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

maggiethecat

By maggiethecat
in Cookbooks & References

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maggiethecat

maggiethecat

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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.

Margaret McArthur

"Take it easy, but take it."

Studs Terkel

1912-2008

A sensational tennis blog from freakyfrites

margaretmcarthur.com

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Rail Paul

Rail Paul

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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.

Apparently it's easier still to dictate the conversation and in effect, kill the conversation.

rancho gordo

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Jaymes

Jaymes

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

I don't understand why rappers have to hunch over while they stomp around the stage hollering.  It hurts my back to watch them. On the other hand, I've been thinking that perhaps I should start a rap group here at the Old Folks' Home.  Most of us already walk like that.

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Suzanne F

Suzanne F

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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.

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maggiethecat

maggiethecat

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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.

Margaret McArthur

"Take it easy, but take it."

Studs Terkel

1912-2008

A sensational tennis blog from freakyfrites

margaretmcarthur.com

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Jaymes

Jaymes

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

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

878 (and one on order) :shock:

I don't understand why rappers have to hunch over while they stomp around the stage hollering.  It hurts my back to watch them. On the other hand, I've been thinking that perhaps I should start a rap group here at the Old Folks' Home.  Most of us already walk like that.

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maggiethecat

maggiethecat

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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.

Margaret McArthur

"Take it easy, but take it."

Studs Terkel

1912-2008

A sensational tennis blog from freakyfrites

margaretmcarthur.com

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skybluewater

skybluewater

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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:

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Jason Perlow

Jason Perlow

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

Jason Perlow, Co-Founder eGullet Society for Culinary Arts & Letters

Foodies who Review South Florida (Facebook) | offthebroiler.com - Food Blog (archived) | View my food photos on Instagram

Twittter: @jperlow | Mastodon @jperlow@journa.host

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Fat Guy

Fat Guy

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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.

Steven A. Shaw aka "Fat Guy"
Co-founder, Society for Culinary Arts & Letters, sshaw@egstaff.org
Proud signatory to the eG Ethics code
Director, New Media Studies, International Culinary Center (take my food-blogging course)

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Jaymes

Jaymes

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

Seriously??? :unsure::rolleyes:

I don't understand why rappers have to hunch over while they stomp around the stage hollering.  It hurts my back to watch them. On the other hand, I've been thinking that perhaps I should start a rap group here at the Old Folks' Home.  Most of us already walk like that.

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JAZ

JAZ

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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).

Janet A. Zimmerman, aka "JAZ"
Manager
jzimmerman@eGullet.org
eG Ethics signatory
Author, The Healthy Pressure Cooker Cookbook,  Instant Pot Obsession, and The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook for Two

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maggiethecat

maggiethecat

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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

Margaret McArthur

"Take it easy, but take it."

Studs Terkel

1912-2008

A sensational tennis blog from freakyfrites

margaretmcarthur.com

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maggiethecat

maggiethecat

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

Seriously??? :unsure::rolleyes:

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

Margaret McArthur

"Take it easy, but take it."

Studs Terkel

1912-2008

A sensational tennis blog from freakyfrites

margaretmcarthur.com

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