Reviews (5)

great advice for what wines to keep on hand...and a great read
I bought this book for help in selecting ten wines to keep on hand for all occasions. And it worked! Now, whether I'm roasting a chicken or ordering in Thai food, there's always a good bottle to go with dinner. The bonus is the all the fascinating info (why Ph matters) and anecdotes (chef Patrick O'Connell on how easily he turned his whole staff into wine enthusiasts). Beautiful photographs, beautifully written. A great gift for the holidays or for engaged couples.

What a beautiful book!
WHAT TO DRINK WITH WHAT YOU EAT is a beautiful book filled with great ideas of what to wines and other beverages (from iced tea to lemonade) to serve with different dishes.The photography is absolutely mouth-watering!It's fun to flip through and read about what to serve with everything from chicken to chocolate brownies.This book is definitely worth the price.

The book I've been looking for ever since I learned how to cook.
After learning to cook, I looked forward to serving new dishes to guests -- but found I was hesitant about entertaining because I never knew what wines to serve.I was tired of being dependent on my local wine store for recommendations that often seemed to be more about what they wanted to sell than what went with what I was cooking. WHAT TO DRINK WITH WHAT YOU EAT provides such thorough recommendations that it's easy to come up with the perfect match.I'm looking forward to entertaining again, now that I can serve wine and other drinks with equal grace to the food I prepare.And my non-drinking guests benefit, too, given all of the innovative recommendations for non-alcoholic beverages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages    2. Beverages - General    3. Beverages - Non-Alcoholic    4. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    5. Cookery    6. Cooking    7. Cooking / Wine    8. Courses & Dishes - General    9. Entertaining - General    10. Wine and wine making    11. Cooking / Wine & Spirits   

Editorial Review

With more than 3,000 entries on every aspect of wine from vine pests to specific grapes, this hefty tome has something for both the seasoned connoisseur and novice alike. Edited by one of today's premier wine columnists, the work covers all aspects of wine, travelling back in time to early Greece to examine wine's role in Dionysian revels, then returning to today's wine centers to explore all aspects of wine appreciation. A full third of the book is dedicated to specific wines and wine-producing regions. All those technical terms you've heard and puzzled over at tastings are clearly explained, making this the perfect reference for newcomers to the world of oenology.Read more

Reviews (20)

The Greatest Wine Book.....EVER
This tome is simply the best reference for professionals, amateurs and students on the subject of wine. The 3rd edition is updated with additional entries and new statistics, and better maps.

Thank Goodness for This Book
I use the Oxford Companion constantly!Wine terms and references can be a bit confusing at times and that's where this book comes in.This book is organized in alphabetical order so if you see a wine related term or word that needs some splain' just refer to The Oxford Companion to Wine.
Refer back to it often
If you're into wine, or into learning about it, then this book does well to supplement another perhaps smaller, more specialized book.It doesn't necessarily deal at length with nuances of individual grapes, or how to develop a thorough tasting method.It's very useful when you come across a wine term you won't find in Webster's or want to know what the deal is with grafting, etc.I don't give it a 5 because I think, considering it's namesake and already generous size, they could have gone into more detail on some of the world's lesser-known but up-and-coming varietals at the expense of a few dozen more pages.But still a very good book to have if you want to fill your mind, or just like reading encyclopedias cover to cover. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Reference    5. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    6. Reference works    7. Reference | Subject area reference    8. Wines   

Editorial Review

Though it drinks deep of its subject, Karen MacNeil's Read more

Reviews (45)

I Love It
I have three wine books, and this is the one I turn to the most. Granted, I don't have an atlas, and I am very new to the world of wine; nevertheless, this book is not only packed with information, it is an engaging and pleasurable read.
Fun, useful and amazingly accurate
Karen MacNeil's Wine Bible is so ambitious that it seems almost impossible for it to succeed. This book is first of all an encyclopedia, so it sets out to be comprehensive and it succeeds. Almost every bit of knowledge that isn't about a particular vintage can be found here. Remarkably, for an encyclopedia, many of theentries are quite detailed. I was particularly impressed by the section on Austrian and Italian wines (I've spent a fair amount of time in both countries).
One of a kind
After having reviewed a number of other books on the subject of wine, this publication takes the understanding of wine to a level easily understood by all.I have it in my kitchen for quick reference and use it for futures purchases as well as a quick understanding as to where the wine and grapes utilized in the wine came from.Maps and diagrams in the text are crystal clear and the text is written for easy understanding.This is a book I simply can't do without.Matter of fact, I have a copy in our Chicago home as well as our Florida home because it is that important to our wine purchases as well as understanding the history of wine and from whence it comes.It is truly best of breed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Reference    5. Wine and wine making    6. COOKING / Reference    7. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    8. Reference works    9. Wines   

Editorial Review

Most diners believe that their sublime sliver of seared foie gras, topped with an ethereal buckwheat blini and a drizzle of piquant huckleberry sauce, was created by a culinary artist of the highest order, a sensitive, highly refined executive chef. The truth is more brutal. More likely, writes Anthony Bourdain in Read more

Reviews (465)

kitchen confidential
Rairly have I read a book that I hate.This is it!Not only is it not funny but it is insulting to anyone who would sit in his dining room.Tony's fan base just lost one.

Extremely well-written
Anthony Bourdain is a person I would be friends with if I knew him.He's cynical, he's blunt and he loves food.
Perfect
I love this book!!! I worked in the restaurant business for 10 years. Now that I have a "real job", I find myself missing the crazy work hours of reataurant life. I miss the people, because really, restaurant people are like no other. You either belong in the business or you don't.
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Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Bourdain, Anthony    6. Cooking    7. Cooking / Wine    8. Cooks    9. Essays    10. General    11. New York    12. New York (State)    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Biography: general   

Editorial Review

If you want to learn about wines of the world and advance your comprehension of wine production, grape varieties, appellations, and individual wineries, understand the factors (such as location, soil, climate, and methods of viticulture) that affect the taste and nose, and visit your wine shop with a list of quality wines to explore, Tom Stevenson is the man to read. Author of 12 books (includingRead more

Reviews (15)

Fantastic Reference
This bood gave detailed notes about many of the wineries I was looking for an objective rating/score by an independent source.
In-depth details about every wine-growing region from traditional to new - including those of emerging areas
If only one wine reference encyclopedia is to be purchased, The Southeby's Wine Encyclopedia: The Classic Reference To The Wines Of The World should surely be a strong contender: it's now in its 4th edition, has been fully updated, and is the only single volume that maps and provides in-depth details about every wine-growing region from traditional to new - including those of emerging areas. Each region receives an analysis of appellations, taste and quality, winning producers, and offerings. Add rating systems, small color photos of labels and vineyard descriptions and you have a real winner.
A Feast For Oenophiles
When I first reviewed this book, I must have been on crack. I gave it four stars, but accused it of leaving out "almost unforgivable" information. Looking through it again, I'm shaking my head, wondering if I was looking at a different book, perhaps Curious George, or Fox on Socks. The New Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia has information that is unavailable in any other credible book on wine.
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Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Encyclopedias    5. Wine And Wine-Making    6. Wine Buying Guides    7. Wine and wine making    8. Cooking / Wine & Spirits   

Editorial Review

In Read more

Reviews (53)

Not bad, but not great
This was my first book on wine.I've read numerous books on beer, so that was my background coming into the book.
A Terrific Primer
This book is very easy to read and is a good introduction to the world of wine.The tear-out card in the front of the book is easy to carry with you to help with choosing the right wine for your meal at a restaurant.The glossary explains unfamiliar terms and the chapter headings are logically organized. Without being patronizing, the book explains the basics of wine making, flavor characteristics, and food pairings.

Good for a beginner, could use a bit more organization
For someone who's a complete novice to wine (I qualify), the book will start out very enjoyably, especially if you are interested in the wine making process.It gives you a good understanding of the types of wines, and what the names on the labels mean.
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Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Gardening    5. Regional - General    6. Wine Buying Guides    7. Wine and wine making    8. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    9. Wines   

Reviews (24)

This book drove me to drink.
Very informative.This was the book I needed to give me the confidence to begin. I was curious about the subject and wanted to begin a program of diet and detoxicfication; however, I questioned the sanity of the venture.Steve Meyerowitz does a terrific job of dispelling any fears and he makes sense of the practice of fasting safely. A very complete study on the subject including a nice aray of receipes.

An Excellent Guide for Everyone to Detox and Become Healthy
I found this book to be a great tool for all methods of detoxing concerning liquids.The author explains the nutrition and healing methods of different juices concisely and without the "bull" in most books.I read through this book in an afternoon - I literally could not put it down.The author covers water, fruit juice, vegetable juice, and liquid detoxing.
Mr. Meyerwitz knows his stuff
Don't listen to the reviewers who gave this book low stars and complained that it was "too simple" or "cultish" or "anti-religious" or "too religious". They obviously didn't understand, apply, or perhaps even read through the information.
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Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Diet / Health / Fitness    3. Diets - Better Health    4. Diets - Special Conditions    5. Fruit juices    6. Health & Fitness    7. Health/Fitness    8. Herbal Medications    9. Raw foods    10. Therapeutic use    11. Vegetable juices    12. Diets & dieting    13. Fruit juices-health aspects    14. Vegetable juices-health aspects    15. Fasting-health aspects    16. Detoxification    17. Natural Healing.   

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Vineyards    5. Wine And Wine-Making    6. Wine and wine making    7. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    8. STUDY NOTES - SparkCharts    9. Wines   

Reviews (20)

Tasty!
Wells is the first person to attempt this kind of beer book and I think he succeeds wonderfully. Neophites can learn a lot about beer and the craft brew movement (not to mention a nicely delivered short history of beer in the world and America) and the beer savvy will like his chapters on Extreme Beer, yeast rustlers and a home brewing contest. Meanwhile, if you like travelogue there's lot of tasty stuff in there. The first chapter on a "beer spill" at a legendary Florida beach bar is funny and informative and Wells' trip down the Mississippi River in search of the perfect beer joint is a nice ride. Perusing the reviewer before me who declared the book "awful" I can't help but think: it's not that Wells can't write. It's that some reviewers can't read!

The Cheap American Pale Lager of Beer Books
Simply awful.Though author Ken Wells may not have succeeded in finding "the perfect beer joint" (as the "premise" of this book seems to have been), he certainly succeeded in writing an awful book about a delightful subject.
Entertaining look at Beer Culture
Even though it was stated that a goal of this book was to find a perfect beer joint, the true essence of this book (as the TITLE depicts) is to show Beer Culture in America.
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Subjects:  1. Bars (Drinking establishments)    2. Beer    3. Beverages - Beer    4. Breweries    5. Cooking    6. Cooking / Wine    7. General    8. History    9. Popular Culture - General    10. United States    11. Cooking / General   

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Wine And Wine-Making    5. Wine Buying Guides    6. COOKBOOKS - Cookbooks Gen TRD PB    7. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    8. Wines   

Reviews (20)

A very good reference, especially for beginner
I was lucky enough to find and buy this book back in 1989 when I first begain my wine education.I found the information, and the way it was presented, very easy to follow and very useful.The description and author clearly states that this is an introduction to wine.If your goal is to find out what wines you enjoy vs. becoming a collector, than I will go so far as to say that this book is the only one you will ever need.
Kevin Zraly's disappointing volume
As a guide to wines of the world, this book is really disappointing. Capitalizing on the fame and popularity of the former WTC Windows on the World, it sounded like an excellent bet. Unfortunately, it seems to be just a collection of commentary that might have taken place during evenings of wine samplings, and is completely useless as a reference guide.

Needed more depth...
I found the text lacked detail; probably sufficient for sounding clever at dinner parties, but only at a fairly superficial level of understanding. I suspect it has been aimed at the wine novice. For a more authoritative text, I would go for Hugh Johnson's Wine Companion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY ACTIVITY    5. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    6. JUVY-YOUNG READERS - JUVY-FICT PB YNG RDR    7. Wines   

Reviews (23)

Great Book. Quick Shipment. Greaat seller.
The book was delivered in a timely manner, well packaged. Would buy from this seller again.

The author enthusiastically shares his passion and experience with grape growing and winemaking
This book is clearly written and easy to read. In addition to the educational aspects, the author effortlessly recounts his own home winemaking experience and shares his passion for it. I found the tables and calculations extremely helpful. A lot of attention is paid to describing the technology and chemistry of the homemade wine. However, the author puts even more emphasis on choosing and correctly growing the right grape at the right place and calls it "your single most important decision". That's why the first chapters on the grape varieties and basic viticulture techniques are especially helpful for beginning grape growers. I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it!
WoW what a book !!!!
I have read a lot about this book so I had to have it. I recently bought a small vineyard in Slovakia and I have tons of local books about winemaking. I am a real newbie and after I read these books I had an idea how to make wine, but that was not enough. I always had tons of questions, which I did not know who to ask. Well Jeff Cox answers them. When he describes the wine making process he does that very precisselly that a newbie like me would underestand it. I am looking forward to use his tips this autumn. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Fruit    3. Gardening    4. Gardening / Horticulture    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Organic    7. United States    8. Viticulture    9. Wine and wine making    10. Wine and winemaking    11. COOKING / Beverages / Wine & Spirits    12. Gardening / Fruit    13. Wines   

Reviews (1)

Principles and Practices of Winemaking
This winemaking bible is for everyone serious about this topic. Studens in Viticulture, Enology and Food Science will benefit from a well reshearched book that is well structured and complete. This is a refference work, studybook and read book for interested parties. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Beer    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Food Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Technology    6. Technology & Industrial Arts    7. Food & beverage technology    8. Technology / Food Industry & Science    9. wine, winemaking, viticulture, food science,   

Reviews (4)

One of Wine's Grand Old Men
By Bill Marsano. We can divide wine drinkers into three classes. Ordinaire Joe, who'd rather drink wine than talk about it, is here advised to flee: This book will bore him stupid. The Wine Geek is just the opposite; for him wine is an excuse to prattle about clonal selection and hints of toffee on the nose. He'll love this book--will take it to bed with him. It is a gold mine of tasting notes covering many decades and innumerable wines from most regions of the world. The emphasis is on France, with Germany a distant third (there is no second), Italy a distant fifth (there is no fourth) and everybody else reduced to odds and ends. There's lots of stuff on champagne and port, too--a quintessentially British slant.

Sweet Dreams are Made of These
I first fell under Mr. Broadbent's spell during my earliest days as a fledgling sommelier. His slender volume, Michael Broadbent's Complete Guide to Wine Tasting and Wine Cellars (1982) has long been, like they say about middleweight boxers, pound-for-pound the best book I've ever read about appreciating wine. When the wine auction scene arrived in Chicago in the mid-eighties. I can still remember attending some of the first few events at the University Club, sponsored by Christie's and conducted by the legendary MB. I was overwhelmed watching him lead auctions, but way too shy and in awe of him to introduce myself. Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Essays    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Reference    7. Wine    8. Wine and wine making    9. Cooking / Wine & Spirits   

Reviews (4)

Great Little Wine Book
This is a wonderful little wine book. It contains at least 101 little tips to make you more knowledgable about wine. This is the perfect starter book for anyone looking to learn about wine and be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about wine.

Cute and Useful Wine Book!
The information in this book is not too dense but helpful in quickly understanding the process of wine making and many extras. It is decorated with pictures relating to the respective subjects covered. This book tells you easily how wine works - without the manuscripts you find in other books. It is organized in understandable sections. The diagrams are in color and are specific. If you have absolutely no knowledge on wine (like how I was), I recommended this book to anyone who wants to get a better understanding of wine.

Excellent source for beginners
I checked this book out of the library, and liked it so much I had to get a copy for myself! I am organizing a wine tasting group, and my hope is to educate as well as learn along with everyone else. We range from novice toexperience wine tasters in our group. This little guidebook is one that Iwill bring to every tasting as a quick reference for those who want tolearn an overview.Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Reference    5. Wine and wine making    6. Cooking / Wine & Spirits   

Reviews (29)

Great How-To Manual for Home Brewers
The Alaskan Bootlegger's Bible contains lots of helpful information about how to make your own wines, beers, flavored liquers - just about anything involving brewing your own alcoholic beverages. It is loaded with recipes and step-by-step processes that take you from the planning stages through the bottling stage. It also addresses all of your equipment needs for producing various types of beverages, including a section that details how to make a lot of your equipment. It also addresses some practical and safety considerations, which I have not seen in other publications.
GREAT BASIC HOW TO GUIDE
Easy to understand,detailed,and has excellent diagrams. some intersting folklore/anecdotes re: Alaska,and the life there. author emaphsizes that this is strictly just for academic purposes,and that practical use is illeagal. loads of recipes, for liqeurs,liquors,wines,and beers. great detail re: malting process,and managing your mash.

GREAT RESOURCE
WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS BOOK. I AM FROM ALASKA AND IT REALLY BRINGS BACK SOME MEMORIES. THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD RECIPES THAT ARE EASY TO MAKE AT HOME. GREAT BOOK TO HAVE IN A LIBRARY FOR LIQUOR MAKING. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Beer    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Beer    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Cooking / Wine & Spirits    7. Beer    8. Distillation apparatus    9. Liquors    10. Whiskey    11. Wine and wine making   

Reviews (5)

TheCheat-Sheet for Cheese Lovers
Murray's Cheese Handbook tells us cheese lovers what we have always wanted to know; What are the most fabulous, sexiest, to-die-for, delicious cheeses in the world (that we must eat immediately!)? This book is like sitting down, one-on-one, with Rob Kaufelt and Liz Thorpe. They give us all the quick tips it has taken them years of experience to accumulate. Read this book, and you'll make all your friends think you're the hippest cheese genious around.

Informative and fun
Murray's Guide to Cheese successfully combines all the elements for an outstanding food guide.It is endlessly informative, and everybody from the absolute novice to the most seasoned caseophile will learn something new. Everything from milk types, to storing cheese, to descriptions of the cheeses themselves is discussed succintly and articulately.The author does not assume the reader has an advanced lexicon of esoteric cheese-world terms, nor does he ever "talk down" to the reader.The Top 10 Lists, beverage pairing and cheese plate composing indices alone are worth the price!

a sexy book for sexy cheese
Finally, a sexy book for sexy cheese.This book gives fantastic insight to the world of fromage, without being too dense.Rob makes it cool to be in to cheese.I loved the top ten sexiest cheese list.That's just great.The whole book was filled with good insights on so many cheeses, most of which can't be found at the local grocery.I'm getting hungry for cheese just thinking about the book again.Makes me want to go visit Murray's and buy some more, even though I have plenty in the fridge already.Great book, cheese for every man woman and child.Rob Kaufelt is setting the trend, making cheese cool again.
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Subjects:  1. Cheese    2. Consumer Buying Guides    3. Cookery (Cheese)    4. Cooking    5. Cooking / Wine    6. Dairy Products Marketing    7. Reference    8. Specific Ingredients - Dairy    9. Varieties    10. Cooking / Dairy   

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. History    6. Wine And Wine-Making    7. Wine and wine making    8. Cooking / Wine & Spirits   

Reviews (4)

Good Advice on What Goes With What
It seems that years ago there was a lot of discussion about what foods went with what wines. They that seemed to go away with the advice to drink what you like whenever and with whatever you want. But that just didn't seem to work. Sometimes the food or the wine would so overpower the other that they just did not want to go together.
The item of choice for home cooks who are well beyond the basics
PERFECT PAIRINGS: A MASTER SOMMELIER'S PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR PARTNERING WINE WITH FOOD isn't for the casual cook: it's the item of choice for home cooks who are well beyond the basics and seek to understand the underlying logic of pairing foods with the wines available from around the world. Evan Goldstein is a restaurant industry veteran, as is his wife, so PERFECT PAIRINGS comes from a professional's point of view and offers the depth of perception on some twelve grape varietals paired with over fifty recipes by chef Joyce that other books couldn't touch in a wine analysis alone. Explanations of food and wine pairings focus on the elements which bring both to life with excellent pointers on other desirable pairings.
Daughter Enjoying It Immensely.
I bought this book for my daughter who is a great cook. Upon returning home from a trip to Italy recently, she remarked to me that she wished she knew what kind of wine to order with her dinner. Now she knows.I have lost count at how many times she has thanked me for the book and told me how much she is enjoying it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Wine and wine making    6. Reference works    7. Wines   

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Coffee & Tea    2. Cooking