Reviews of Quality Cookbooks and Books about Food and Wine

new cookbook reviews

My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur - by Romney Steele

Pure & Simple:  Homemade Indian Vegetarian Cuisine -  cookbook by Vidhu Mittal

Bubby's brunch cookbook - cookbook by Ron Silver with rosemary Black

Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook - cookbook by Tosca Reno

Warm Bread and Honey Cake: Home Baking from Around the World - cookbook by Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra -  cookbook review by Marisa Viola

my new orleans: the cookbook - by John Besh

Venezia: food & dreams - cookbook by Tessa Kiros

what do I eat now?- diabetic nutrition, information and recipes by Patti B. Geil and Tami A. Ross, the American Diabetic Association

b. smith cooks southern-style - southern foods cookbook by Barbara Smith

The Spice Kitchen: Everyday Cooking with Organic Spices - by Sara Engram and Katie Luber with Kimberly Toqe

eating: a memoir - a food memoir with recipes by Jason Epstein

I know how to cook (je said cuisiner) - the French culinary bible by Ginette Mathiot

lidia cooks from the heart of italy - regional Italian cookbook by Lidia Bastianich

the pleasures of cooking for one - cookbook by Judith Jones

tips cooks love - from Rick Rodgers and Sur la Table

grilling for all seasons  - cookbook by Rick Browne

petite sweets - cookbook by Beatrice Ojakangas

the diabetes seafood cookbook - cookbook by Barbara Seelig-Brown for the American Diabetic Association

500 Casseroles - cookbook by Rebecca Baugniet

500 White Wines & 500 red wines - compendiums by Natasha Hughes, Patricia Langton & Christine Austin

cooking the cowboy way - a cowboy cookbook by Grady Spears

The conscious cook - vegan cookbook by Tal Ronnen

the silver spoon: pasta - pasta cookbook, companion to The Silver Spoon from Phaidon Press

bread matters - cookbook by Andrew Whitley

The Physiology of Taste - the classic work by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

the berghoff cafe cookbook -by Carlyn Berghoff with Nancy Ross Ryan

clean foods by Terry Walters

my rustic sandwiches - a bread and sandwich cookbook, by Sam Sidawi

The Big Sur Bakery Cookbook: A Year in the Life of a Restaurant - cookbook by Michelle & Philip Wojtowicz and Michael Gilson

The Barcelona Cookbook: A Celebration of Food, Wine, and Life - cookbook by Sasa Mahr-Batuz and Andy Pforzheimer

Vefa's Kitchen - Greek cookbook by Vefa Alexiadou

Falling Cloudberries - A World of Family Recipes  - by Tessa Kiros

The Scandinavian Cookbook - cookbook by Trina Hahnemann

knives cooks love - Sur La Table with Sarah Jay

things cooks love by Sur La Table with Marie Simmons

the pioneer woman cooks - cookbook by Ree Drummond

Cookin' with Coolio: 5 star meals at a 1 star price a cookbook by Coolio

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American (primarily regional) Cookbook Reviews

Baking & Dessert Cookbook Reviews

• The Art & Soul of Baking - cookbook by Sur La Table with Cindy Mushet 2009 IACP Award
• Fabulous, Fuss-Free No-Knead Breads - cookbook by Nancy Bagget
• secrets of a Jewish baker: recipes for 125 breads from around the world - by George Greenstein
• maida heatter's great desserts - a cookbook from the great Maida Heatter - this has been inducted into the James Beard Hall of Fame
• The Birthday Cake Book - cookbook by Dede Wilson
• Damon Lee Fowler's New Southern Baking   a cookbook from the deep south by Damon Lee Fowler
• The Bread Baker's Apprentice - a prize winning baking cookbook by Peter Reinhart
• The Art of Cookies: Fast & Fun Cookie Decoration a cookbook for those who love to decorate by Noga Hitron & Natasha Haimovich
• the golden book of cookies -by Carla Bardi
• Pastry: Savory & Sweet - pastry cookbook by Michel Roux
• the pastry queen - a cookbook from the famous Texas store - by Rebecca Rather with Alison Oresman
• baking with agave nectar: over 100 recipes using nature's ultimate sweetener - cookbook by Ania Catalano
• 500 Pies and Tarts:the only pie and tart compendium you'll ever need  - cookbook by Rebecca Baugniet
• maida heatter's book of great chocolate desserts - cookbook by Maida Heatter
• Maida Heatter's Pies and Cakes - cookbook by Maida Heatter
• Popovers Peaches & Four-Poster Beds - another cookbook from a Texan, by Patsy Swendson
• Betty Crocker Baking Basics -cookbook from the Betty Crocker Editors
  

Barbecue & Outdoors Cookbook Reviews

• bbq bash - by Karen Adler and Judith Fertig
• America's Best BBQ: 100 Recipes from America's Best Smokehouses, Pits, Shacks, Rib Joints, Roadhouses and Restaurants -recipe collection  by Ardie A. Davis & Chef Paul Kirk
• 25 Essentials: Techniques for Grilling   - cookbook by Ardie A. Davis ( AKA Remus Powers, PH.B)
• 25 essentials: techniques for smoking - cookbook by Ardie A. Davis ( AKA Remus Powers, PH.B)
• the big book of barbecue sides - by Rick Browne
• Cheater BBQ: Barbecue Anytime, Anywhere, In Any Weather - cookbook by Mindy Merrell and R. B. Quinn
• Fired Up ! More Adventures & Recipes from Hudson's on the Bend a chef's cookbook, by Jeff Blank with Sara Courington
• mastering barbecue by Michael H. Stines
• smokestack lightning by Lolis Eric Elie
• build a better burger - by James McNair
• the moosewood kitchen restaurant garden: creative gardening for the adventurous cook gardening with a cookbook by David Hirsch
• jerk from jamaica: barbecue caribbean style by Helen Willinsky
• the great american camping cookbook - by Scott Cookman
• the ski House Cookbook  - cookbook by Tina Anderson and Sarah Pinneo

Chef Cookbook Reviews

• asian flavors of jean-georges -cookbook by jean-georges vongerichten
• cook with Jamie by Jamie Oliver
• Cooking - a James Peterson cookbook   ****James Beard Winner 2008: Best General Cookbook
• the river cottage meat book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall ****James Beard Winner 2008: Cookbook of the Year and JB 2008: Best Single Subject Cookbook 
• the pastry Queen christmas: big-hearted holiday entertaining, Texas style- Rebecca Rather's holiday cookbook - baking and more
• how to cook everything: completely revised tenth anniversary edition - by Mark Bittman
• Molto Italiano cookbook by Mario Batali
• Lidia's Family Table cookbook by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
• Quick and easy recipes from the NY Times (350 recipes) by Mark Bittman
• big small plates - cookbook by Cindy Pawlcyn with Pablo Jacinto & Erasto Jacinto
• Cooking with Cafe Pasqual's: Recipes from Santa Fe's Renowned Corner Cafe cookbook by Katharine Kagel
• Doña Tomás: Discovering Authentic Mexican Cooking cookbook by Thomas Schnetz and Dona Savitsky with Mile Wille
• fonda San Miguel: Thirty Years of Food and Art by Tom Gilliland and Miguel Ravago, text by Virginia B. Wood
• Peter Gordon's World Kitchen cookbook by Peter Gordon
• A chef for all seasons - cookbook by Gordon Ramsay
• Osteria: Hearty Fare from Rick Tramonto's Kitchen - cookbook by Rick Tramonto with Mary Goodbody
• Soups, Stews, and One-Pot Meals cookbook by Tom Valenti and Andrew Friedman
• the stinking rose restaurant cookbook cookbook by Andrea Froncillo with Jennifer Jeffrey
• Trotter - Home Cooking with Charlie Trotter  - by Charlie Trotter
• zarela's veracruz - cookbook by Zarela Martinez with Anne Mendelson

• Salad People - cookbook by Mollie Katzen
• gadgetology - by Pam Abrams
• ready, steady, spaghetti - cookbook by Lucy Broadhurst
• Cooking Fun: 121 Simple Recipes to Make with Kids - a children's book, by Rae Grant

• Very Blueberry - cookbook by Jennifer Trainer Thompson
• Pomegranates - cookbook by Ann Kleinberg
• My Italian Garden by Viana La Place
• pickles to relish - by Beverly Ellen Schoonmaker Alfeld
• the new vegetarian grill - by Andrea Chesman

Single Ingredient Cookbook Reviews

• cheese hors d'oeuvres - by Hallie Harron
• 50 great appetizers - cookbook by Pamela Sheldon Johns
• small plates perfect wines by Lori Lyn Narlock
• Party Snacks!: 50 Simple, Stylish Recipes to Make You a Popular Party Host - by A. J. Rathbun
• cool waters: 50 refreshing, healthy, homemade thirst quenchers by Brian Preston-Campbell
• great party dips - by Peggy Fallon
• chocolat - by Stéphan Lagorce
• chocolate - the Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookbook - cookbook from the Ghirardelli Company
• the golden book of chocolate - by Carla Bardi and Claire Pietersen
• mocha  by Michael Turback
• fondue - by Lenny Rice and Brigid Callinan
• Gelato: Italian Ice Creams, Sorbetti & Granite cookbook by Pamela Sheldon Johns
• hot chocolate - cookbook by Michael Turback
• more than a month of sundaes cookbook by Michael Turback
• The mushroom lover's mushroom cookbook and primer - cookbook by Amy Farges
• Potato Salad: 65 Recipes from Classic to Cool   cookbook by Debbie Moose
• the perfect scoop:ice creams, sorbets, granitas, and sweet accompaniments by David Lebovitz
• The Hog Island Oyster Lover's Cookbook: A Guide to Choosing & Savoring Oysters, with 40 Recipes  by Jairemarie Pomo
• the great wings book - by Hugh Carpenter and Teri Sandison
• The 500 Series of Cookbooks - read about the entire collection of cookbooks     

  500 pizzas and flatbreads - cookbook by Rebecca Baugniet    
  500 cocktails - drinks cookbook by Wendy Sweetser    
  500 Cookies:  the only cookie compendium you'll ever need - cookbook by Philippa Vanstone    
  500 Cupcakes: the only cupcake compendium you'll ever need -cookbook by Fergal Connolly           
  500 chocolate delights - cookbook by Lauren Floodgate    
  500 appetizers - by Susannah Blake
  500 smoothies and juices by Christine Watson

• one-dish vegetarian meals - cookbook by Robin Robertson
• Eating Well:Comfort Foods Made Healthy - cookbook for healthy makeovers, by Jessie Price and the Editors of EatingWell
• 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, by David Grotto, RD,LDN
• Gluten Free Every Day Cookbook  -by Robert M. Landolphi
• the healthy hedonist holidays many holidays cookbook by Myra Kornfeld
• The Best Life Diet:Revised and Updated Featuring New Menu Plans and Recipes - cookbook by Bob Greene, Foreword by Oprah Winfrey
• The Best Life Diet Cookbook:  More than 175 Delicious, Convenient, Family-Friendly Recipes by Bob Greene
• bodyfoods for busy people cookbook by Jane Clarke
• the ethical gourmet information and cookbook by Jay Weinstein
• The Real Food Daily Cookbook: Really Fresh, Really Good, Really Vegetarian - cookbook by Ann Gentry - recipes from the popular Los Angeles restaurant
• the healthy hedonist: more than 200 delectable flexitarian recipes for relaxed daily feasts - by Myra Kornfeld
• gluten free and easy - by Robyn Russell
• the angelica home kitchen: recipes and rabble rousings from an organic vegan restaurant by Leslie McEachern
• French Women Don't Get Fat - a guide to diet though not a cookbook, by Mireille Guiliano
• Good Fat a ccokbook and a nutritional guide, by Fran McCullough
• The Diabetic Chef a cookbook for diabetics by Franklin Becker
• George Stella's Livin' Low Carb - the first of Stella's cookbooks, by George Stella
• eating stella style: low-carb recipes for healthy living by George Stella
• 12 Best Foods Cookbook - by Dana Jacobi - a sensual way to healthy eating
• Super natural cooking by Heidi Swanson
• Weight Watchers in 20 Minutes:250 Fresh, Fast Recipes - a Weight Watchers cookbook

International Cuisine Cookbook Reviews  
(also look under chef cookbook reviews, as most chefs specialize)

• global - The Best Recipes in the World More than 1,000 Recipes to Cook at Home - by Mark Bittman
• global - the ethnic food lover's companion travel guide and cookbook by Eve Zibart
• chinese -Easy Chinese Stir-Fries - cookbook by Helen Chen
• french - A Culinary Journey in gascony: recipes and stories from my french canal boat by Kate Hill (France -personal anecdotes with regional recipes)
• french - The Paris Neighborhood Cookbook: Daniel Couet's Guide to the City's Ethnic Cuisine - by Danyel Coue
• french hungry for paris - by Alexander Lobrano
• french - one-pot french: more than 100 easy authentic recipes - by Jean-Pierre Challet
• greek - New greek cooking - by Jim Botsacos
• indian - The calcutta kitchen by Simon Parkes & Udit Sarkhel
• japan - The Japanese Kitchen - cookbook by Hiroko Shimbo
• israeli - The Book of New Israeli Food: A Culinary Journey - cookbook by Janna Gur
• italian - Prosciutto Pancetta Salame a cookbook for these classic ingredients, by Pamela Sheldon Johns- Italy
• italian - massimo's italian kitchen: authentic one-dish meals from a seasoned chef  -by Massimo Capra
• italian - the silver spoon from Phaidon press, the translation of one of Italy's favorite cookbooks
• italian - Pomp and Sustenance Twenty-five Centuries of Sicilian Food by Mary Taylor Simeti(Sicily - a history with authentic recipes better than most cookbooks)
• japanese (and chef!) -nobu west cookbook by Nobu Matsuhisa & Mark Edwards
• mexican - tamales 101: A Beginner's Guide to Making Traditional Tamales - by Alice Guadalupe Tapp
• mexican - my mexico a cookbook and a reminiscence, by Diana Kennedy
• mexican - mod mex - cookbook by Scott Linquist and Joanna Pruess
• Mexican Modern: New Food from Mexico  - cookbook by Fiona Dunlop
• mexican - the great chiles rellenos book- by Janos Wilder
• mideast - Feast from the Mideast - by Faye Levy - general Middle Eastern cookbook
• mideast - Afghan Food and Cookery cookbook and cooking guide -by Helen Saberi - Afghanistan
• mideast - The middle eastern cookbook - by Maria Khalifé
• mid-east - mezze modern - cookbook by Maria Khalifé
• morocco and n. africa - The North African Kitchen: Regional Recipes and Stories  by Fiona Dunlop
• mideast - Syrian - a fistful of lentils: syrian-jewish recipes from grandma Fritzie's kitchen  - cookbook by Jennifer Felicia Abadi
• mid-east - classic vegetarian cooking from the middle east & north africa  by Habeeb Salloum
• mideast - The Lebanese Kitchen - Quick & Healthy Recipes by Monique Bassila Zaarour
• mid-europe -  The Eastern & Central European Kitchen: Contemporary & Classic Recipes by Silvena Row        Read an interview with cookbook author, Silvena Rowe 
• morocco and n. africa - The North African Kitchen: Regional Recipes and Stories  by Fiona Dunlop
• Spanish -1080 recipes Spanish cookbook by Simone Ortega and Inés Ortega
• spanish - One Pot Spanish: More than 80 Easy, Authentic Recipes - cookbook by Penelope Casas
• spanish -the basque table: passionate home cooking from Spain's most celebrated cuisines - cookbook by Teresa Barrenechea
• spanish - Menú del Día: More than 100 Classic Authentic Recipes From Across Spain  by Rohan Daft
• spanish -catalan cuisine - classic cookbook by Coleman Andrews
• spanish - La Cocina De Mamá by Penelope Casas - Spanish food cookbook
• The Spice Kitchen: Flavorful Recipes from Around the World - cookbook by Michal Haines
• thai - Keo's Thai Cuisine (Revised) - cookbook by Keo Sananikone
• vietnamese - Secrets of the Red Lantern Stories and Vietnamese Recipes from the Heart  a cookbook and a memoir, by Pauline Nguyen with Recipes by Luke Nguyen and Mark Jensen

Family Style Cookbooks (see also nostalgia below)

• apples for jam cookbook by Tessa Kiros

• The Berghoff Family Cookbook by Carlyn Berghoff and Jan Berghoff with Nancy Ross Ryan
• Memorable Recipes to Share with Family and Friends -cookbook by Renée Behnke
• Betty Crocker Country Cooking - classic recipes from Betty Crocker
• quick-fix vegetarian - cookbook by Robin Robertson
• the great big burger book by Jane Murphy and Liz Yeh Singh
• the texas cowboy cookbook by Robb Walsh
• Fan Fare: A playbook of great recipes for tailgating or watching the game at home  - cookbook by Debbie Moose
• Talk with your mouth full: the hearty boys cookbook - by 'The Hearty Boys' -Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh
• not your mother's slow cooker: recipes for entertaining by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann
• Not Your Mother's Weeknight Cooking  - by Beth Hensperger
• Slow & Easy: fast-fix recipes for your electric slow cooker - by Natalie Haughton
• culinary confessions of the pta divas by Anne-Marie Hodges with Pam Brandon
• the gourmet potluck: show-stopping recipes for the buffet table - by Beth Hensperger
• from warehouse to your house by Sally Sampson
• around my mother's table compiled by Lisa Burton
• kosher by design short on time by Susie Fishbein
• arthur schwartz's Jewish home cooking: Yiddish recipes revisited - by Arthur Schwartz
• The Potluck Cookbook: Classic Recipes for any Occasion by Dolores Kostelni
• the gourmet slow cooker, volume II: Regional Comfort-Food Classics, by Lynn Alley
• the gourmet toaster oven by Lynn Alley
• festive picnics - by Pamela Sheldon Johns & Jennifer Barry
• chocolate and zucchini by Clotilde Dusoulier
• paula Deen's The Deen Family cookbook  a family cookbook by Paula Deen with Melissa Clark
• Pillsbury Fast Slow Cooker Cookbook - cookbook From the Pillsbury Editors
• Pillsbury Fast & Healthy Cookbook cookbook by the Pillsbury Editors
• saving dinner -  a family cookbook by Leanne Ely
• slurp: Drinks and Light Fare, All Day, All Night - a book for drinks as well as a cookbook by Nina Dreyer Hensley, Jim Hensley and Paul Løwe
• you've got it made - deliciously easy meals to make now and bake later - by Diane Phillips
• What We Eat When We Eat Alone: Stories and 100 Recipes - by Deborah Madison and Patrick McFarlin
• Wings: More than 50 High-Flying Recipes for America's Favorite Snack  by Debbie Moose
• 100-Calorie Snack Cookbook - by Sally Sampson
• No More Takeout! - A Visual Do-It-Yourself Guide to Cooking - cookbook by Stephen Hartigan & Jerry Boak
• Cooking know-how - cookbook by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

Food Nostalgia Book Reviews

• retro ranch: a roundup of classic cowboy cookin' - by C.W. Welch
• retro fiesta: a gringo's guide to Mexican party planning - by Geraldine Duncann
• retro diner: Comfort food from the american roadside - by Linda Everett
• more retro diner: a second helping of roadside recipes - by Randy Garbin & Teri Dunn
• Chocolate: The Sweet History - by Beth Kimmerle
• america's great delis - a nostalgic tour, and a cookbook as well by Sheryll Bellman
• around my mother's table compiled by Lisa Burton

Jam and Preserve Cookbook Reviews

• the jamlady cookbook - cookbook by Beverly Ellen Schoonmaker Alfeld
• The Joy of Jams, Jellies, and Other Sweet Preserves - a very sweet cookbook by Linda Ziedrich
• The Joy of Pickling, Revised Edition - a tangy cookbook by Linda Ziedrich

Seafood Cookbook Reviews

• pike place public market seafood cookbook - cookbook by Braiden Rex-Johnson
• Roy's Fish & Seafood: Recipes from the Pacific Rim - cookbook by Roy Yamaguchi

Soup Cookbooks Reviews

• The Soup Peddler's Slow & Difficult Soups - cookbook by David Ansel (see also Culinary Memoir)
• Mollie Katzen's Recipes: Soups by Mollie Katzen
• 500 soups: the only soup compendium you'll ever need - cookbook by Susannah Blake

Reviews of Books about Food, Drinks and Wine: History, Humor, Culinary Memoirs - With & Without Recipes

• 1001 Foods to die for - introduction by Corby Kummer (with recipes)
• hungry planet: what the world eats - by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio
• the story of tea - by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss
• i love coffee - cookbook and coffee guide by Susan Zimmer
• coffee love - coffee 'cookbook' by Daniel Young
• the devil's food dictionary: a pioneering culinary reference work consisting entirely of lies - by Barry Foy
• gourmet getaways: 50 Top Spots to Cook and Learn - by Joe David
• Julia's Kitchen Wisdom:  Essential Techniques & Recipes from a Lifetime of Cooking - by Julia Child with David Nussbaum
• hot drinks: cider, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, spiced punch, spirits - by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss
• Luscious Liqueurs: 50 Recipes for Sublime and Spirited Infusions to Sip and Savor  - by A. J. Rathbun
• wine across america - by Charles O'Rear and Daphne Larkin
• the food snob's dictionary - by David Kamp and Marion Rosenfeld
• the road to vindaloo: curry cooks and curry books - a book about curry cookbooks by David Burnett & Helen Saberi
• good spirits: Recipes, Revelations, Refreshments, and Romance, Shaken and Served with a Twist, by A. J. Rathbun
• On Food and Cooking: The Science And Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee ****
• the chile pepper encyclopedia - by Dave DeWitt
• The Tenth Muse: my life in food - a food memoir by Judith Jones
• Spice: The history of a temptation by Jack Turner
• The Wilder Shores of Gastronomy edited by Alan Davidson with Helen Saberi
• Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Light and Dark by Mort Rosenblum
• the history of food by Reay Tannahill
• the united states of arugula by David Kamp

  read an excerpt from this witty book click here

Miscellaneous Reviews- Too Good to Miss

• A year in the world: journeys of a passionate traveller travel and cookbook combined by Frances Mayes
• the art & character of nutcrackers - by Arlene Wagner - not a cookbook, but so full of surprises and enchantment that we must include it
• Celebrating Women by Paola Gianturco
• Good Luck Life by Rosemary Gong
• the itty bitty kitchen handbook - Justin Spring
• cowboy up - photographs by Arthur Frank
• paula deen's 2009 calendar - Paula Deen
• Keeping Hearth & Home in Old Texas - compiled & Edited by Carol Padgett, Ph.D
• ¡viva colores! by Paola Gianturco and David Hill.
• A Traveller’s Wine Guide to France by Christopher Fielden, and Jim Budd
• women who light the dark - by Paola Gianturco