Reviews (13)

the bible on GF cooking
This is the bible when it comes to baking gluten-free. Long ago, before the Internet was publicly available, people had to find information anyway they could on living GF and coeliac disease. When this book was first published in the early to mid-1990s, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Before this book, I had a few recipes from the Celiac Society of America (CSA) and the Gluten-Intolerance Group (GIG), and a couple of really bad cookbooks from the UK (which usually relied on GF flour (wheat flour with the gluten washed) that wasn't readily available in the US and didn't bake all that well. The recipes in all of Bette Hagman's books are great -- staples that you longed for. Lentil chocolate cake -- even the non-coeliacs will want some!

The original and still the most comprehensive
I have celiac disease, which is essentially an allergy to wheat protein, and I've been GF for 5 years now. (Why does that sound like I'm at an AA meeting?) Bette Hagman's books are the first couple of books that I got, and they're pretty good. *GFG-Revised* is a really great book with a lot of the staples that you need in there. The initial couple of chapters about what you can and can't eat are worth the price of the book (sure, you can't have wheat, rye, or barley, but how about quinoa, teff, spelt, or millet?) (Answers: yes, yes, no, yes.) but the recipes are what you should buy it for. The "Revised" edition has been updated with the new "four bean flour" blend.
OK, but not exactly "gourmet"...
I was disappointed in this book.I guess I expected more than meatloaf, cheese balls, tuna casserole and beef stroganoff...
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Subjects:  1. Allergies    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Diets - General    5. Gluten-free diet    6. Glutin-free diet    7. Health & Healing - General    8. Methods - Gourmet    9. Recipes   

Reviews (3)

Great Text for Culinary Nutrition Class
I was assigned this text in my nutrition class in culinary school.The book was a joy to read because it was fun and easy to read.I really liked the section on vitamins and food sources of each vitamin.However, if you really want to know the type of questions asked in nutrition class in culinary school get the following."Nutrtion Study Guide for Food Service and Culinary Professionals: Key Review Questions and Answers by Melissa Heilman. The isbn of this book is 1933023058.This book is right on with the type of questions that I accounted on my tests.With the help of these two books getting an "A" was quite easy.

A great guide for nutrition.
Very knowledgable book on nutrition including information for children and older adults.As a culinary professional I wanted to read up on the latest nutrition especially on soy and to improve my diet.I am also considering taking some courses, one of them is Sanitation.The Study Guide for the National Servsafe Exam by Dr. Leonardi was a book I found also very knowledgable and I am certain that it will help me with my exam once I decide when to take it.

Exactly what I needed.
This book was exactly what I needed. It contains all the information I needed. A great learning tool. The part of the book I am most impressed with is the section of infant nutrition. It explains month by month what you can feed your infant. An example is the 4th month of life, you can start your child on iron enriched cereals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Consumer Health    2. Cooking    3. Diet / Health / Fitness    4. Entertaining - General    5. Food Science    6. Food service    7. Methods - Professional    8. Nutrition    9. Food & Drink / Cookery    10. Technology / Food Industry & Science   

Editorial Review

Barbara Kafka, inveterate food professional and cookbook writer, she of Read more

Reviews (9)

Quirky but great
Kafka is opinionated and I don't always agree with her. (For instance, she hates dilly beans, thinks lambs quarters are far inferior to spinach, and loves ramps). But, I don't mind that - the world would be boring if we all agreed all the time. This is a fun cookbook with imaginative, good, and easy to prepare recipes, and I use it regularly.

Excellent Cookbook - Essential for any kitchen
Barbara Kafka's _Vegetable Love_ is one of the best cookbooks that I have ever purchased. I have made some twenty recipes (of the 700+), and every single one has turned out delicious.
Not just for vegetarians
First of all, in spite of the title, this is not a book filled with almost religious zeal on vegetarian cooking. Instead it is a book on vegetables. It's all about vegetables. And beyond vegetables there are some other things like avocados, which she thinks is technically a fruit rather than a vegetable. And she has some recipes on some unusual vegetables like hominy, well, perhaps not unusual, but not often seen in mainstream cookbooks. And how about a discussion on amaranth or burdock, maybe that's part of your standard diet, but my mother never cooked either one of them.
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Subjects:  1. Cookery (Vegetables)    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Essay    5. Essays    6. Methods - Gourmet    7. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    8. Vegetable Cookery    9. Vegetables    10. Cookery by ingredient    11. Cooking / Vegetables   

Reviews (4)

A BOOK FOR MY TWO FAVORITE HOLIDAYS
Boy, right when Halloween is over I am in full Thanksgiving mode.I've been doing Thanksgiving dinner for my family for over ten years and each ear I seek out at least one or two new recipes to try out on my guinea pigs....errr...guests.This book is culled from the most wonderful recipe site on the internet, allrecipes.com.Long has this been a favored site of mine and millions of other cooks as well.The editors have pulled together 200 of the finest holiday recipes for inclusion in the book.
Essential for the holidays
I just tried the marbled pumpkin cheesecake at a Halloween party and it was the best tasting mix between pumpkin pie and cheesecake I'd ever had!This book has it all, from simple roasted turkeys to delicious squash casseroles. I can't wait to try more this season!

A Great Book for the Holidays
I, too, spent some time searching for the perfect holiday book before finally picking up this one.It has a great selection of easy-to-make recipes, all tested by home cooks across the nation.Allrecipes.com is my all-time favorite food website, and this book is a holiday dream come true!Happy eating! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christmas cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - General    5. Holiday - General    6. Thanksgiving cookery    7. General cookery   

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - General    4. Entertaining - General    5. Methods - General    6. Reference   

Reviews (1)

Another wonderful book from Karen MacNeil
I pre-ordered Wine, Food and Friends by Karen MacNeil and could hardly wait to receive it.In her true fashion, Ms. MacNeil has created another wonderfully accessible book on wine and food.The Wine Bible (her first book) is a staple in any true wine enthusiast's library and her new book is also a must.The recipes, along with wine pairings, and sharing of Ms. MacNeil's vast knowledge and expertise in wines and the wine world, make this more than just a visually beautiful book ... but a book one will turn to again and again for advice on entertaining with food and wine.Ms. MacNeil exhibits a warm, witty and personable style of writing that is universally appealing.I will be sending many copies of this book to friends and family! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Cookery    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Entertaining - General    6. Essays    7. General    8. Wine And Wine-Making    9. Wine and wine making   

Reviews (9)

Spooktacular finds and helpful hints
i found this book to be helpful for decorating and having the scavenger hunt which i hope is a hit at my party. the foods were okay, because i think when you're having an adult halloween party, you need to have less sugary foods and more grown-up foods so to speak. otherwise, it was fine. thank you

101 Spooktacular Party Ideas
I love Halloween and had looked FOREVER to find a book to help with some ideas in the celebration and this book is it!This book gives ideas and step by step how to's in playing games, making recipes and creating props. Straightforward, easy, non-crafty and fun.Age limits are put on the games so you know which ones to use, or not to use.I have bought so many Halloween how to books that just sit on the shelf.This one does not!I have dog eared and paper clipped this one into tatters! This IS the book to buy!

Best Halloween Book for Kid's Halloween Party!
This year I purchased a number of books on Halloween in order to get more ideas for my annual Halloween party for children ages 2 to 8. This book is a gem, best of the batch. I was able to use at least 10 ideas from this book, including "Stick the Nose on the Pumpkin", "Bopping for Apples", "Halloween Hunt" "Witches Brew" punch, etc. These ideas are easy to use, and not time consuming, unlike the ones I found in other books... where the prime requirement seems to be having a lot of spare time to carry out their ideas. I will use this book over and over again in years to come! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activities    2. Cooking / Entertaining    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Crafts for Children    5. Dance    6. Entertaining - Party Planning    7. Family & Relationships    8. Family/Marriage    9. Seasonal    10. Social Science / Holidays (non-religious)    11. Entertaining    12. Halloween    13. Holidays (non-religious)    14. Parties    15. Planning    16. Social Sciences   

Reviews (6)

Cook's Illustrated Test Kitchen
Even though I subscribe and have many Cook's Illustrated books this was worth the purchase.Yes, some of the info is repeated from other pubs but often tweaked a little and some new stuff also.A very good read, too!

Avid Cook
I ordered the first volume of the series and was very pleased with my purchase.This is a fine addition to my cookbook collection.

Excellent book but could use a better index
This book is OUTSTANDING.America's Test Kitchen is like the Consumer Report's of recipes and cooking products.I enjoy learning WHY certain products and techniques work.They try and try until they get a particular recipe to be the best it can be. Then they share what they learned.The one disappointing aspect of this book is the Table of Contents and indexes.For example each "chapter" contains several recipes, but you have to go to the chapter in order to see what all the recipes are within that chapter.But the book is so very excellent that I can forgive this flaw. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - General    5. Entertaining - General    6. Methods - General   

Reviews (5)

Love it!
This book has easy to follow instructions and is very informative about the history of the napkin folds.My husband smiles when he sits down to eat.It's fun decorating the table now.

Somewhat palatable
Being a napkin enthusiast, naturally I'm quite an avid fan of Linda Hetzer, however, I find it immensely unnerving that she inexcusably has omitted several key napkin folding solutions.Apparently, she just wouldn't make the effort to list 100 Fancy Folds, just only 94 - how revolting. Splendid and informative
Hetzer and Penny have excelled themselves with this fine work, which truly does offer 94 napkin folds.They are all relatively simple, even for people at the art of their origami careers.The book loses a star, though, for not properly discussing which fold is best suited to the Subbuteo tabletop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Entertaining - General    4. Etiquette    5. Napkin folding    6. Table setting and decoration    7. Tablesetting    8. Cooking / Tablesetting    9. Handicrafts    10. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (11)

Absolutely charming!!
You know how you wonder if a book is as good on the inside as it looks on the outside? The old cliche of "don't judge a book......"? Well, go ahead and judge this book because the cover is definitely a peek into what is on the inside!!
Best cake decorating book I've ever seen
I have a vast array of cake decorating books in my collection and I've never come across one that I liked anywhere near as much as this book.With such a beautiful cover, I assumed that this would be the highlight of the book and then there would be a few other nice ones that I might try as well.I was not prepared to want to try about 90% of the ideas in this book.In fact, there are about 10 in here that could have easily been the cover recipe.The Romantic Rose Tower (although VERY intimidating) has got to be the most beautiful and original cake I've ever seen.I highly recommend this book - if just for the artwork!I can't wait to get started.

Excellent
This book is more than I expected... it's just great for ideas and quick tips. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baking - Confectionery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Courses & Dishes - Cakes    5. Courses & Dishes - Cookies    6. Entertaining - Party Planning    7. Cooking / Cakes   

Reviews (1)

Perfection
There is nothing this book has left out.I had gotton so many books before this one but this one literally answered all the questions i needed answered. I use it as a point of refernce daily. Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Caterers and catering    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Handbooks, manuels, etc    7. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    8. Management    9. Tablesetting    10. Business & Economics / Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    11. Food & Drink / Cookery   

Reviews (5)

Party Planning 101, 201 and the Graduate Course
This is the most creative, realistic, inspiring party planning book I have seen! It covers all sorts of parties from Baby showers to retirement banquets and everything in between.
Party Planning!
Great book filled with cost effective ideas for throwing a great party! Pleanty of variety in the book to suit everyone's taste and budget!

Very helpful when it comes to organizing!
This book offered many tips on many different themes in parties. Although, it seems that Diane is more oriented with weddings, she tends to have quite a few chapters on weddings in this book. She does, however, have good ideas for barbeques, post-prom parties and random special events.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Entertaining - General    6. Entertaining - Party Planning    7. Parties    8. Tablesetting    9. Etiquette & entertaining   

Subjects:  1. Cookery (Vegetables)    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Seasonal    5. Specific Ingredients - Vegetables    6. Vegetable Cookery    7. Cookery by ingredient    8. Cooking / Vegetables   

Editorial Review

Do you know how to set the table? Worry about your dinner manners? Finally, with Read more

Reviews (11)

A Complete A to Z Guide on Table Setting, Manners and Tableware.
At last a book that address's the who, what, when, where, how and why of table settings, tableware and manners. Very sadly over the years etiquette, especially table has been flushed down the proverbial toilet. This is a must have reference book for any home; and, makes for a great engagement, housewarming or new apartment gift. There are two (2) hope chests sitting within the walls of our home; both have a copy of The Art of the Table. Upon receiving this book, my girls and I sat down and started to skim through it,two (2) hours later found us taking out the fine china, stemware and silver. We set both a formal and informal table. A memory I shall forever treasure. Suzanne Von Drachenfels thank you, for this great book.

A phenominal resource book dedicated to enlighten and inform its reader.
The Art of The Table - A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware, is extremely thorough in covering all the details related to proper table etiquette. Author Suzanne Von Drachenfels makes it so easy, and entertaining in the process, finding the answer to any mealtime dilemma.
The ideal gift for brides and gracious hosts......
Gently and sensibly, this author explains the purpose of formal and informal dining and guides her readers towards a satisfying dining experience.If this book is not considered THE ultimate informative guidebook on the subject, it should be.
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Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Etiquette    4. General    5. Reference    6. Table etiquette    7. Table setting and decoration    8. Tablesetting    9. Tableware    10. House & Home / General   

Reviews (9)

Must-have book for entertaining!
This is simply a gorgeous book that all entertainers must have.If you want to do something creative with your guests, Dina Cheney's book Tasting Club offers simple yet very impressive ways to do so with "tastings" for your visitors.We can't wait for our dark chocolate tasting party!

A Book You Will Love
A book worthy of a complete read. I took it with me on a recent flight. "The Tasting Club, I want to join!" the flight attendant said. I smiled, agreeing. What fun! Who wouldn't want to come to a tasting party. This book is filled with gorgeous photographs and plans for 10 kinds of tasting parties. A lot of us have enjoyed wine tastings, but who would have thought of a party tasting apples or honey or tea or balsamic vinegar. The book is clearly organized - each party has the information needed to put together a tasting - information about the food, "learn your palate" and even recipies to accompany the event. I couldn't wait for a tasing party to try Dina's hot chocolate - oh sooo delicious. You will love this book.

Buy two!
You'll love this book! Its both delicious and smart. If you're a novice to the dinner party, its a great alternative - a really fun spin on entertaining. I hope to attend future tastings because I've given this book as both a housewarming and bridal shower gift. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cooking    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Courses & Dishes - General    4. Entertaining - General    5. Cooking / Entertaining   

Reviews (4)

Amazing Author!
I had the opportunity to assist for Rori's husband, who is a food photographer, on a shoot. All of the food was presented amazingly well, and when we actually got to eat it afterwards, I couldn't believe it. I honestly have not tasted such great food in a long time. I've been to quite a few upscale restaurants in Los Angeles and I can say that her food was so much more impressive than most of what I've tried. I just purchased this book, but have not read it yet, but if it's a reflection of her style and skills, I know I won't be disappointed. She's also an amazing person, which makes this even better!

"I'm vaKlempt!!!"
This author is one of the most stylish and honest chefs I've read in a long time. I've boughtover 10 cookbooks in the last year, from holiday planning, little noshes to fancy restaurant cookbooks. None of them presents food this way before...the informal and the formal styles of presenting different recipes. Oy, what a concept!I'm vaklempt over this. I sent a copy to my daughter in Manhattan so that when my husband, Ira and I visit, she can cook one of those great recipes for us. (She better do the "dressed up style if she knows whats good for her). Best of the Bunch!
Out ofall of the new-fangled and (expensive) fancy cookbooks we've been bombarded with over the last few years, FINALLY, Rori Trovato has brought it all home for us in her new book "Dishing With Style."Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. Entertaining    5. Food presentation    6. Home Management    7. Methods - Garnishing    8. Methods - Professional    9. Tablesetting    10. Cooking / Tablesetting   

Reviews (4)

Great ideas!
I have been brown bagging lunches for years and thought I had heard it all but I am always open to new idea and this book had them.My kids and I all went through it together and tried each kid's picks.It was fun and it has some really good ideas.

Simple Ideas and Recipes for Great Lunches
I reviewed 6 different books looking for suggestions on lunch preparation for my 3 year old daughter.The presentation tips, menu planning and recipes I found here helped me to be better equipped to provide nutritious and fun lunches for my daughter.Many times I buy lots of books and take bits from each, this is an instance where one book has all of the information you need to get started.

Too much peanut butter!
I bought this book because I was looking for some alternatives to PB&J.Both of my children are now attending peanut-free/tree-nut free schools.This book has lots of ideas, but too many of them are variations of the peanut butter sandwich. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 4-6    2. Consumer Health    3. Courses & Dishes - Brunch    4. Health & Daily Living - Diet & Nutrition    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Nutrition    7. Body & health    8. General cookery    9. Juvenile Nonfiction / Health / Diet & Nutrition   

Reviews (10)

A book to enjoy, use, and learn from
Please don't race to the kitchen with this cookbook. First, sit down and enjoy reading Simply in Season. Within its pages you will find philosophy, an ingrained dependence on God, wonderful ideas, a challenging new way of considering food, and, of course, a lot of tasty, tempting recipes which will feed the body and spirit with nutritious food.
Useful tool in the kitchen
I got this book in a box set with two other World Community Cookbooks. This is the one I use the most, and there are great recipes for every season-enough to inspire readers to adopt local grown, in-season cooking practices. Doing so is supposedly good for the planet, because if enough people do it it means less gas burned to transport produce across country or from overseas. This is a great recipe book for CSA subscribers or habitual farmer's market shoppers.
Big Punch in little packet
This book has great simple recipes. Let's you look at cooking in a new light. I have enjoyed this book much more then I was expecting. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, American    2. Cooking    3. Cooking / Wine    4. General    5. Health & Healing - General    6. Methods - General    7. Reference    8. Seasonal    9. General cookery   

Reviews (37)

Quite useful for the straight (or gay) man
Now first off, I have to get something off my chest. I am not a homophobe - I had a homosexual roommate sophomore year of college and we got along fine - but I get tired of people (most commonly women) who either drool at anything or anyone homosexual or having this belief that homosexuals are inherently good at anything involving home decor or style. I hate to break it to you, but homosexuals are like you and me, and not all are like the Fab Five. Remember my homosexual roommate? His side of the room was the messiest I have ever seen a human being make. The Fab Five would have had collective heart attacks upon seeing the state of it. By the logic of the homofangirls, I was the homosexual. Not to mention that half the things said in this book I have also read in "straight" men's magazines including "Men's Health" or the alternate "Men's Fitness." I'm sorry folks, but there's no Cult of Gays out there in brown robes meeting in caves and passing down tablets written by God that tell you what brand of shaving cream to use. The reason the Fab Five are so good at what they do is because they have had the training or education and DO know what they are talking about. For example, Thom Filicia founded an interior design company, and Kyan Douglas has had experience in professional and commercial salons.
Excellent
Fun format, visually appealing (of course!), useful information in all subjects, even some really delicious, simple-to-cook but impressive-to-serve recipes, and take it from a girl: what these guys say about what appeals to women (or turns us off) is absolutely true.Best of all, it's never about changing who or what the reader is, but about bringing out the best that's already in him.

Plenty of useful advise here!
Heard the taped version of QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY by Ted Allen et al. . . . I must admit to not being a big favorite of the TV show (of the same name); however, that said,
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Subjects:  1. Beauty & Grooming - General    2. Conduct of life    3. Entertaining - General    4. Fashion & Grooming    5. General    6. Interior Design    7. Men    8. Men's Health    9. Personal Growth - General    10. Self-Help    11. Self-Help / General   

Reviews (2)

A Vague Textbook
The book has wealth of information for those absolutely new to Food and Beverage. Don't look for inside hints or for good restaurant or service systems for the professional, it's just not there. I ordered the book to improve my knowledge of the finer points of service, what I got instead was a rehash of basic techniques that have been better presented elsewhere.Disappointing for the price.

the professional's reference
There's not a whole lot to say about the English edition of the service textbook used by Swiss hotel management schools. Clear writing, decent maps/diagrams, illustrative photographs, and a conservative position aresome of the features of this book that covers both dining room and banquetservice.Read more

Subjects:  1. Table service    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Table setting and decoration    4. Tablesetting    5. Cooking / Tablesetting    6. Hotel & catering trades    7. Cooking    8. Methods - Professional    9. Food service