Now my friends think that I am a gourmet chef...
Rating:
5 / 5
This was the first cookbook I bought when I decided that I should start learning how to make food that I actually want to eat. There are lots and lots of pictures, showing the process of making a particular dish. This was great, as I didn't even know at that point what equipment I was supposed to make the food with. Anyway, I did a couple of recipes and then moved on to trying recipes from all kinds of books. Last week however, I did two recipes for my guests on my birthday, and they loved it. I did the Salmon with dill and caper sauce and also the Caramel Apple Tart. Other good dishes: Asparagus Gratin, Veal Stuffed with Fontina, Prosciutto, and Basil. I was not to excited about the Green Bean dish with vinaigrette (but then I am not crazy about green beans - but the picture looks good!) If you want to learn from scratch and know how to substitute ingredients and all that, then this book is maybe not the one. But I worked for me, because I wanted to see if I even liked a method of cooking before learning more about it (my mom used to saut? everything, broiling and all that were a new concepts to me).
The Best Cookbook Available!
Rating:
5 / 5
This is a wonderful book, and an excellent kitchen resource regardless of your experience level in the kitchen. The book contains a dizzying array of recipes in every conceivable category, and is well organized and illustrated. The illustrations, in fact, are what truly set this book apart: not only are the dishes well presented, explained, and photographed, but the steps involved in preparing the dishes are generally photographed to make it crystal clear how to do all required tasks. Earlier in my life, I was a Chef at a high dollar restaurant serving mostly beef, so I was largely acquainted with the techniques associated with preparing most meats (and agree with the techniques used here), but I have never been especially knowledgeable about baking (and some other things). This book made it easy to learn the exact steps involved along the way to making every dish contained herein. I was especially enthused with the photographs taken at major preparation steps and decision points. This let me get it right the first time without having a recipe that was almost, but not quite, perfect. Any level of cook from very beginner to advanced will love this book. There are dishes ranging from simple to complex (biased toward the simple on average) but all the ones I have made have worked well and tasted great. No kitchen should be without this book!
Everyday cooking
Rating:
5 / 5
This is an excellent book. It is a must in every kitchen. I cook from it everyday and enjoy it very much. This is for all types of cooks. The most important feature EASY TO USE and great recipies. Thanks to all who put it together.
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