AAQuesada

His book is really good, there are some pretty good ones bread books out there, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I learned a lot and found the short video very helpful. Rarely use my KA for bread anymore.

You'd be surprised how few people can make a standard rice pilaf! Cooking whole grains.. Issues: to soak or not. You could do puffed rice Pate a chou is pretty amazing and very versatile.

I have been filling in my home bar to be more well rounded (Just got back from K&L in Hollywood). The last couple are still open. I admit to mostly sipping straight, although I do love classic cocktails. Maybe not the cheapest list, but I think a value list anyway. 1 Herradura blanco 2 Wild Turkey 101 Rye 3 Ron Zacapa 23 4 Flor de Cana 5 Prunier Liqueur d'Orange 6 Calvados LeCompte 7 Lillet (instead of white vermouth) 8 Dolin Vermouth Rouge 9 Gin * most likly Hendricks, although I'd like to try Junipero 10 Scotch *likly something from bowmore. Legend is a good blended 11 ? I see Maracino liqueur on a lot of list should I pick some up? Mixers: Citrus, soda, tonic, frozen fruit purees Am I missing anything major?

To who ever asked, yes CPK is from California, LA to be more specific. It started of as a take on Wolfgang Puck's famous salmon pizza (sometimes called 'jewish pizza'). The CPK founders hired WP's pizza chef as a consultant and the rest is history.

I am sure you'll get some great answers. For me California cuisine is greatly influenced by the early influence of the Spanish, Italian immigrants you can see the with Mediterranean ingredients here (oranges, olives, sage). As well as the influence of early immigration of Chinese and Japanese. Of course the food of mexico, chile, tortillas, Avocado ect.. California cuisine is a continuing mix of ethnic influences, the use of fresh veggies and fruits, a culture of high heat grilling. Encarnacion's Kitchen is an interesting book on early california cuisine... http://www.ucpress.edu/ebook.php?isbn=9780520939332

Suck it up. pretty much. Silver sulfadine when I get home.

Wow! Fast becoming one of my favorites. The recipes really work, def Pro's only though with a well equipped pastry shop. I've used more than a few of the formulas as teaching tools and never had any problems. LOL, As always... YMMV!

You should be able to special order from a butcher. Pigeon(vs. Squab which is the younger animal) is really nice, much closer to duck than chicken...

Wow, I guess this thread falls under to each there own. I love the china moon cookbook, one of my all time favorites. It has some great techniques, her voice really comes through and the recipes work. It's one of the rare times where fusion cuisine works (California-Chinese or as she says the Chinese Provence of San Francisco) I really like all of Kellers books as well. If you are a chef or cook you can learn a lot from one of the best in the business. The books are easy to read and very well organized.The food really works as well.. BUT All of his stuff is restaurant food, not for anyone else but the most ambitious home cook.

There are quite a few Spanish books published in English. One I brought back from my 'practica' is Creative Basque Cuisine; Traditional and Modern. Part of the work from the Basque Culinary awards the 'Premios Pil Pil de la gastronomia Vasca' edited and compiled by J.L. Barrena.

How about: Campanille - Los Angeles Just makes the 30 year cut off. Bachanallia - Atlanta Has been exceptional doing local, farm-centric southern fine dining.

If you don't like the premise of the book how can you be objective reviewing it? You haven't tried any of the recipes and yet you insist on repeatedly panning the book. I could care less either way about this book, but there appears to be a lot of negative energy here and not a lot of people saying they tried recipes and they didn't work. If it's too sweet for you but the recipe works is the ratio really wrong? I don't think so. Can he do all the things he claims he can with that recipe? This thread makes me weary. Arturo

I don't have bakewise and won't comment on in. The 'Touch of Grace' recipe though appears in Cookwise and IMHO are great, I think they are worth working to get right. Maybe this note from Cookwise will assist you... "Notes: If low-protein Southern self-rising flour is not available, use 1 cup national-brand self-rising all-purpose and ½ cup instant flour (such as Shake and Bake or Wondra) or cake flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder." "If self-rising flour is not available, use a total of 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder. Do not use self-rising flour for shaping since the leavener will give a bitter taste to the outside of the biscuits. " Arturo

I don't know if anyone else here has the FCI book, but it is really interesting to see it come to life in these posts. Thanks for doing it.

I love my blundstones. Been wearing them (same pair) since November of 07. Fourteen hours plus a day 5, 6 days a week and still going strong. Comfortable, Very good non slip and I don't have to change out of dorky kitchen shoes after work. I wear the regular 550. Bottom line is that I feel safe in these shoes and it's one less thing I have to worry about. BTW.. The Aussie website has much better info regarding saftey.. some of the model numbers are different but at least they give you that info. http://www.blundstone.com/product_info.cgi...tegoryID=130278 Arturo

This could spin into a terrifying discussion, but I'll happily refrain from sparking it today -->Recent relevant reading on the subject from the Triangle Independent. ← Don't worry this one's on me

Are you drunk? are you seriously comparing raw milk to narcotics??? First of all lets get this straight. RAW MILK IS NOT ILLEGAL IN THE USofA. It IS illegal to sell accross state lines. Other than that it is a states rights issue. Where it is legal to sell raw milk it has a very good safey track record. Though like ANY agricultural product there can and have been proplems. No one is planning on banning the sale of raw spinach, even though it would be more safe. IMO raw milk safety is something that can be delt with through proper regulation and inspections of dairies

You could do worse than: From My Kitchen, Techniques and Ingredients . It's not loaded with recipies, but what there is are great. The pictures and ancillary info really make the book. Arturo

I'm not in a backwater but I'm glad they opened up a bit of Cali here in GA. Remindes me of home! This blog has some good reviews of TJ wine. Might have to rummage a bit... but should get you started until everyone here comes with their favorites! http://quaffability.com/

My favorite, by far is the Seascape strawberry. Wow, to smell it from across the farmers market... love at first smell Too bad I'm at the other end of the country from the SM farmers market now! Arturo

Wow, Thank you for the great posts! It really brought back memories of my externship in spain. I wanted to ask a follow up question about Maria Jose's talk on infusing saffron... What is the new thinking as regards to time/temp of infusion? And did she touch on infusing into oil v. liquids? Thanks again, Arturo