SQUARE CAFE COOKBOOKS.

[jpr54_1]

for a change I actually bought the book from suggestions

[biondanonima]

Selfishly, I'm going to nominate AD HOC AT HOME, by Thomas Keller.

I've had the book for quite some time and have only made the infamous brownie recipe, so I'd love to have a fire lit under me to cook from it more. There seem to be a lot of fall-friendly recipes, hearty meat dishes, things that require the oven, etc., so hopefully others will find it a good fit as well!

[pikawicca]

I did not like this book at all, and quickly re-gifted it to Candy. Don't know if she's cooked from it yet.

[The Dairy Queen]

Bummer. What did you cook from it that you didn't like? I've cooked 2-3 things from it--a ribs recipe, a toasted walnuts recipe (nothing earth shattering but still good), and a broccoli rabe recipe--and was quite pleased. But, that's just a few recipes, alas, definitely not a thorough testing of the book.

~TDQ

[dkennedy]

I've made the fried chicken recipe from AHAH and it was magical. Would love to hear if there are any other gems in it.

[The Dairy Queen]

My husband loved the herb-toasted walnuts. They didn't blow my mind, but I thought they were good and easy. We both really loved the rubbed and glazed pork spareribs over our grill.

~TDQ

[BigSal]

It has been a long time since we made anything from the book, I remember enjoying the pan-seared duck breast and the caramelized sea scallops. Both were very easy to make.

[JoanN]

Yes, you've mentioned that before but never said what it was about it that you didn't like or whether or not you'd tried any of the recipes. As I, too, have said before, I've only made three things from the book--the Chocolate Chip cookies, the Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb, and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken--and all three were right up there in the just about best ever category. I'd be thrilled, if not now sometime soon, to have a COTM nudge to see how many more equally wonderful recipes there might be in this book.

[pikawicca]

Sorry, but I really don't remember. I got the book right when it was published, made half a dozen recipes and decided the thing wasn't worth the shelf space. I do remember that I had an overall criticism of the book, but what that was escapes me now.

[The Dairy Queen]

I wish we all had EYB back then so we could have captured the detailed comments about any of the recipes you tried so we could avoid those recipes. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6602...

~TDQ

[biondanonima]

I've made the brownies, which are LIFECHANGING. I mean, unbelievably good. I also made a chicken and fennel dish a couple of nights ago that was good - not great, but tasty enough and plenty quick/easy for a week night.

[oakjoan]

I got the Ad Hoc cookbook as a present and attempted to trade it in at Moe's Books in Berkeley because it didn't interest me much. They said they'd take it, but wouldn't give me any money for it since they had so many already. I

[The Dairy Queen]

Well, that's totally unfair. :( Didn't you have a very similar experience when you tried to get rid of your copy of TFL, or did they just refuse you altogther with that one?

~TDQ

[smtucker]

I actually really like this book, but to me it is a 'special occassion' book, or a 'I-have-lots-of-free-time' book. Everything I have made from this book has been excellent. But many of the entrée recipes require a fair amount of planning and prep.

The salad dressings are delicious when I am willing to eat that many calories on a salad.

[nomadchowwoman]

Infamous as in not good? I don't know anything about that recipe but had the impression from other references that it is beloved. I'll have to take a look at it.

[biondanonima]

Infamous as in AMAZING. Perhaps I should have just said they were famous. Or fabulous. Or evil, since they call for 3 sticks of butter and you will want to eat the whole pan even though you KNOW how bad they are for you.

[nomadchowwoman]

Oooh, please, I sooo don't need anything else bad for me! (Now, I really have to look at the recipe.)

[jpr54_1]

BURMA-Naomi Duguid

VIETNAMESE HOME COOKING-Charles Phan

WHOLE BEAST BUTCHER-Ryan Farr

RIVER COTTAGE MEAT

THE JOY OF PICKLING-Linda Ziedrich

[blue room]

jpr54_1, this is the Burma cookbook by Naomi Duguid, right? and the Vietnamese book is by Charles Phan?

[jpr54_1]

yes