Koncocoo

Best Gastronomy Essays

Deep Run Roots: Stories and Recipes from My Corner of the South
This new classic of American country cooking proves that the food of Deep Run, North Carolina--Vivian's home--is as rich as any culinary tradition in the world. Organized by ingredient with dishes suited to every skill level--from beginners to confident cooks--DEEP RUN ROOTS features time-honored simple preparations alongside extraordinary meals from her acclaimed restaurant Chef and the Farmer. Recipes include: Family favorites like Blueberry BBQ Chicken, Creamed Collard-Stuffed Potatoes, Fried Yams with Five-Spice Maple Bacon Candy, Chicken and Rice, and Country-Style Pork Ribs in Red Curry-Braised Watermelon, Crowd-pleasers like Butterbean Hummus, Tempura-Fried Okra with Ranch Ice Cream, Pimiento Cheese Grits with Salsa and Pork Rinds, Cool Cucumber Crab Dip, and Oyster Pie, Show-stopping desserts like Warm Banana Pudding, Peaches and Cream Cake, Spreadable Cheesecake, and Pecan-Chewy Pie, And 200 more quick breakfasts, weeknight dinners, holiday centerpieces, seasonal preserves, and traditional preparations for all kinds of cooks.
Reviews
"I opened it half an hour ago and devoured the first 65 pages immediately and had a hard time putting it down. Some recipes (Stewed Fresh Butterbeans, Watermelon Rind Pickles) are an homage to tradition but of course Vivian has also gifted us with many recipes that have her distinctive modern twist (think Fried Green Tomatoes with Curried Peach Preserves & Whipped Feta or Boiler Room Butterbean Burger) this book is an incredible gift to the food obsessed and to the A Chefs Life obsessed! I have previously made her Blueberry BBQ sauce and (although the smell is well, lets say, rather distinctive as it's cooking) it is wonderful! Vivian has imbued this book with her signature honest, down to earth, relatable "best foodie friend that I don't actually know" storytelling style that fans of her show are familiar with, and like me were no doubt hoping would carry over into her first book. As you read it (if you are anything like me) you will hear every word in Vivians voice :). Each chapter is dedicated to an ingredient. Ground Corn - Moms Cornpone, Charred Spring Vegetables wtih Creamy Scallion Dressing and Hushpuppy Croutons. Oysters - Roasted Oysters with Brown Butter Hot Sauce and Bacon, Oyster and Clam Pan Roast wtih Bacon Fat Toast. Pecans - Butter Baked Turkey with Pecan Cranberry Relish adn Warm Sorghum Viniagrette, Speice Pecan and Pumpkin Seed Crumble. Beans and Peas - SHrimp Succotash Salad, Refried Field Peas with Cheesy Grit Fritters and Celery Cilantro Salad. Figs - Fig & Honey Bourban Slush, Baked Figs & Goat Cheese with Carmelized Onions and Pecans, Whole Fruit Fig & Lemon Preserves. Rice - Scarletts Chicken and Rice, Sprouted Hoppin' John Sald with Hot Bacon Viniagrette, Cast Iron Cooked Red Rice and Softshell Scampi. Sweet Potatoes - Grandma Hills Candied Yams, Sweet Potato and Turkey Shepherds Pie, Sweet Potato Pie. Summer Squash - Assorted Squash Pickle Salad, Squash and Fontina Casserole Pudding, Squash and Cilantro Crumble. Sausage - Air-Dried Sausage Biscuits, Baked Pimento Cheese and Sausage, Stuffed Butternut Bottoms. Peanuts - Boiled Peanuts, Fried Mullet with Peanut Romesco, Big Bone-In Pork Chops with Pickled Peanut Salad. Okra - Fried Okra Hash, Shrimp and Grits with Gumbo Sauce, A Pickle Plate for Everyone. Peaches - Perfect Peaches with Almond Pesto, Canned Peaches, Jalapeno Peach Chicken, Peaches and Cream Cake. Rutabagas - Riutabaga Relish, Rutabaga with Black Eyed Pea Samosas with Cilantro Buttermilk, Stewed Rutabagas. Apples - B&S Applejacks, Apple Pie Moonshine, Lentil Apple Soup with Bacon, Charred Carrots with Apple Brown Butter Viniagrette. Beets - Pickled Beets, Hot Pink Lemonade, Chocolate Orange Beet Cake with Cream Cheese Walnut Icing. UPDATE: Since I first posted my review I have made the following: - Turnip Roots and Greens Gratin. I am not a huge fan of bitter greens myself, but the creaminess of this two cheese + cream gratin won me over. Vivianne didn't state which type to use but next time I make this I will use yellow mustard seeds. It resulted in an extremely tender, pink in the middle tenderloin just like the picture and the sage honey with cider vinegar added a floral-tart bite which was perfect with the pork. But the end result was delicious and jammy with an acid bite from the vinegar and not at all socky! Refreshing with the crunch of the apples, tartness of the Pomegranate seeds, and the mint and lemon added freshness which was rounded-off by the creamy blue cheese dressing. It was terrific and I can't wait till summer so I can make this with the Peach Preserves."
"She also found her husband and they moved back to Deep Run to open their own restaurant. This is all documented in this cookbook interspersed with recipes and Vivian's Rules and Words of Wisdom in each chapter. If you watch her television show, you will note that her family, hometown farmers and people who populate the land lend the flavor that has become her trademark. Vivian elevates the traditional southern NC recipes to make them her own, and that is the measure of her success. Rex Miller the photographer has incorporated an amazing visual field with each recipe and with many of Vivian's stories. It has taken me three days just to turn each page, devour the photographs, and skim the stories. There is a list of contents, and then an alphabetical recipe guide from Basics to Sweets."
"This is a great cookbook, the stories leading up to the recipes are homey and nice."
"She loves watching a Chef's Life, and was excited to receive Vivian's cookbook as a gift."
"It's a big book but I love!"
"Vivian Howard's vegetable recipe are new (to me), and absolutely full of flavor, a quiet flavor that is warm and comforting and original and never shocks or jars the tastebuds."
"A lot of great recipes from a Southern girl who found her roots."
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Champagne [Boxed Book & Map Set]: The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region
From Peter Liem, the lauded expert behind the top-rated online resource ChampagneGuide.net, comes this groundbreaking guide to the modern wines of Champagne--a region that in recent years has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in the wine-growing world. There are enough facts, stories, details, and historical anecdotes here to keep anyone engaged, from the casual drinker to the champagne collector. "For Champagne lovers—and all wine lovers—here’s the book that changes everything. With impeccable scholarship and detail, he redefines Champagne as a living, breathing place, one in the midst of glorious transformation. Written in this author's transparent, delicate prose, the effect is like a lazy balloon ride over the whole Champagne landscape, all of its hills and vineyards, and the wonderful people who work them. Peter Liem is a judicious taster and a clear thinker, and I predict that we who love Champagne will wonder how we ever did without this book.” —. Terry Thiese, author and importer "Liem has written a beautiful book, focusing on champagne not as a luxury tipple but as serious wine, expressive of the place where it is grown rather than the lifestyle of the person drinking it."
Reviews
"This is an impressive book and set that my wife has enjoyed very much."
"In conclusion, Peter Liem has made this generation's go-to book on Champagne."
"If you're familiar with Peter Liem's recent book "Sherry, Manzanilla & Montilla," you will come to this new tome, "Champagne," with high expectations. Try to find a set of originals from a rare book seller specializing in books and maps on wine: if you can find these maps at all, they will cost a king's ransom."
"Everyone, from the serious wine collector to the occasional imbiber, drinks champagne yet many of us wine drinkers haven’t a clue what makes a great champagne. Starting with a history of champagne and the Champagne Region in France, Liem educates the reader without talking down to the reader. As a wine drinker and someone who has visited the Champagne Region in France, this book is a treasure-trove of information long since forgotten."
"Peter Liem's stands out for the following reasons: First, it is very lucid and enjoyable to read; the beginner will find Part One (Understanding Champagne) a great help whereas the experienced champagne lover will still find some useful information that he might not have known before. It is a strange atmosphere in which one feels that he is in the old country in a by-gone age; yet the information, the people, and the champagne as fresh as the most recent vintage."
"This book outdoes itself in providing not only information but also maps so that one can really immerse oneself in the study of Champagne."
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On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
Hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible to which food lovers and professional chefs worldwide turn for an understanding of where our foods come from, what exactly they're made of, and how cooking transforms them into something new and delicious. Before antioxidants, extra-virgin olive oil and supermarket sushi commanded public obsession, the first edition of this book swept readers and cooks into the everyday magic of the kitchen: it became an overnight classic. Though several cookbooks have begun to answer the questions of why certain foods go well together, McGee draws on recent agricultural research, neuroscience reviews and chemical publications to chart the different flavor chemicals in herbs and spices, fruits and vegetables.
Reviews
"It could easily be used as a reference, looking up whatever you need, but I have been happily reading it from start to finish."
"You can open the book up to any page and find something interesting to read."
"Who knew cooking was so fascinating."
"A must read for professionals and other serious cooks."
"It's an interesting book on the science of cooking and food and flavor."
"Get this book if you want to understand the spirit of the recipe."
"An example is a table listing nutritional content of milk from various mammals, from human and cow to moose and cetacean."
"I was a biology major so that makes this an easier read but I don't think others without that training will find this too difficult to comprehend. When I read this book I am utterly amazed at how hard our species has worked to make something we take for granted, like cheese, which took some serious trial and error, brilliance and patience to produce."
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Best Mid Atlantic U.S. Biographies

The Glass Castle: A Memoir
Now a major motion picture from Lionsgate starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts. MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST The perennially bestselling, extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, “nothing short of spectacular” ( Entertainment Weekly ) memoir from one of the world’s most gifted storytellers. "Jeannette Walls has carved a story with precision and grace out of one of the most chaotic, heartbreaking childhoods ever to be set down on the page. "The Glass Castle is the saga of the restless, indomitable Walls family, led by a grand eccentric and his tempestuous artist wife.
Reviews
"Love this book dearly , I have bought it for several friends."
"Great book!"
"This is an extraordinary tale of a family that lived on the fringes of society and what became of the children of that family."
"Amazing to know that the author actually lived like the story tells!"
"Great read."
"Beautifully written memoir."
"VERY well written, an incredible story, and a fascinating psychological study."
"Really good.... Hard to put down."
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Best Industries

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
In 2009, Simon Sinek started a movement to help people become more inspired at work, and in turn inspire their colleagues and customers. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. “ Start with Why is one of the most useful and powerful books I have read in years.
Reviews
"It reads a little bit like he took articles from his blog, stuck them in a large word-processing document, did some minor editing, and submitted the thing as-is for publication in order to create this book. As far as I can tell, if you're reasonably intelligent you can glean pretty much everything essential to Sinek's idea based on his TED Talk together with this understanding that "HOW" means something different in each of the two contexts he contrasts. What you WON'T get from that is his rather in-depth, incredibly clear exposé of why the "WHAT --> HOW" communication pattern requires manipulating people to some degree or another and why that is by necessity unsustainable in the long run. So in short, the book is a reasonable buy, certainly at the Kindle price, but do consider benefitting from Sinek's wisdom for free in 20 minutes first by watching his TED Talk."
"This book has inspired many thoughts as I read it, but it has helped me to truly put into perspective the age-old advice to follow your passion."
"I teach a college-level business course that shows people how to grow their business by word-of-mouth."
"We are 2 decades deep into hiring and promoting the least capable and those with the complete lack of vision and planning into upper and middle layers of management."
"I am confident this book has indeed the potential to change the world for the better through the life of its readers and organizations they might collaborate with."
"I did believe that the author took some leaps between an organization's existential rational and customer connections."
"The author was trying so hard to make a many-page book out of the message and it was excruciating to go through this repetition.. Save your money and (most importantly) your time and just watch the TED talk on YT.."
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Best Wok Cookery

Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge: The Ultimate Guide to Mastery, with Authentic Recipes and Stories
In Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge, award-winning author Grace Young shares more than 100 classic stir-fry recipes that sizzle with heat and pop with flavor, from the great Cantonese stir-fry masters to the culinary customs of Sichuan, Hunan, Shanghai, Beijing, Fujian, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, as well as other countries around the world. Stir-frying may have been pedestrianized by generations of vegetarian college students, but this beautiful, comprehensive cookbook restores it to its rightful place among the most elegant cookery techniques. The virtues of stir-frying, Young writes, are many: it makes bounty out of small amounts of meat and oil; it emphasizes healthful vegetables; and most importantly, it creates 'alchemic flavor out of raw ingredients.
Reviews
"has a lot of common recipes and stories which makes for fun and informative reading."
"This is a must-have book, and must-give book."
"Chinese Chef Grace Young, author of "The Wisdom Of The Chinese Kitchen", & "The Breath Of A Wok", has another Jade Jewel in her cookbook offerings, with "Stir-Frying To The Sky's Edge"!"
"Warm, accessible approach make this a book that is both enjoyable to read and practical to use."
"Haven't tried the recipes yet, however I have read through the book and the recipes look delicious."
"Probably the best thing for me is the narrative about how Chinese cooks who live outside China have adapted their ingredients to match what's available in their area, turning out jerk chicken stir-fry dishes, Malaysian stir-fries, and assorted other twists. This is a revelation to me, a girl who grew up on the 50s with ChunKing chop suey and chow mein, a girl whose favorite vegetable was tomato juice with corn and potatoes coming in second and third."
"The instructions are easy to follow, the ingredients are easy to find (staples like chinkiang vinegar and shaoxing wine can be picked up at the Asian grocery or substituted), and the recipes are relatively simple and delicious."
"The stories and background information is invaluable to understanding the basic skills used to create the methods and recipes."
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Best German Cooking, Food & Wine

The German Cookbook: A Complete Guide to Mastering Authentic German Cooking
Alongside old Bavarian favorites, The German Cookbook includes recipes for nose-to-tail pork, wild game, and organ meats; hearty root vegetables and the entire cabbage family; main-course soups and one-pot meals; whole-grain country breads and luscious chocolate confections; and lesser-known dishes worthy of rediscovery, particularly the elegant seafood of Hamburg. Her writing on food and travel has appeared in such magazines as The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Smithsonian, Vogue, Town & Country, New York, and Food & Wine .
Reviews
"For her recipe for Rheinischer Sauerbraten - p147, she advises that the roast must be well larded with thin matchstick strips of bacon or salt pork. Her other stuff is delicious, so I went ahead and ordered the larding needle to try this out. 3) Bratwurst in Ale - p252, and Himmel und Erde (Heaven and Earth - mashed potatoes with applesauce, sugar, salt, and vinegar stirred in) - p313. I went with 2 1/4 lbs russet potatoes, 3 Granny Smith apples, 4 T unsalted butter, 2 t kosher salt, 1 t sugar, and 1 T apple cider vinegar."
"This is a classic cookbook which is highly rated by purchasers. We cooked a cross section of recipes and are well satisfied with the results."
":) If you love German food, this is the cookbook to have!"
"If you remember any favorite German dish ranging from main courses, to desserts, to drinks, you will find the authentic recipe in this cookbook."
"I have an old edition of The German Cookbook."
"Great book, very informative."
"Love the cookbook."
"For those unfamiliar with the authentic German kitchen, this book provides a great immersion into methods and flavors of Germany."
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Best General France Travel Guides

Rick Steves Paris 2018
Explore every centimeter of Paris, from the top of the Eiffel tower to the ancient catacombs below the city: with Rick Steves on your side, Paris can be yours! Rick Steves, author of 21 guidebooks and host of the television series Travels in Europe with Rick Steves, has spent 100 days a year traveling Europe, every year, since 1973.
Reviews
"This guide made our trip to Paris an amazing Experience."
"super helpfull to make a itinerary and make the most of Paris."
"The reference materials for getting around Paris were great (opening times, what was open on Monday, what was closed for 2013) but the tours within the books of the several museums and different neighborhoods were awesome."
"Anyway, buy the book before you go but also buy Dixon Long's "Markets of Paris" - there is so much about Paris, it's impossible to overdo the preparation!"
"My friend and I did the book's tours for the Louvre, the Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles, and in all cases they were excellent."
"I can't say enough good things about this book."
"The book comes with a few pre-planned itineraries for a short 3 day trip and a longer trip, which with a little thought, can be customized to fit your schedule and desires. The guidebook covered common tourist scams, two of which were attempted on me which I easily avoided (friendship bracelet and found ring)."
"But it is terrible--bare minumum of info, often misleading or missing info (for instance not mentioning the existence, let alone whereabouts, of a famous restaurant in Paris, but only its satellite location out at Versailles)."
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Best Episcopalian Christianity

An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith
In An Altar in the World , Taylor shows us how to discover altars everywhere we go and in nearly everything we do as we learn to live with purpose, pay attention, slow down, and revere the world we live in. Gentle, humbly crafted, lyrical, and deeply wise, Altar is Barbara Brown Taylor as she was meant to be, a pastor who understands that knowing God occurs in a place beyond theology.” (Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence). “Elegant, wise, and insightful, this book is also sacramental: it mediates the life it describes.” (Marcus Borg, author of Jesus). Your mind, your body and your soul will be well fed by this wonderful book.” (Nora Gallagher, author of Things Seen and Unseen and Changing Light). One of the best-known preachers in the country offers equal amounts of wisdom and erudition spent longing for more meaning, more feeling, more connection.” (Booklist). And this volume, which focuses on spiritual practices, simply adds to her growing reputation.” (Kansas City Star).
Reviews
"Things like physical work, paying attention to our surroundings, appreciating the people who pass through our lives mostly unnoticed, the practice of blessing, and several others. Author Barbara Brown Taylor is an episcopal priest renowned for her preaching, with a good sense of humor, and extensive learning."
"I've read a LOT of spirituality books, especially those on spiritual practices."
"It deals with the art of slowing down, the goal of blessing others, of taking walks and doing dishes. The book deals with the common to make it an uncommon experience of walking with God."
"In our own skins, our own senses, we experience this world."
"She was recognized in 1996 by Baylor University as one of the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world and received the Emory medal in 1998 for distinguished achievement in education. Taylor wrote a memoir of her shift from parish ministry to teaching in a book entitled “Leaving Church,” and her latest work is “An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith.” These later works seem to target the “spiritual but not religious” segment of the reading public and are filled with the same skilled prose that marked her earlier writings. “An Altar in the World” reviews a variety of spiritual practices with the laudable goal of showing the reader that “the treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company.” For the author, “there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experiences of human life on the earth.” She states, “If you have run out of breath yourself—or out of faith—then this book is for you.” Her hope for the book is that it will help the reader “recognize some of the altars in this world—ordinary looking places where human beings have met and may continue to meet up with the divine More that they sometimes call God.”. Taylor is very comfortable writing about themes in spirituality from a progressive viewpoint. Take a look at the following extract from the essay, “The Practice of Wearing Skin”: “One of the most remarkable conversations I have ever had about the physics of divine love took place in a far country, where a male colleague and I were involved in a month-long service project. My goal for this review is to alert the potential reader of this book that the author is in a very different place than when we first met her in “The Preaching Life” or “When God was Silent,” and I am not yet persuaded that this represents a good change. If you are tempted to move the cursor toward a “not helpful” vote for this review, please consider leaving a comment instead and begin a conversation with me about this author."
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Best Health, Fitness & Dieting

Real Food/Fake Food: Why You Don't Know What You're Eating and What You Can Do About It
“Olmsted makes you insanely hungry and steaming mad--a must-read for anyone who cares deeply about the safety of our food and the welfare of our planet.” —Steven Raichlen, author of the Barbecue! In this entertaining and important book, Olmsted helps us fall in love with the real stuff and steer clear of the fraudsters.” —Kirk Kardashian, author of Milk Money: Cash, Cows, and the Death of the American Dairy Farm. A bona fide gourmand, he travels to the sources of the real stuff to help us recognize what to look for, eat, and savor: genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy, fresh-caught grouper from Florida, authentic port from Portugal. Eye-opening.”. — PEOPLE magazine “Olmsted boldly walks readers through a course in food authenticity that covers olive oil, cheese, Champagne, seafood, steak, coffee, and more. Readers will be inspired by his intensity and clarity, and floored by how far some counterfeiters go to fool consumers and some historic food institutions go to protect their products and their names. It’s unnerving that so many people don't know what authentic olive oil or port wine tastes like because they’ve been undersold on some off-shoot knock off and no one is raising a flag — until now.” —Ming Tsai, author, chef, and host of PBS’s Simply Ming “Larry Olmstead makes you insanely hungry and steaming mad in this provocative account of how fraud threatens not just the world’s great craft foods (think caviar, Kobe beef, and Parmigiano-Reggiano) but our everyday diet. A must-read for anyone who cares deeply about the safety of our food and the welfare our planet.” —Steven Raichlen, author of the Barbecue Bible cookbook series and host of Project Smoke and Primal Grill on PBS. In this entertaining and important book, Larry Olmsted helps us fall in love with the real stuff and steer clear of the fraudsters. Recommended for all consumers along with policymakers, those interested in food science, and marketing professionals.”. — Library Journal “Olmsted gives us the lay of this seedy landscape with momentum and aplomb. He demystifies the process by which fake ingredients end up in your shopping cart, explains why some of these deceitful foods could be a real threat to your health, and sheds a light on the government policies and shortsighted commercialism that landed them there.”. — Mother Jones. ”* “It's unnerving that so many people don't know what authentic olive oil or port wine tastes like because they've been undersold on some offshoot knockoff and no one is raising a flag--until now.” —Ming Tsai, author, chef, and host of PBS’s Simply Ming. “Larry Olmsted’s meticulously researched tour de force is chilling for what he uncovers about the food industry.” —Dan Dunn, author of American Wino: A Tale of Reds, Whites, and One Man’s Blues.
Reviews
"Our household is very careful about the food we buy, which is why I was quite interested in this book by Mr. Olmstead. So I was hopeful this book would not only provide a sort of guide map for selecting high quality foods, but would also either reassure me that the organic brand is worth while, or dissuade me from spending the extra cash on organic labeled products. I think this book speaks more to the food preferences of Mr. Olmstead than a more comprehensive treatment of the thousands of food products you'll find in a typical grocery store. His often long ramblings about regional culture, specific farms and villages, his travels and his food experiences tended to obscure what I was looking for based on the title of the book."
"He covers quite a few different food items, including beef, seafood, cheese, alcoholic drinks--even fruit juice. The frauds are especially concentrated in "special foods which for the first time in 2014 topped one hundred billion dollars in the United States. This category is rife with scams, including many foods viewed as healthier choices, as well as fancy cheeses, meats, oils, and other “gourmet” items." For example, he spends a lot of time documenting how "Parmesan" Cheese sold in the U.S. is so much different than the actual, original product. He notes how he made numerous efforts to try to get the FDA to pay attention--but they refused to even grant him an interview, despite their promises. "Federal regulations require (as in mandatory, not optional) the FDA to inspect less than 2 percent of imported seafood , hardly a rigorous analysis . Still, in 2013, inspectors managed to achieve barely a quarter of that incredibly low threshold—and their poor performance has been getting shoddier annually, down from the year before." For example, he notes that the "big box" retailers do a good job at removing fake products--simply because they have so much clout."
"Only problem now is that I no longer trust what it says on restaurant menus!"
"Great book--really opened my eyes to how bad and tainted our food supply here is."
"Fascinating and informative."
"This book is a real eye-opener about the food we eat and the products that are misrepresented."
"A really important work."
"This is an interesting read."
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Best Hospitality, Travel & Tourism

The Professional Chef
Now, the ninth edition features an all-new, user-friendly design that guides readers through each cooking technique, starting with a basic formula, outlining the method at-a-glance, offering expert tips, covering each method with beautiful step-by-step photography, and finishing with recipes that use the basic techniques. "Well-researched and documented, The Culinary Institute of America's latest offering includes the essential tools to become a successful modern chef. " The Professional Chef continues to be an incredibly valuable reference guide that we keep handy in all our restaurant kitchens." "This important book is a classic resource, an indispensable reference for both the professional and serious home cook."
Reviews
"Despite learning much on my own over the years, I wanted slightly more information on technique and skill than can often be seen in cooking videos and TV shows. It is filled with pages of incredibly useful information, such as various cooking methods, different proteins and their cuts, how to identify grains and spices, how to cook what, and so much more - really, everything you need to know. If you don't need to cook for more than yourself and one other person, be prepared to learn how to scale down (learning is never a bad thing)."
"As Monsieur Paul says, it's the Bible for all chefs including amateurs (me :))."
"A must-have if you're serious about cooking."
"Got this for my boyfriend and he loved it!"
"This was a gift for my boyfriend who was graduating from culinary school.....He absolutely loves this book."
"This was a gift."
"Bought this book for my husband."
"Great book for pros."
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Best Japanese Cooking, Food & Wine

Momofuku
With 200,000+ copies in print, this New York Times bestseller shares the story and the recipes behind the chef and cuisine that changed the modern-day culinary landscape. Our ginger scallion noodles are an homage to/out-and-out rip-off of one of the greatest dishes in New York City: the $4.95 plate of ginger scallion noodles at Great New York Noodletown down on the Bowery in Chinatown. At Noodle Bar, we add a few vegetables to the Noodletown dish to appease the vegetarians, add a little sherry vinegar to the sauce to cut the fat, and leave off the squirt of hoisin sauce that Noodletown finishes the noodles with. The dish goes something like this: boil 6 ounces of ramen noodles, drain, toss with 6 tablespoons Ginger Scallion Sauce (below); top the bowl with 1/4 cup each of Bamboo Shoots (page 54 of Momofuku ); Quick-Pickled Cucumbers (page 65 of Momofuku ); pan-roasted cauliflower (a little oil in a hot wide pan, 8 or so minutes over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the florets are dotted with brown and tender all the way through; season with salt); a pile of sliced scallions; and a sheet of toasted nori. 2 1/2 cups thinly sliced scallions (greens and whites; from 1 to 2 large bunches) 1/2 cup finely minced peeled fresh ginger 1/4 cup grapeseed or other neutral oil 1 1/2 teaspoons usukuchi (light soy sauce) 3/4 teaspoon sherry vinegar 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste. Mix together the scallions, ginger, oil, soy, vinegar, and salt in a bowl.
Reviews
"Pictured below: 1) Ginger Scallion Noodles with Pan Roasted Cauliflower, Bamboo Shoots, Quick Cucumber Pickles, and Nori – p57. 2) Roasted Mushroom Salad over Braised Pistachios with Pickled Sunchokes and Radishes - – p57-58. There are seven sub-recipes to pull it together: Ramen broth – p40, Tare – p42, Pork belly – p50, Pork shoulder – p51, Bamboo shoots, Seasonal vegetable (collard greens) – p54, and Slow poached egg – p52. If you see ingredients listed that you don't recognize, it'll save you time shopping to look them up online so you'll have a better idea what it is and what section of the store you might be looking in."
"Its not just a recipe book but describes his insecurities of starting a restaurant as well as journey to building an empire. But generally the recipes are written very well and usually helps you understand why a particular process or ingredient is used. I'm guessing its due to the saltiness of the soy sauce and/or the color. I had a hard time finding the soy sauce he uses (usukuchi). But the recipe calls for outrageous amounts of ginger and scallions. This book is great if you are wanting experience some of Momofuku without going to NYC."
"The pork bun recipe should be another great reason you should buy this book."
"One of the best books on cooking modern Asian cuisine ever written."
"My son could not put this cookbook down... came on time."
"Beautiful book for the foodie chef."
"I love Dave Chang and this high quality hardcover."
"Somethings can be skipped or done differently but I understand it's his way or making his dishes."
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Best Agricultural Science History

Esther the Wonder Pig: Changing the World One Heart at a Time
It turned out there was nothing "micro" about Esther, and Steve and Derek had actually signed on to raise a full-sized commercial pig. "Told with self-effacing humor and a sense of wonder at what life can bring, ESTHER is the story of the transformative power of love between people and animals and how the decision to try to make a difference on a personal level can effect positive change far beyond anything that might have been imagined. "― Larry Levin, New York Times. bestselling author of. Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love. ESTHER THE WONDER PIG is a tender, funny story that manages to sneak up behind you when you're least expecting it and change your life. "Funny, entertaining, enlightening, and touching, this book about an unknowingly influential little piggy is a good read that also provides an education on the intelligence of pigs and their capacity for giving and receiving affection.
Reviews
"I've followed Esther on FB for so long, that Steve and Derek feel like friends that I wave to everyday as I leave the house. The book is funny, endearing, thought provoking, and reminds us that there are many other animals that are just as loving and intelligent as our current domesticated pets, and that they don't deserve the treatment or fate they receive in this world. You may not go completely vegan after reading the book, but most everything about Esther's story will at least give you pause, a reason to consider things that you didn't think about before. Fate stepped in, Esther was spared a horrific and short life before becoming a package of bacon, and instead became a social media personality that has followers around the globe. Steve, Derek, and Esther have unknowingly immortalized their legacy; their names, this story, and the current animal sanctuary they run will be remembered and loved forever."
"The only way I could be happier with this book is if it had more pages with more wonderful tales of our favorite porcine princess…I’ve been following Esther, her dads and HEEFS for a while now on social media and, I love everything about them and their story."
"Esther has been a big part of my life over the last year."
"I have followed the adventures of Esther for some time on Facebook."
"As a loyal Esther follower, I wanted the story behind the Facebook page, and I definitely got that."
"The best book you can buy on Amazon!!!"
"I have been following Esther the Wonder Pig on FB for probably close to 3 years."
"It's an easy read and full of fun and good information."
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Best Chinese Cooking, Food & Wine

The Wine Bible
Announcing the completely revised and updated edition of The Wine Bible , the perennial bestselling wine book praised as “The most informative and entertaining book I’ve ever seen on the subject” (Danny Meyer), “A guide that has all the answers” (Bobby Flay), “Astounding” (Thomas Keller), and “A magnificent masterpiece of wine writing” (Kevin Zraly). “…the rare 995-page manual to hit all the high notes, offer a balanced view on the history, creation, and current state of wine — and keep it lively” – Eater. "When Ms. MacNeil charts the ascending tannin levels in red wine grapes, she compares the gritty stuff to Clint Eastwood’s five-o’clock shadow. The body of this bible is a country-by-country march through winedom, offering lively regional history, sketches of notable personalities, as well as tips on the best local wines and the foods to match with them.”. – Wall Street Journal.
Reviews
"NOTE: this is NOT Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia, HJ's Wine Companion, Broadbent's Great Vintage Wine Book, or Oxford's Companion, etc etc (all of which I love & use). Traveling to Jerez and enjoying gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) with manzanilla while breathing the salty ocean air...I got that idea from this book, & the retelling of it, helped me pass my last Exam."
"The definitive wine book, although MacNeil's writing can be a bit unhelpful at times ("you don't drink this wine, the wine drinks you"."
"Reads like a digest."
"The Wine Bible has lots of wonderful information about wines."
"My only reservation is about hoe outdated some of the statistics might be."
"I knew I knew very little about wine."
"I have my copy highlighted and full of sticky notes."
"Aside from the serious stuff about grapes and winemaking, etc,, it also has nice little tid-bits like explaining why waiters in restaurants give you the cork to inspect when they open your wine (Her explanation makes perfect sense, but I'd never heard it before)."
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