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Best Gastronomy History

A Feast of Ice and Fire: The Official Game of Thrones Companion Cookbook
George R. R. Martin’s bestselling saga A Song of Ice and Fire and the runaway hit HBO series Game of Thrones are renowned for bringing Westeros’s sights and sounds to vivid life. A passion project from superfans and amateur chefs Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer—and endorsed by George R. R. Martin himself— A Feast of Ice and Fire lovingly replicates a stunning range of cuisines from across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. In all, A Feast of Ice and Fire contains more than 100 recipes, divided by region: • The Wall: Rack of Lamb and Herbs; Pork Pie; Mutton in Onion-Ale Broth; Mulled Wine; Pease Porridge • The North: Beef and Bacon Pie; Honeyed Chicken; Aurochs with Roasted Leeks; Baked Apples • The South: Cream Swans; Trout Wrapped in Bacon; Stewed Rabbit; Sister’s Stew; Blueberry Tarts • King’s Landing: Lemon Cakes; Quails Drowned in Butter; Almond Crusted Trout; Bowls of Brown; Iced Milk with Honey • Dorne: Stuffed Grape Leaves; Duck with Lemons; Chickpea Paste • Across the Narrow Sea: Biscuits and Bacon; Tyroshi Honeyfingers; Wintercakes; Honey-Spiced Locusts. There’s even a guide to dining and entertaining in the style of the Seven Kingdoms. Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer co-run Inn at the Crossroads, a popular food blog based on A Song of Ice and Fire.
Reviews
"I unfortunately ordered The Unofficial Game of Thrones Cookbook: From Direwolf Ale to Auroch Stew - More Than 150 Recipes from Westeros and Beyond before this one (my incessant need to buy anything asoiaf-related), and it was a disappointent. There's the Wall, the north, the south, King's Landing, Dorne, and across the Narrow Sea. They do this for a LOT of recipes and I think it's a really neat idea, since medieval dishes can be too unusual for some people's palates or too complex to make. With its beautiful, glossy pictures and pages, varieties of recipes, and best of all - GRRM's stamp of approval, you can't go wrong with this."
"Big fan of the show, not only is it a perfect addition to my cookbook collection, but now I'm ready to make EPIC FEASTS!"
"Beautiful pictures, delicious recipes, fantastic tidbits of information, and this cookbook is easy to read - what's not to love?"
"This is an awesome book for someone interested in the series and makes for a really fun gift that is outside of the norm."
"I tried the Oat cakes with black berries and used the 10 suggested and it turned that half of the recipe into black berry soup."
"The book as common replacements for the medieval ingredients that would normally need to be used."
"I like that they have the old recipe followed by an updated version."
"Lots of interesting recipes to follow."
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Outlander Kitchen: The Official Outlander Companion Cookbook
From Claire’s first lonely bowl of porridge at Castle Leoch to the decadent roast beef served after her hasty wedding to Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, from gypsy stew and jam tarts to fried chicken and buttermilk drop biscuits, there are enough mouth-watering meals along the way to whet the appetite of even the most demanding palate. • Breakfast: Yeasted. Buckwheat Pancakes; A Coddled Egg for Duncan; Bacon, Asparagus, and Wild Mushroom Omelette • Appetizers: Cheese Savories; Rolls with Pigeons and Truffles; Beer-Battered Corn Fritters • Soups & Stocks: Cock-a-Leekie Soup; Murphy’s Beef Broth; Drunken Mock-Turtle Soup • Mains: Peppery Oyster Stew; Slow-Cooked Chicken Fricassee; Conspirators’ Cassoulet • Sides: Auld Ian’s Buttered Leeks; Matchstick Cold-Oil Fries; Honey-Roasted Butternut Squash • Bread & Baking: Pumpkin Seed and Herb Oatcakes; Fiona’s Cinnamon Scones; Jocasta’s Auld Country Bannocks • Sweets & Desserts: Black Jack Randall’s Dark Chocolate Lavender Fudge; Warm Almond Pastry with Father Anselm; Banoffee Trifle at River Run. “Theresa Carle-Sanders has done a great job creating recipes that are well crafted, easy to follow, bringing to our plates and palates meals that could have been made long ago (now of course with modern ingredients).” —Kate McDermott, author of Art of the Pie.
Reviews
"This is not only a cookbook that references the books, but takes the time to introduce you to the food, give historical reference to it, then walk you through how to make an amazing dish! Honestly, this has inspired me to not only read the series again (or in my case listen to them again) as I spend time looking for the perfect egg Coddler to purchase."
"For those who are new to the kitchen she has a basics section at the beginning of the book which even includes a good tutorial on knife skills."
"I bought this as a gift for an Outlander fan who also loves to bake and cook."
"What a beautiful book!!"
"Recipes are tasty."
"The recipes are as well researched as the books on which it is based."
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BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts
These meticulously tested recipes bring an award-winning pastry chef’s expertise into your kitchen, along with advice on how to “mix it up” with over 200 customizable variations—in short, exactly what you’d expect from a cookbook penned by a senior editor at Serious Eats . Yet BraveTart is much more than a cookbook, as Stella Parks delves into the surprising stories of how our favorite desserts came to be, from chocolate chip cookies that predate the Tollhouse Inn to the prohibition-era origins of ice cream sodas and floats. “Few recipe writers are as precise as Stella Parks, a former pastry chef whose instructions always fill me with a sense of clearheaded confidence.”. - Tejal Rao, New York Times Magazine. “As if it’s not impressive enough that Stella Parks whips up her own Twinkies and animal crackers, Snickers and sprinkles, she can also tell us who invented them, when, why and how.”. - Food & Wine. “Parks uses [food science] to give people new tools to become better bakers, a better understanding of baking, and an emphatic reminder of why every one loved these cookies, cakes, and other sweets in the first place.”. - GrubStreet. “A smart no-nonsense education in baking with a good measure of attitude, loads of encouragement, and plenty of details to ensure success.”. - Alice Medrich, author of Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies.
Reviews
"Then I saw J. Kenji López-Alt’s review, and I love his book, The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science, so I gave this a thumb through. Whoa! Nice bonus – environmentalist friends will be thrilled that there’s no palm oil in sight. They’re not supposed to be blue, but my little one asked, and kids are cute, so…. These have to cool after you bake them, and the icing has to set for 12 hours after, so these need a little pre-planning. Tempering the chocolate takes a little patience waiting for the chocolate to hit the exact temps, but these were easy and the kids were thrilled. There's no artificial coloring in it, just dark zinfandel and raw cocoa powder. Some others I have flagged to try: Chocolate Covered S’mores – p 63 * Souffleed Cheesecake – p 80 * Buttermilk Biscuits with Strawberries and Cream – p 86 * Pineapple Cutout Cake – p 93 * Lemon Meringue Pie with Marshmallow Meringue – p 153 * Fried Cake Donettes – p 186 * Homemade Thin Mints – p 228 * Homemade Twinkies – p 244 * Homemade 3 Musketeers – p 304 * Homemade Snickers – p 308 * Homemade Cracker Jack – p 311. I’ll update this as I play in the book more."
"Stella expects you to have a stand mixer, a scale, a thermometer, cookie cutters, a piping bag, and a variety of baking vessels."
"I've been following Stella for a few months and baking a few of her recipes that she's posted online at serious eats and her blog. The historical interludes that introduce each recipe are well-researched, complete with end notes citing to extensive sources. Stella deserves a lot of credit, I think, for going the route of celebrating our national heritage of uniquely American deserts and giving them the treatment that they deserve."
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Best Geology

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America (National Audubon Society Field Guides (Paperback))
Includes a guide to mineral collecting and a list of rock-forming minerals.
Reviews
"All around encompassing book."
"Grandson loved this and will take it on our next gem mining trip."
"I'm in love with this book!"
"The best rock and mineral book around!"
"new and as good as my old one."
"Very informative."
"bedstand read, very fun to read."
"very good book ."
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Best Performing Arts Industry

Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food
By 1934, four years before his first feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would be released, Mickey Mouse had made him famous enough to have a recipe published in Better Homes & Gardens magazine. From humble beginnings to becoming one of the most famous men on the planet, Walt was more of an everyman than a pampered celebrity when it came to eating. In no particular order I like traveling the world, Broadway musicals, consorting with race horse persons, cooking for family and friends, reading, fitness, soul searching and wine. When I am not adventuring, I live in Sonoma County, which according to Luther Burbank is "...the chosen spot of all this earth as far as Nature is concerned."
Reviews
"My husband wanted this book."
"Great book!"
"I only just received my copy of this remarkable book a few hours ago and i'm already checking my list, ready to stock up for Chrismas presents! Just as we gather around our meals and share the goings-on of our day, this book allows us to do the same and draws us closer to being adopted into Walt's family. When you finish you may feel as I did, that I had been privy to some pretty special moments in the Disney history heretofore just touched on in other works."
"It's also a very aesthetically-pleasing physical volume: a good size, so that its many images are reproduced at a comfortable scale, and with handsome little borders around the pages that evoke the middle of the last century."
"My wife and I are huge Disneyland fans, and in part it’s because of the culture of food – from the nostalgic (Monte Cristo) to the delightful (Dole Whip) to the delicious (Corndog), we always enjoy our time eating in the park. Marcy takes us on a journey that not only demonstrates how integral food was to the idea of Disneyland from Day One, but showcases the insight Walt had about how people ate (and gives us a wonderful glimpse into his own eating habits)."
"Lots of history, and information, but very little in the way of park recipies."
"I can see the appeal that this book would have for the ultra-Disney enthusiast, but this is an absolute mish-mash of a book that left me confused and disappointed. Way at the back of the book there is a map of Disneyland which should have been way up front, because the general organizational structure of the book goes land by land through Disneyland and if you've never been there (I've been to Disneyworld many, many times but never Disneyland) many of the references about things like boundaries will not make much sense. The book also fails as a history."
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Best Mineralogy

Gem: The Definitive Visual Guide
A dazzling visual guide to precious and semiprecious stones, organic gems, and precious metals that showcases beautiful, specially commissioned images as well as science, natural history, mythology, and true stories of adventure and discovery. "Feast your eyes on the most beautiful encyclopedia of jewelry you will ever find."
Reviews
"Good prchase."
"I have done many appraisals and this is a good reference to have."
"Awesome, fun, light reference for everything jewelry."
"Love this gorgeous book and purchased more for gifts."
"Super, Super cool and interesting and fascinating book!"
"Hello, It's an amazing book!"
"Lovely photographs and great information."
"A wonderful gem reference book."
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Best Eastern European Regional Cooking

The Czechoslovak Cookbook: Czechoslovakia's best-selling cookbook adapted for American kitchens. Includes recipes for authentic dishes like Goulash, ... Torte. (Crown Classic Cookbook Series)
Robust meat dishes include Ginger Roast Beef, Braised Beef with Vegetables and Sour Cream, Beef Goulash, Tartar Beefsteak, Mutton with Marjoram, Veal Cutlets with Mushrooms, Stuffed Breast of Veal, Veal Paprika, Roast Pork with Capers, Braised Sweetbreads, and a variety of pates. The Czechs are particularly fond of meals centered around egg dishes and dumplings, for instance Baked Eggs with Chicken Livers, Farina Omelet, Noodle Souffle with Cherries and Nuts, Noodles with Farmer Cheese, Napkin Dumplings, Dumplings with Smoked Meat, and Sour Cream Pancakes.
Reviews
"it is quite authentic -- which is surprising because it is so simple in instructions----also it is great because it uses American cups and TBS and ounces -- all that I made from this tasted great and like my mom's (and we are from Czech republic)."
"The book is informative and probably difficult to find when dealing with regional cuisine."
"I now have 2 editions of this cookbook."
"This book is a direct translation to the one my mother has from Czech Republic."
"A really nice book to own and cook from."
"Great book."
"This was a gift and he loves it."
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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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Best Cooking, Food & Wine Reference

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs
Readers will learn to work more intuitively and effectively with ingredients; experiment with temperature and texture; excite the nose and palate with herbs, spices, and other seasonings; and balance the sensual, emotional, and spiritual elements of an extraordinary meal. An alphabetical index of flavors and ingredients, the book allows readers to search complimentary combinations for a particular ingredient (over 70 flavors go well with chickpeas; over 100 are listed for oranges), emphasizing the classics (chives with eggs, nutmeg with cream, sardines and olive oil, etc.).
Reviews
"The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs. Amazing book, always fun to experiment with different ingredients."
"Indispensable book for me as a food writer and recipe developer."
"It's really the Bible of cooking I like this book."
"I don't know why I didn't buy this book before."
"If you know how to cook, this may be the best cookbook out there."
"As someone who fell in love with cooking rather late in life, this book is a fabulous reference!"
"If you dig cooking and/or baking and love working with interesting flavor pairings, get this book!"
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