Reviews (15)

A collection of easy to do recipes with easy to get ingredients
How many times did you look for that small piece of paper where you have a favorite recipe and you didn't find it? Or maybe you have search for a recipe of that dish your mother use to prepare.
Recipes to treasure
Recipes that you remember as a child are here. Lots of convenience foods are used as well, making dinnertime a little easy on anyone in need of more time in the day. Also an interesting read, some recipes are really ingenius and fun!

This is a must have book!
Usually I cook recipes much more complicated than the ones in this book, but these recipes are all great. They are tasty and the vast majority are quick and easy to prepare. I have given this book to many people as a gift and they all love it. A few friends got rid of all their falling apart pieces of paper that contained these recipes. Most people will recognize a lot of the recipes because they are classic ones that many Americans grew up on such as Campbell's Green Bean Bake, Red Velvet Cake, Party Cheese Balls, California Dip and so on. All these classic recipes are found in this one book which you will refer to again and again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Courses & Dishes - General    3. General    4. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    5. Sale Adult - Cooking / Wine    6. BG-JUVENILE PROP - BG-JUVY PRESCHOOL    7. Cooking / General    8. General cookery    9. Sale Books   

Reviews (6)

El
I liked this book very much, it has a really good steak, (filet mignon) receipe, I made the best steak ever.If you like to eat out at steakhouses, this is the book for you.

Mmmmmm ..... steak .......
When people ask me about a book that has changed my life I now tell them about this one. High Five
The receipe on how to prepare a first rate steak is worth the price of the book.I purchased some prime bone in rib eyes from my butcher and enjoyed a first rate steak house meal in the comforts of my home.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - General    5. National & regional cuisine    6. USA   

Editorial Review

General cookbooks like Mitchell Davis's 600-recipes-packed Read more

Reviews (2)

An almost perfect cookbook. Buy It NOW!
`Kitchen Sense' by James Beard Foundation Vice President, Mitchell Davis comes closer to my ideal cookbook than any other book I have reviewed. It is not perfect, and it is certainly not the only cookbook you will want, but it attains that happy medium of just enough of the right information for an excellent selection of both classic and interesting recipes to make it the first cookbook you reach for when trying to decide on what to make for dinner.
My new favorite cookbook
Kitchen Sense is an amazingly comprehensive book that offers an excellent combination of tips and recipes. The recipes themselves are extremely clearly written, detailed and informational without being pedantic, and complemented by Davis' often witty observations and suggestions. And the dishes they describe are far more interesting and sophisticated than the Joy of Cooking or any other general cookbook, covering a full range of ethnic cuisines as well as American classics with a modern twist. It's such a cliche to say that this is the only book you'd need to take to a deserted island (one with a full kitchen...), but in this case it's really true! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    5. Cooking / General   

Editorial Review

Nancy Oakes and Pamela Mazzola opened the doors of Boulevard in San Francisco in 1993, and fans have been waiting ever since for just this cookbook. A bigger and better payoff for all that patience is hard to imagine. Read more

Reviews (10)

Nany Oakes is a Goddess!
It is sad for me to see so many "bad" reviews for this wonderful cookbook; I think Nancy Oakes and her crews have done a fabulous job in sharing her delicious recipes.Grand it I have just started cooking for less than a year, sometimes the recipes are challenging and overwhelming but with patient I was able to follow the recipes and cooked wonderful meals with it.The gig for me has been grazing the farmer markets and seafood stores every Saturday for the ingredients to cook from this book for my family, so far I have done more than ten of her recipes, and let me tell you, they are all fabulous.Cheers to Nancy for sharing!

Not Suitable for Home Use
I'll be brief:this lavishly-designed book is eye-candy, straight up.It is the quintessence of that lamentable recent breed of art-house "cook"books that are far better on the coffee table than on the kitchen counter.One overwrought, decorative, fussy recipe follows another in a titilating but ultimately boring succession of vanity shots.Basically, this book and its ilk are an extension of the interior decorating market: if you print it, they will come.Any experienced cook can glance through this book and instantly dismiss its recipes as outrageously unsuited to the domestic kitchen. Very silly indeed.But nice pix!!!

NOT AKEEPER
This is a beautiful book for the coffee table but forget the kitchen unless you have a brigade of chefs. Most of the ingredients are special purchase not something you would have in your pantry. A cup of blood anyone?? And what the hell is "paradise" as in "a few grains of paradise". I can't even find that one in my dictionary of foods and cooking terms. I am an excellent cook with more than 40 years of cooking experience Thomas Kellers "The French Laundry" was workable, albeit complicated. A cup of blood anyone, I think I have 1 left after paying more than $35.00 plus $8.00 shipping for this book. (not from Amazon) Amazon I have learned my lesson I will write 500 times I will not buy books from any source other than Amazon and I will not pay shipping on purchases over $25.00 Thank You!!! However I will keep this book and frame it as a reminder never to purchase thru over priced cook book clubs. Membership now canceled. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. History    6. Methods - General    7. Reference    8. Regional & Ethnic - American - California Style    9. San Francisco    10. General cookery    11. National & regional cuisine    12. USA   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Regional & Ethnic - Indic    4. Cooking / Indic   

Reviews (2)

Better Service than the Restaurant
Although there are a few dishes at Daniel's which I wish were present in this book, this book contains recipes which are highly enjoyable both to make as well as to consume. Instructions are clear, combinations inventive and tasty.
I have only prepared one dish that fell short of genius (winter vegetables - despite the selection of vegetables, a little bland). His desserts (the blueberry brioche brings restaurant quality into your kitchen) arewonderfully inventive.Photos accompany many of the recipes and each foodsection contains an index of dishes to follow. This is the first book Iturn to when I am in the mood for a challenge that I know I can complete. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery, French    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Reference    6. Regional & Ethnic - French    7. Cooking / General   

Reviews (26)

I really, really wanted to like this book...but...
I was disappointed.
Geared to the home cook emphasis on fresh ingredients
To put this review into perspective for you it is written by someone that has been cooking for 25 years, and concentrating on Italian cooking for the last 10 years.My favorite cookbook is "The Professional Chef" from the Culinary Institute of America.I would definitely consider myself a foodie.
Relaxed in the kitchen
I have made a lot of delicious but simple recipes from this book. It was the first Nigella's I got. But when will the DVDs, available in the UK, become available here? I saw her serie "Forever Summer" on BBC-America a while back and it is absolutely fabulous to watch. She has a way of measuring and using her hands that make actual preparation of a recipe a pleasure rather than the uncreative and impersonal chore of measuring "exact" tsp and 1/4 tspn. Being French I am used to a "pinch" of this, a "small glass" of wine, in other words using your judgement and "make it your own". Nigella makes being in the kitchen fun, but you really only get that by watching her. I don't really love cooking after all these years... but watching her do it her way inspires me. What can I say? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. General    5. Seasonal    6. Cooking / American / General   

Reviews (4)

Incredible recipies
This is one of my favorite cookbooks, it contains many of my favorite deserts such as the Italian cream cake ,Coconut-Chocolate-Almond Cheesecake,Chocolate Truffle Cake,etc.. I also love the fact that the author included lots of color photos giving visual cooks like myself an idea of what the finished product should look like. For those who are tired of making the same boring holiday meals,I would definitely encourage you to buy this cookbook.

So Living Christmas cookbook
Outstanding!A true 5 Starr book.It has been several years sine they have had a totally all Christmas cookbook and this one is great.

Christmas is Coming
Great Christmasideas for both family and entertaining.Lots of new ideas with easy to follow directions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Holiday - Christmas/Hanukkah    5. Holiday - General    6. Holidays - Christmas    7. Regional & Ethnic - American - Southern States   

Reviews (7)

roadfood-tested
I tested the roadfood book by Jane Stern on my last trip to Oregon and I was not disapointed! The razor clams (for breakfast)as recommended at Camp 18 in Elsie were delicious,and the cinnamon roll that we got to go was humungous.The little seafood restaurant Dan and Louies tucked away in the heart of Portland is not to be missed! Roadfood will not lead you down the wrong road, Enjoy!

The Bible for those who hate chain restaurants!
Whenever we travel, we consult Jane and Michael Stern's excellent "Road Food" a guide to some great eats.They have steered us to some wonderful barbecue in the South, incredible lobster rolls in Maine, outstanding burgers in the Midwest, and some of the best desserts we have ever had.Over the years their tips and insights have helped keep many small, mom-and-pop operations alive.
Always in the car!
When planning a road trip .. First use the Atlas .. Then pick up this Roadfood book and hit all the places along the way. Have a suggestion? Submit it to the Roadfood Web Site and chances are, they will visit it and include your suggestion in Volume 3.
Read more

Subjects:  1. American Regional Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Courses & Dishes - General    4. Restaurants    5. Special Interest - General    6. Tourist Trade Management    7. Travel - General    8. United States - General    9. Travel / United States / General   

Reviews (9)

Hidden Masterpiece. Buy it now!
`From Julia Child's Kitchen' by the great culinary teacher, Julia Child, is an account of the recipes from the second major PBS `The French Chef' series, filmed in color in the WGBH Boston studios, just as the book, `The French Chef' covers recipes from the very first black and white series of shows. These two books have probably been lost in the shadows of the monumental two volume `Mastering the Art of French Cooking' and the later `The Way to Cook' and Child's collaboration with Jacques Pepin and Dorrie Greenspan on baking. Since this book is so much in the shadow of other works, I half expected to find a few traces of clay feet on the great Julia. Let me assure you that I did not. This book is every inch as delightful and informative and insightful as every other culinary work from Ms. Julia and her various collaborators. In fact, this book is so good, it is almost a crime that it should be available from a Random House discount label rather than its original imprimatur from Alfred A. Knopf (a Random House subsidiary).
Great book, miserable edition
This is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks, well-used and well-worn. This new bargain edition is better than not owning the book at all, but it is really cheap and poorly made. The graphics all appear to be photocopies. The line drawings look awful, but at least they are "readable." Many of the photos are so dark that you can't tell what they are supposed to represent.
For cooking novices, Julia's best book
This unassuming book, a companion to Julia Child's original WGBH TV series, doesn't have many recipes, certainly isn't comprehensive, and has only pathetic, tiny, black and white illustrations.But it's loaded with detailed explanations of the basics--what to do, why to do it that way, what will happen if you do it the wrong way and (sometimes) how to fix things that have gone wrong.The book is really almost a programmed learning text on cooking, although it isn't presented as such.I don't know of a better cookbook for novices, who can soon follow it to create really impressive dishes that will earn accolades, and help keep up their interest in cooking.Not all the recipes are classics.Some are the author's innovations, but make the point that, by combining basic techniques, interesting new dishes can be done.For example, the two sauce "Lasagne a la Francais" is unlike any Lasagna you've ever had--but wonderful--and makes perfect sense once you've been through the earlier recipes in the book on whose techniques it builds.If I were looking for a book for someone who didn't really know how to cook, but wanted to learn, this is the one I'd get. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, French    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Regional & Ethnic - French    5. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (10)

Almost as good a being there.
This book brings you all the fresh flavors of Maine: not just seafood, but fresh produce as well.The recipes are clearly written and not too high on the difficulty scale.They are flavorful and creative, but the accent is on the fresh appearance and taste of the food itself, rather than on the elaborateness of the preparation or the showmanship of the chef.Dozens of beautiful color photographs supplement the flavors and aromas to bring a little of Maine into your kitchen, where ever you are.

The Flavors of Maine
Beautiful photos and enticing recipes transport the reader to Maine.Don't think only of lobster when Maine has such wonderful variety of seafood (scallops, clams, halibut) and produce (blueberries, Maine potatoes).
Maine Recipes at their best...
I was looking for great Maine seafood that could be made without all the fillers that are added when you buy ready made from a suppermarket. This cook book has great seafood that are easy to make. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Maine    6. New England style    7. Regional & Ethnic - American - New England    8. Cooking / American / New England   

Reviews (6)

History, travelogue, and cookbook all rolled into one
This book is a combination history, travelogue, and cookbook all rolled into one.
A powerful visual treat blends with culinary history and some fine deli standard recipes
For an outstanding blend of history and recipes you won't want to miss America's Great Delis: Recipes And Traditions From Coast To Coast, deserving of ongoing mention as standing out from the crowd of recipes-only deli cookbooks to add an extra dash of history and vintage photos to the mix. Both black and white and color photos embellish discussions of the origins of classic deli foods around the world, from Matzo Ball Soup to Potato Latkes. A powerful visual treat blends with culinary history and some fine deli standard recipes.
I'M GETTING HUNGRY JUST READING IT!
Oddly, while deli food is considered one of the great American traditions, it's roots are steeped in our invaluable immigrant ancestors.Honestly what's better than a great corn beef sandwich or a steaming bowl of matzo bowl soup?America's Great Delis takes a fond look at these hallowed halls of dining pleasure in a book that is part tribute, part history, and part cookbook and all a pleasure to read.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - General    5. Delicatessens    6. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    7. Restaurants    8. United States    9. Cooking / History    10. National & regional cuisine    11. USA   

Reviews (1)

Southern Living does it again
As always Southern Living has some of the best recipes in town.The book is easy to follow and has wonderful recipes.The recipes are easy to follow and the food is wonderful.I would recommend this book for anyonethat would like to have a book of timeless recipes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Regional & Ethnic - American - Southern States    6. Southern States   

Editorial Review

There's a world of grilled food out there, and Steven Raichlen seems to have wandered through all of it the State Department deemed "safe." No Afghanistan, for instance. No Iraq. But not to worry. Any decent conflict produces refugees, and nothing travels quite so easily as your own way with food. So Raichlen availed himself of restaurant cooks in this country where and when he had to--all to get right down to the meat of it.Read more

Reviews (68)

For browsing and cooking
For me, cookbooks have two functions. The first is to act as a spur to the imagination. A properly provocative cookbook would be one you could browse through with the same pleasure that you might take in reading an adventure novel. You get to have the excitement without the danger (or the calories). As an added benefit, you increase the store of ideas from which you put together your own cooking. Seen in this light, a book that offers
Barbec ue with Steve Raichlen
This book provides an in depth process for barbecuing in the great outdoors.Steve Raichlen gives you the how to's and a history of barbecuing throughout the world.He uses a classic presentation to discuss the many fine receipes.He also goes into a brief summary of the history of each of the fine dishes.I would highly recommend this book

Not quite what I was looking for
I was looking for a book about BBQ and grilling. What I got was a book of recipes. Not all that bad of a thing, but was looking for more wisdom from the apparent king of BBQ. While gas grilling is pretty straight forward for most cooks, I recently purchased a charcoal smoker/grill and sought info on this whole new area of backyard cuisine.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Barbecue cookery    2. Barbecue cooking    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    6. Methods - Outdoor    7. Religion    8. Cooking / Outdoor    9. Gadget cookery   

Reviews (32)

Excellent recipes, but wordy descriptions
As the daughter of Cuban parents, I grew up in a completely Cuban home in the middle of Queens, NY. While these recipes are wonderful and helped me introduce my Non-Cuban husband and children to the wonders of a home-cooked Cuban meal, the descriptions at the beginning of each chapter did get a bit nauseating. ENOUGH about how her family was of the high aristocracy!! Get to the recipes, already!! The chicken and rice recipe is fabulous and a huge hit with everyone I have made it for - excellent for a pot luck or large buffet lunch or dinner. Enjoy and happy cooking!!

Just like my grandmother and aunts
GREAT BOOK! As a Cuban-American, growing up eating only Cuban meals until my teens, I found the recipes exact or nearly exact to those of my Abeula and Tias. Since moving away from family and marrying a German-American husband (who enjoys all Cuban dishes that I make) some recipes were forgotten. I was given this book as a christmas present and now I am able to repeat those dishes that I had not learned.Easy to read and the stories are precious.

Cuban cooking, a history
This is a well written book that takes you to a pre- Castro ranch with a well stocked , rather European kitchen. A number of indigineous receipes are given.Surely, it was not soul food of Cuba, but an ethnic combination of foods to satisfy a long list of people who owned or worked the ranch.Meat was available daily. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cookery, Cuban    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Cuba    6. Regional & Ethnic - Caribbean & West Indian    7. Regional & Ethnic - South American & Latin American    8. Cooking / General    9. National & regional cuisine   

Editorial Review

Claudia Roden has updated and expanded her popular 1968 cookbook for a more savvy and knowledgeable audience. While still filled with old favorites, the third edition acknowledges food processors and other handy kitchen tools, as well as this generation's preference for lower-fat recipes. Not that every recipe is changed; many are not, but Roden does attempt not to rely too much on butter and oils. Read more

Reviews (20)

must haven middle eastern food.
This book is very good. Simple instructions, best results. Get this one.

Simply the best
I have yet to find/try a less than tasty recipe from this clearly written cookbook, made more charming by Ms. Roden's descriptions of the farflung settings where she first tasted particular dishes. Moreover, her ingredients are fairly common, so I don't have to run to a mideast grocery store before proceding. What makes her recipes uncommon is the inventive combination of ingredients, so that fairly familiar dishes (such as lentil soup) always surprise. Because her recipes are straightforward, require a minimum of ingredients, and always seem to garnish kudos from my eaters, I have given this book to many beginning to sophisticated cooks. If one had to choose only one cookbook of middle eastern food, this would be mine for a lifetime.

An amazing collection of fantastic and easy to use recipes.
I don't live in the Middle East any more but I still cook that way... Most of us do this type of cooking by memory, feel, and recipes of our ancestors. In the absence of all of those Claudia Roden is the next best thing. The recipes are more local to Egypt, Israel, Iraq, and Syria, but there are great items from Yemen, Greece, Turkey, Iran et. al. The recipes in this book are simple and mostly fool-proof. This newest hardcover edition is also beautiful. You will be glad to have this in your collection. This book is used every day in our house. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, Middle Eastern    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Middle Eastern cooking    5. Regional & Ethnic - Middle Eastern    6. Cooking / Middle Eastern   

Reviews (3)

Repeats....
I am an avid collector of Gooseberry Patch books. I love them all. My less than stellar review of this book centers on one basic problem. Repeating recipes! This book has recipes that already appear in other Gooseberry Patch volumes. The different name does not a different recipe make. In fact, one recipe in the book appear in no less than two of their other books. I wish they would develop a better screening process for what recipes go into the books.
A Wonderful Addition To Any Cookbook Collection
I am a big fan of gooseberry cookbooks and I really enjoyed this one. The recipes are easy to make. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who likes to cook.

Wonderful, warm and inviting cookbook
Like all the gooseberry patch cookbooks, Fall Family & Friends offers recipes, tips, adorable illustrations and just a nice, homey sense of coziness. The recipes are simple and tasty. Fun and delicious, for any cook (and any family!). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. General    5. Regional & Ethnic - American - General    6. Cooking / Courses & Dishes / General   

Reviews (1)

WHO AMONG US DOESN'T LOVE A STIR FRY?
In this day and age with so much to do and so little time left to spare, who does not love a good stir fry?A well-prepared stir fry is quick, easy to prepare, nutritious and tasty.Chicken, beef, fish, entirely veggie - the choice is yours. With a little creativity and by varying the ingredients, one can have a whole new meal; the variations are endless.One originally associated the wok with strictly Chinese cooking, and this book quickly enlightens us on that thought. If you think one stir fry is the same as the next, wait until you read this book; it is one I would not want to be without.It is truly a cook's best friend. The recipes are quite different and each one I have tried has been absolutely flavourful and delicious.This book is a "must-have" for anyone who does not have the time, energy or desire to spend hours slaving over a hot stove! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. General    4. Health & Healing - General    5. Methods - Wok    6. Stir frying    7. Wok cookery    8. Cooking / General   

Editorial Review

Japanese food was virtually unknown in many Western cities in the 1980s, when Shizuo Tsujii wrote Read more

Reviews (25)

great beginnings
I purchased this title to surprise our new Japanese exchange student with a little taste of home.It was a cross-cultrual success and we continue to learn from the volume.

One of the best cookbooks I own.
A great cookbooks is not merely a set of recipes but a treatise on the art of cookery. A Simple Art is, quite simply, a great cookbook--equal to anything written by Julia Child, Paula Wolfert, Alice Waters, and so on. I consider it as indispensible as anything in my cookbook collection, even reference works by Harold McGee and the like. And I don't even cook Japanese food!
Best Japanese cookbook I've had
This is one of the most thorough Japanese cookbooks I've read or owned. And it's really more like one part history and one part recipes. While it is missing a few recipes (I know one of them is more Chinese, but it has become a common quick food in Japan) it has more than enough to make up for what few details are missing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, Japanese    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Regional & Ethnic - Japanese    5. Japan    6. National & regional cuisine