The chefs library

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel Clements on April 11, 2008 at 9:03pm

I my kitchen I have a pretty good selection of books. My staff love to read and reference recipes.
Larousse is one, my proffesional cooking text, Jamie Oliver's last book, Cheese Compaion, The Big Fish Book.
I usually go for the reference style format.
My new fav is a $6.00 southern cooking recipe book that I found at Home Sence! So far every recipe I've tried has worked out great.

Permalink Reply by Chef Rox on April 11, 2008 at 11:24pm

OK..Paul Prudhomme, Rachel Ray, Paula Dean, Steve Raichlen the BBQ King..I have the usual French pastry, "The Professional Caterer" book, management books..I have all my sons books from chef school in pa in 1994. I also have personal chef books since that is one of my things....I love OLD OLD cookbooks....I have my Betty Crocker from my first wedding in 1970 but more important is the paper taped inside with my Aunt Hazels 1910 family recipe for Mayonnaise Cake. My Mom collects all of the "Taste Of Home" cooking books for me too.
I am collecting alot of books now on Diabetic Foods, Carbs since my personal cheffing will now focus on the Diabetic/Atkins needs too.

To keep my sanity....I love everything murder mystery so I read all of "Diane Mott Davidsons" books based on a caterer married to a police detective all based in Boulder Co.

Permalink Reply by Carol Ott on April 21, 2008 at 5:10pm

I also have a lot of old cookbooks -- from the 30s, 40s, 50s....LOVE these books, especially the baking recipes. I have a couple of professional books for pastry chefs and bakers...vegetarian cookbooks, including almost all of the Moosewood cookbooks and the Vegetarian Times cookbook...On Food and Cooking is a serious must-read for any food professional (warning -- it's a little hard to trudge through, but it's fascinating at the same time). I'm also reading "Organic, Inc." -- a timeline of the organic food "movement". Then I have a bunch of business-related books that cover topics such as food costing, menu planning, marketing, etc.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Clements on April 17, 2008 at 8:22pm

O.K. so a little peek at my home library.
Europe's Master Chef,
On Food and Cooking,
Complete Mushroom Book,
Paul Bocuse's French Cooking
The Visual Food Encyclopedia,
FOOD A Culinary History,
Great Canadien Cuisine (CP Hotels),
and a few more.

Permalink Reply by Edan MacQuaid on April 18, 2008 at 9:03am

Uh, absolutely essential is Culinary Artistry. Funky Italian cookbook series In Bocca. I like the Culinaria series. Fergus Henderson's The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating. Pizza: A Slice Of Heaven. Pizza Napoletana by Pamela Sheldon Johns. Cuisines of Spain, forgot the authors name. I'm told Au Pied Du Cochon is good although, I haven't been able to pick up a copy myself.

There are more...

Permalink Reply by Daniel Clements on April 20, 2008 at 8:28pm

I just finished Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdaine. That guy cracks me up!

Permalink Reply by Jeff Klemetsrud on April 21, 2008 at 1:14pm

I would have to say that Julia Childs books are very good.
I also use Le Guide Culinaire as a helper.
There are alot of others , our office is lined with books, well over 300 as of today.

Permalink Reply by Nicole on April 21, 2008 at 4:03pm

As far as who i read, Anthony Bourbain is absolutely fantastic. I've read almost all of his stuff and have loved it all. Some must haves are definately Culinary Artistry (i find that this book really goes in depth as far as the seasonality of ingredients and various ways to use them.) My bar and beverage text book from college, and Jill Norman's Herbs and Spices reference.

Permalink Reply by Mike Urquhart on May 3, 2008 at 3:24pm

Julia Childs French cook books, larousse is my bible and love Jamie Olivers new one. My mum in law gave 2 HUGE boxes of cookbooks stearting from the early thirties, they had some interesting ideas back then let me tell ya!
I am an absolute book whore, too many cookbooks, sci-fi, horror and fantasy to count, I CANNOT walk pasta a book store with out going in it can be an expensive hobby! Almost forgot about Kitchen Confidential what a great, great truthful insight into our world, thanks Anthony!

Permalink Reply by Tony on June 8, 2008 at 7:26am

Must haves for me would be:
On Cooking
The Cafe cookbook
Food Lover's Companion
Marcella Hazan-any or all of her books
Alain Ducasse
Tony Bourdain

Permalink Reply by Jason Seibert on August 20, 2008 at 5:46pm

food lovers companion,
Joy of cooking
Ducasse, flavors of france
Georges Blanc, The Natural cuisine of
Barbara Tropp, The modern art of Chineese cooking
Culinaria series, allways on sale at borders.
A return to cooking, Eric Ripert

for now, for life.

Permalink Reply by Teresa Huerta-Williams on September 16, 2009 at 12:51pm

My husband and I have tons of books... mainly my husband. The books are mainly high-end chefs like Ferran Adria, Marco Pierre White and Grant Achatz. Other great reads is from Michael Ruhlman - The Soul of a Chef and The Reach of a Chef.

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