Nobody knows the tortellini and tapenades I've seen...and cooked...and written about.
Here's the list of the thirteen cookbooks I could never live without. I've thumbed through thousands of books over the years, interviewed the authors, tested the recipes, tasted the dishes. These cookbooks stood out in a very crowded field.
Some capture the trends of today; some were favorites during the days of Veal Oscar and now sit quietly on the shelf. All are tattered but treasured for their memorable meals.
The list is part of an article in The San Diego Union-Tribune that ran when I left the paper in January, 2008. The article also shares my favorite gadgets, pantry staples, learning adventures and culinary personalities.
THIRTEEN TREASURED TOMES
“Cucina Simpatica: Robust Trattoria Cooking From Al Forno” by Johanne Killeen & George Germon
“Michel Richard's Home Cooking With a French Accent” by Michel Richard
“In the Hands of a Chef” by Jody Adams
“Bistro Cooking at Home” by Gordon Hamersley
“Mastering the Art of French Cooking” by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle and Simone Beck.
“The Babbo Cookbook” by Mario Batali
“Mediterranean Cooking” by Paula Wolfert
“The Union Square Cookbook” (from the New York City restaurant of that name), by Danny Meyer and Michael Romano.
“Back to Square One: Old World Food in a New World Kitchen” by Joyce Goldstein
“The Four Seasons Cookbook” by Charlotte Adams. This 1971 treasure
(from New York's Four Seasons restaurant) was my introduction to the
world of haute cuisine. It's still available at used book Web sites.
“Maida Heatter's Book of Great Chocolate Desserts” by Maida Heatter
“Cooking With the New American Chefs” by Ellen Brown. Released in 1985, it inspired then and still does today.
“The Thrill of the Grill” by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby
Comments