Your favourite cookbooks

[Wil]

Was discussing cookbooks with a friend recently who put me on to some great books. So I thought I'd put it out there to fellow FOHers: what are your favourite cookbooks?

A few of mine:

Ottolenghi: The Cookbook by Yotan Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi - To say this is a fantastic book is an understatement. Have bought it for a few people and recommended it to many more. Everyone raves about it!

The Complete Asian Cookbook by Charmaine Solomon - Introduced Asian cooking to Australians (well before my time!). Great recipes from right across Asia - love the Singaporean, Indonesian and Malaysian sections in particular.

Rick Stein's Seafood - A fairly new acquisition for me, so haven't cooked too much from it yet. Great explanations of different techniques, as well as recipes. Love Rick Stein (especially his TV series and book series Far Eastern Odyssey).

The Naked Chef by Jamie Oliver. Could have chosen any of Jamie's books really - they are all so good. For some reason his recipes always seem to work.

[Tan1801]

Lately I've tried a few things from Balance and Harmony: Asian Food by Neil Perry.

I generally agree with the things he's said about asian food (being asian myself).

I've recently been given the Rockpool Bar and Grill book as well but I haven't had the chance to properly look through it.

I've also cooked some of the things in My French Vue by Shannon Bennett. Some of his simpler Bistro style recipes (although doing that French Onion Soup was quite labour intensive, but rewarding).

Besides that, google has been my cookbook although I've got quite a number of cookbooks I have yet to trawl through.

[Wil]

Lately I've tried a few things from Balance and Harmony: Asian Food by Neil Perry.

I generally agree with the things he's said about asian food (being asian myself).

I've recently been given the Rockpool Bar and Grill book as well but I haven't had the chance to properly look through it.

I've also cooked some of the things in My French Vue by Shannon Bennett. Some of his simpler Bistro style recipes (although doing that French Onion Soup was quite labour intensive, but rewarding).

Besides that, google has been my cookbook although I've got quite a number of cookbooks I have yet to trawl through.

Balance and Harmony looks great - thanks for the tip.

I've made the French Onion Soup from Bennett's book too, and the Pommes Dauphinoise (which is great). You inspired me to look back through it - might have a go at the Pork, Fennel, Potato and Saffron Cassoulet this weekend.

[MrDowse]

Balance & Harmony has some excellent recipes and is nice too look at too. The spicy braised beef brisket recipe is a personal favourite. Yum!

[Wil]

Looking for a good Malaysian cookbook and an American one (partic. 'Southern' style).

Appreciate any suggestions!

[Tan1801]

Not really sure about either.

All of my Malaysian style recipes are a combination of my own intuition, google, and my mum.

I would be interested in others answers to your question though.

[tmac77]

my mum's

[Wil]

my mum's

Publisher?

[mk05]

http://www.amazon.com/French-Laundry-Cookbook-Thomas-Keller/dp/1579651267

Has served me well.

[Wil]

Cheers guys. Both look like great books - had not heard of either.

Going to pick both up

[Tan1801]

The French Laundry Cookbook has been on my 'to buy' list for a while.

I'll get around to it one day.

[ZinZan]

This guy is one the most famous Malaysian chef.

http://www.mychefwan.com/book-the-best-of-chef-wan-taste-of-malaysia.html

[canadianbeaver]

Great thread and what looks like some fabulous books to look for! Thanks guys!

[Wil]

This guy is one the most famous Malaysian chef.

http://www.mychefwan.com/book-the-best-of-chef-wan-taste-of-malaysia.html

Excellent!! Thank-you!

[Ken Gargett]

The French Laundry Cookbook has been on my 'to buy' list for a while.

I'll get around to it one day.

may i suggest that if you want something from thomas keller, forget that one. get 'ad hoc at home'. actually, i'd recommend that ahead of just about any cookbook i own (and i have heaps of them - basic ones, fantascially intriocate ones, specialised one, you name it). really good recipes, very clearly explained and ones that interested amatuers can easily manage. also lots of basic techniques and more.

for me, this is the one cookbook you must have.

the other is stephanie alexander's 'the cook's companion'. incredibly thorough and so much info. on all foods. plus heaps of top recipes and suggestions. info on buying, preparation and more. for pure info, oxford companion to food by alan davidson. most detailed book on food ever.

[Tan1801]

may i suggest that if you want something from thomas keller, forget that one. get 'ad hoc at home'. actually, i'd recommend that ahead of just about any cookbook i own (and i have heaps of them - basic ones, fantascially intriocate ones, specialised one, you name it). really good recipes, very clearly explained and ones that interested amatuers can easily manage. also lots of basic techniques and more.

for me, this is the one cookbook you must have.

the other is stephanie alexander's 'the cook's companion'. incredibly thorough and so much info. on all foods. plus heaps of top recipes and suggestions. info on buying, preparation and more. for pure info, oxford companion to food by alan davidson. most detailed book on food ever.

Sounds good.

I'll look out for those too.

[canadianbeaver]

Not a cookbook per se, but the best foodie book I have read in recent memory is called "Steak".

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7950231-steak

You will read about what a great steak is, where ithe best ones come from and the issues in the beef business as it stands today.

Matthew and I loved it!!!

[gostgost]

Being a firefighter I'm always cooking for a full house that is full of big guys who have no problem telling me that dinner sucked or was good. I use several cookbooks and some of mums.

I usually use the Joy of Cooking. I also go to these web sites http://www.firehousechef.com/; http://allrecipes.com/

[ckearns]

may i suggest that if you want something from thomas keller, forget that one. get 'ad hoc at home'. actually, i'd recommend that ahead of just about any cookbook i own (and i have heaps of them - basic ones, fantascially intriocate ones, specialised one, you name it). really good recipes, very clearly explained and ones that interested amatuers can easily manage. also lots of basic techniques and more.

for me, this is the one cookbook you must have.

I couldn't agree more with you, Ken.

Ad Hoc at Home is great for day-to-day cooking and it really teaches you great techniques without getting too complicated. It'll change any weekend warrior into a well honed home cook and you'll be getting lots of requests to cook once people taste your new repertoire. Set the pace off right by trying blowtorch prime rib roast with leek bread pudding. You won't be disappointed. One thing I'd suggest is to read each recipe thoroughly as many of them call for extending preparation/resting periods.

Here's my copy which gets lots of use.

The other cookbook that I'd suggest for day-to-day cooking is The Family Meal by Ferran Adria of elBulli fame.

Similar to Ad Hoc at Home, The Family Meal isn't too technical, it has ingredients lists that aren't too hard to complete, and it's very visually driven. Here's an example of how well the recipes are laid out.

I hope you have great success with either of these cookbooks and don't forget to show us your results.