Your FAV new cookbook so far this year?

[chubbyalaskagriz]

My FAV selection so far from this year would have to be Jacques Pepin's "Chez Jacques".

This is a beefy, handsome volume chock full of recipes that make you want to get your apron on!

It's a huge, weighty book that's perfect not only in the kitchen, but also in the easy chair at the front room window, or on the pillow at bedtime.

It contains Jacque's memories, recipes, & menus but also lavish food styling & photography- including many lovely watercolors created at Jacques very own easel! Who knew he was not only chef but also painter?

This cookbook is inspiring and will bring out the creator in anyone- no matter what your preferred medium!

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Hey thanks for the tip, I absolutley adore watercolor, and am a self-taught watercolorist myself! I will be "for sure - without a doubt" getting this one you have just recommended! Thank you so much for sharing!

By the way Kevin if you like watercolor and cookbooks, check this out:
Amazon.com: Basket Of Berries, A: Val Archer: Books

I even put in my 2 cents worth and did a customer review on it, I have not only her "Basket of Berries", but also another book she did called "Basket of Apples" unfortunatley it is no longer in print and is unavailable for purchase, I just really lucked out and got both.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Plus I forget TO MENTION my favorite new cookbook is...........
"Flavors of Morocco delicious recipes from North Africa" by: Ghillie Basan. Oh my goodness I am in LLLoooovvvveeee with Moroccan food how I went 51 yrs without ever having it I do not know but Thank God I finally discovered it, with the help of my forum buddies (KYH most notably talked alot about it) and I NEVER KNEW WHAT I WAS MISSING!!!

Over all it is now at this moment my favorite! I am sure that it will reamin a favorite, but I will probably fall in love with more to come!

[KYHeirloomer]

Any other time that would be a hard one. But this time around it's a no-brainer: Where Flavor Was Born, by Andreas Viestad.

I don't remember if I've talked it up much over here. I know I did at the other site, before we all left. Technically published in 2007, it didn't come out until December. Far as I'm concerned that makes it one of this year's books.

It's part travelogue, part culinary history, part introduction to the cuisines of the Indian Ocean, part a primer on spices and their role in world events. All written by a chef and cookbook writer who brings the style and panache of a novelist to his passion for the region and its food.

Here, for instance, in one of my favorite passages, he's describing Stone Town, in Zanzibar:

"And it is all about secrets and semi-secrets, about what is hidden and what lies in the open, about lies that serve noble causes and truths that can hurt. There are rumors and gossip, more so than other places, one should think.... In the space between truths and lies, between what is public and what is secret, everything happens."

That quality writing is not unusual in the book. And the recipes are something else again. I've tried more than half a dozen of them, so far, and haven't had a bad one yet.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

You just remined me KYH, I have just got to get that one too, it sounds fabulous!!!
Thanks for the little memory jog!

Plus I am just curious how long has it been since you discovered Moroccan cooking? I must have been WAY out of the loop for years, or is this a new and sudden phenomenon?

Cathy

[chubbyalaskagriz]

First off, way-cool, Cathyl! This little book does indeed sound like a true treasure-find! And at only THREE CENTS per USED copy from Amazon, Amazon.com: Basket Of Berries, A: Val Archer: Books I plan to do as you mention in your review (great review, by the way!) and purchase TWO copies so that I may clip and frame pages of her little watercolors from one of the copies... (I have a ton of various-sized no-longer-used-frames... might be a great way to make some inexpensive gifts/stocking-stuffers... unless I decide to keep them all for myself!).

I love berries of all kinds. In Alaska wildberry picking is an art-form and just about every berry imaginable from low bush cranberries to blueberries and salmonberries grows up there. One of my fav Alaskan artists is Barbara Lavallee and she has several berry-picking themed prints that are colorful and charming.

Two other berry cookbooks I highly recommend: 1.) Lee Bailey's "Berries" and 2.) Linda Danneberg's "True Blueberry". Lee's book is tiny & cute & chock-full of pics and fun ideas... Linda's is larger, kind of a slim Ina-type book in size & style, loaded with fantastic photos.

Also- here's a surprise for you! Amazon currently has USED copies of the out-of-print "Basket of Apples" starting at just THIRTEEN CENTS a hardcover copy! Amazon.com: Basket Of Apples, A: Val Archer: Books

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Khrist, you guys! Hanging out w/ you all sure ain't gonna help my budget at all! Already I've got a list of new "must have" cookbooks! Darnit!

KYH, I do indeed recall you singing the praises of "Where Flavor Was Born" by Andreas Viestad over at EPI. I see the $40.00 book is now available at Amazon USED at $14.00! Also, his "Kitchen of Light: New Scandinavian Cooking" is a wonderful find too- great food-writing, lovely photos. One of my FAVS from 4-5 years back. Available USED at Amazon for like 7 bucks, or something ridiculous...

Amazon.com: Kitchen of Light: The New Scandinavian Cooking: Andreas Viestad, Mette Randem: Books

[KYHeirloomer]

I hope Nan sees your post, Chubby. She told me she was going to order it to take aboard ship (she usually takes one new cookbook on a voyage). Seven bucks sure beats 40 any day of the week. But I don't understand those used copies. This is one book I'll never give up.

Let me now put in a plug from the shameless commerce division. Anybody ordering books (or anything else) from Amazon should first go over to the ChefTalk site (ChefTalk - Cooking Forums, Cook Book Review, Cooking Articles and Recipes by the chefs), open the forums, and use the direct link to Amazon from there. By doing so, ChefTalk earns a few pennies, and I get paid for being the reviews editor. A good deal for everyone!

Cathy, I've always had a casual interest in North Africa, as an outgrowth of my interest in Mid-Eastern and Turkish cooking (and, especially, the Turkish culinary influence on the whole region). It's only been the past two or three years that I've had a passion for Morrocan, though.

But you know what they say: Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.

[KYHeirloomer]

A more recent book that I really like is Spain and the World Table, published by the Culinary Institute of America as an outgrowth of last years annual Worlds of Flavor International Conference & Festival---perhaps the most important professional event in the world. Last year's conference featured the foods, cuisines, and creative chefs of Spain.

I like everything about the book, from the tone of the text, to the historical notes, to the recipes, to the discussions about Spanish foods. And, of particular interest to Chubby, the photos are nothing short of incredible. Large, colorful, and doing justice to the food instead of highlighting the stylish.

And what food it is, ranging from classic dishes to the latest innovation from the "scientific" kitchen. Need some examples? In the chapter on Tapas alone we find classics like Tortilla Espanole, to Manchego Croquettes with Quince Sauce, to Mission figs stuffed with Spanish Blue Cheese, to Serrano Ham Cones with Migas and Quail Eggs. And lots more as well.

I heartily recommend this one.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Kevin I am so thankful you let me know about "Basket of Apples" I am def. going to get myself 1 more of each cookbook, I have not had the heart to cut mine up, even for the sake of good Art And thanks for the compliment on the review, just couldn't rave enough about it! I am going to get my own copies of the other two you've suggested.

KYH I must echo Kevin since hanging out with all you guys I am like in spend mode, "gotta have this, gotta have that" why heck at the rate I'm going I'll have it all by this time next year And I will be more than happy to place my order via the other site, and will gladly do so! And I am glad you mentioned the "Spain and the World Table" book as I was feeling drawn to it and well, now I know it'd be a great pruchase!

Kevin I know you'll love the "Baskets" cookbooks, I have this habit of sending everyone I love my books so they can see them first hand, and to date have been very fortunate in seeing all but one returned. My "basket" cookbooks have gone as far North as Vermont! I love the internet, as it helps me share without having to mail my own off. Have you ever heard of a book authored by Fannie Flagg called "A Redbird Christmas"? It was a copy I bought and she autographed, (on one of her book signings), that is the only one that never came back to me yet, but the reason I mention it is because she even put recipes in the back of the book, the story is such a heart warming tale and for me it was special because I lived very near the little community that was her inspiration for the story (Magnolia Springs, AL) I highly recommend the story if you ever get the time to get in a read! But I found it to be really unique in that she included recipes for some of the dishes in her story.

This has got to be my favorite topic today!!! Cookbooks YEAH!!!