Cookbooks – How Many Do You Own? (Part 1)

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

There have been a few cookbook/recipe threads happening recently. I simply want to know, as a strictly academic exercise, how many cookbooks the greater eGullet commumity owns. End to end, would they circle the world?

C'mon, take a few minutes or half an hour. Post the totals here. And it ain't some friggin' contest! Many great cooks have few books, and many non-cooks own lots.

Food magazines don't count.

I'll keep a running total. Awbrig, don't forget to count the Nancy Silverton book we borrowed.

It's relaxing. Glass of wine in hand, go out there and count.

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

And within reason, food-related, non-cookbooks count too. Like Trillin, Kuh, or Ruhlman, par example.

Rail Paul · February 21, 2003

Probably 150, ranging from Madeleine Kamman to the Lake Tahoe Women's Club collection of family recipes.

Favorite is Christopher Blake's Easy Elegance, a 1970s book of Louisiana favorites, and some of his special treats. Very evocative of a man who was well loved by his many friends. Many recipes from restaurants, friends, or something from Satchmo's cook.

I usually put 1 or 2 books or magazines on my work table to get me thinking in unexpected directions. Right now they are Bayless's Mexican Kitchen and Crescent Dragonwagon's Soup & Bread. Next up are the Tahoe / Reno restaurants cookbook and Dannenberg's Parisian Boulangries.

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

O.K., 150 and counting. I remember "Easy Elegance", and will make a point of finding it.

I'll count ours after dinner.

Jaymes · February 21, 2003

I can't play. It's embarrassing. :blink: :wacko: :shock:

Suzanne F · February 21, 2003

Five hundred fifty-six. I just checked my catalogue spreadsheet. That doesn't include duplicates of some Time-Life Foods of the World, and multiples of The New Cook that are waiting for me to see the people I want to give them to.

Ooops, no, I lied. :blush: Five hundred fifty-seven. I forgot I haven't yet listed Peterson's Essentials of Cooking.

pixelchef · February 21, 2003

Err.. I have 6. :/

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

1013

Edited February 21, 2003 by maggiethecat (log)

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

I can't play. It's embarrassing.

Jaymes, not acceptable! Start counting, Girlfriend. You've got an hour to spare.

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

357 here.

1370 with three players. Gad.

ruthcooks · February 21, 2003

Every time I get to 400 I have a yard sale. But since most of them are in storage, I've probably added a hundred in the past year.

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

Every time I get to 400 I have a yard sale. But since most of them are in storage, I've probably added a hundred in the past year.

Let's say 500. 1870.

polly · February 21, 2003

Roughly 215 cookbooks in my home.

Jaymes · February 21, 2003

I can't play. It's embarrassing.
Jaymes, not acceptable! Start counting, Girlfriend. You've got an hour to spare.

878 (and one on order) :shock:

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

That is two thousand four hundred and sixty four cookbooks. Seven owners!

If even twenty more of you 'fess up, we're halfway to the moon.

Jaymes: I'll be in Austin for a week to drink margaritas and try to make a dent in your collection.

skybluewater · February 21, 2003

There have been a few cookbook/recipe threads happening recently. I simply want to know, as a strictly academic exercise, how many cookbooks the greater eGullet commumity owns. End to end, would they circle the world?
C'mon, take a few minutes or half an hour. Post the totals here. And it ain't some friggin' contest! Many great cooks have few books, and many non-cooks own lots.
Food magazines don't count.
I'll keep a running total. Awbrig, don't forget to count the Nancy Silverton book we borrowed.
It's relaxing. Glass of wine in hand, go out there and count.

I only have 15 or so. :sad: I usually don't cook from them. I just like to read about food and learn about cooking. I do plan to keep buying cookbooks. I just have to find a job first. :rolleyes:

Jason Perlow · February 21, 2003

Heyjude, one of our Pacific Northwest members, has at LEAST 1000. Her apartment is wall to wall cookbooks.

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

Skybue: I need a job too. I feel your pain. And, as I said before, this is not a contest. :biggrin:

2,479

Fat Guy · February 21, 2003

It's not really fair for me to play because I get a dozen or so review copies a month. But I've also come by a lot of cookbooks honestly. So I counted a couple of shelves and took an average, then multiplied. Then I did the same for cartons of stored books. We're looking at approximately 1,200 here, with perhaps 200-300 of those being duplicates (shhhh . . . nobody tell Wiley they send me two of everything). That's at most 1/5 of all our books, though, as any eGulleter who has been in the apartment can testify.

Jaymes · February 21, 2003

Jaymes: I'll be in Austin for a week to drink margaritas and try to make a dent in your collection.

Seriously??? :unsure: :rolleyes:

**JAZ** · February 21, 2003

About 90, with another couple dozen that are about food but in no way cookbooks, and a dozen or so books on cocktails, spirits, wine and beer (these do contain recipes but I'm not sure if they count).

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

About 90, with another couple dozen that are about food but in no way cookbooks, and a dozen or so books on cocktails, spirits, wine and beer (these do contain recipes but I'm not sure if they count).

Sure, JAZ, they count.

4,075

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

Jaymes: I'll be in Austin for a week to drink margaritas and try to make a dent in your collection.
Seriously???

I'll google for fares! I've got the time. Lock up your sons! (PM you later)

helenas · February 21, 2003

around 250

maggiethecat · February 21, 2003

around 250

Thanks Helena. 4,325.

(BTW, I love your sig line. If only!)

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Cookbooks – How Many Do You Own? (Part 1)

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