What Are You Reading?

[Naomi]

The Indian Grocery Store Demystified

A food lover's guide to all the best ingredients in the traditional foods of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

It's really a pretty cool aid in deciphering the seemingly inexhaustible list of ingredients. The author, Linda Bladholm, also wrote:

The Asian Grocery Store Demystified

A food lover's guide to all the best ingredients

which is next on my wish list.

edited by HdT to add: The small size makes it handy to carry with you to the market so you can refer to it as you shop.

Thanks for mentioning those HdT, they sound very useful.

I'm definitely going to get the asian book.

We have one asian shop here and I have been trying to pluck up the courage to go and do a "big shop" for ingredients that are either too rare or too expensive in the supermarket.

[laurenmilan]

I'm definitely going to get the asian book.

We have one asian shop here and I have been trying to pluck up the courage to go and do a "big shop" for ingredients that are either too rare or too expensive in the supermarket.

Nothing to fear... your first trip or two should probably be mostly casual browsing. If you note some items that intrigue you but you have no clue what to do with them, make a note and research at home.

Also chat up the staff working the counters, far friendlier than at regular American supermarkets. You'll be very comfortable after a few visits.

[phaelon56]

It's entitled "Great Meals Almost From Scratch". Received it as a Christmas gift and will start putting some of the techniques to use when I finally get out of my transitional living arrangement and into a real house with a kitchen next week. It looks to be a pretty cool book - focuses on how to ue a variety of premade/storebought base ingredients to throw together healthy, tasty and inventive meals in a hurry. Great for the harried and stressed out family with two careers and kids or the single folks like me who would rather not be bothered than to cook elaborate meals for one. I will report back here after trying out some of the recipes but it actually looks very promising.

[FlourPower]

Just got done reading "Cookoff" by Amy Sutherland about all those cooking competitions. It's okay, but not very well written.

[ludja]

Elizabeth David's "A Book of Mediterranean Food"

&

Quick Pickles by Chris Schlesinger, John Willoughby and Dan George.

Both wonderfully inspiring. Got the pickle book cheap at a book outlet store and it is very good. (reading at least; haven't tried any recipes yet). They also give a lot of interesting suggestions for uses/accompaniements with the pickles. Has some asian style pickles in addition to 'american' style.

[chezlamere]

the library is the best thing ever.

my monthly overdue fine at the library usually pays for a book. Sometimes it's just to hard to let go of the book

renew -

our library does it online, by phone or in person

trust me - a library would usually prefer to have the circulation to the fine

i do renew but i usually have about 20 books going at the same time. plus about 35+ on the reserve list. Believe me my library LOVES the fines. And I'm happy to comply (sometimes) I have been checking off the books mentioned already and all but one are at the various branches here, and many are multiple copies. I don't remember the last time I actually browsed. I just go in every three days or so and pick up my load of reserve books. I love my library. Of all the places that I have lived, this is by far the best place because of the library. I just do everything on-line.

[NeroW]

One of my New Year's Resolutions (and the only one I have managed to keep ) was to read mostly food-related books.

So far I have finished MFK Fisher's Serve It Forth, Leslie Brenner's American Appetite, and I am halfway through Jeffrey Steingarten's The Man Who Ate Everything. He is extremely amusing.

I'm also plowing through another book--very dry--about astrological and alchemical elements in High Middle Ages cooking. Can't remember what that one's called, but when I checked it out at the library, I thought it was about something entirely different . . .

Non-food-related, I finished Erik Larsen's Devil in the White City (fantastic and highly recommended) and Nickel and Dimed in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. I'm also about halfway through Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott (sp??), one of those books that's supposed to make you want to write, but instead makes you horribly depressed.

[pattimw]

Non-food-related, I finished Erik Larsen's Devil in the White City (fantastic and highly recommended) and Nickel and Dimed in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. I'm also about halfway through Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott (sp??), one of those books that's supposed to make you want to write, but instead makes you horribly depressed.

I have Bird by Bird, too. Why does it make you depressed?

I just received my newest order from newbookscheap.com last night! The Professional Chef from the CIA and More Cooking in the Wine Country by Joanne Weir. I got the Wine Country book out from the library some time ago and liked it enough that I wanted a copy for myself!

Next up is to finish The Man Who Ate everything, then move on to It Must Have Been Something I ate. I also want to read Cook's Tour and Kitchen Confidential, as i have never read them, but have been meaning to for some time, and On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee. I also want to get to Laurie Colwin's books.

Non food related, I am about to start Bringing Down the House, about the MIT students in Las Vegas casinos, and my perennial reading of Lord of the Rings. You have to read that trilogy a few times to absorb it all. I'd also like to read Tracy Chevalier's new book.

[NeroW]

Non-food-related, I finished Erik Larsen's Devil in the White City (fantastic and highly recommended) and Nickel and Dimed in America by Barbara Ehrenreich.  I'm also about halfway through Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott (sp??), one of those books that's supposed to make you want to write, but instead makes you horribly depressed.

I have Bird by Bird, too. Why does it make you depressed?

Because instead of reading it, I should just be writing!

[pattimw]

Non-food-related, I finished Erik Larsen's Devil in the White City (fantastic and highly recommended) and Nickel and Dimed in America by Barbara Ehrenreich.  I'm also about halfway through Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott (sp??), one of those books that's supposed to make you want to write, but instead makes you horribly depressed.

I have Bird by Bird, too. Why does it make you depressed?

Because instead of reading it, I should just be writing!

LOL!!!

I love the style of writing in the book. It is so irreverant and funny.

If you like that one, you should also read Making a Literary Life, by Carolyn See. Very similar.

[markabauman]

On the nightstand: "Feeding a Yen"- Calvin Trillin; "Cooking by Hand"- Paul Bertolli; "Best Food Writing-2003; Bistro Cooking at Home-Gordon Hamersley; Zingerman's Guide; "Rustico-Micol Negrin.

[hollywood]

Cream3. It's about contempaorary art. But could inspire chefs.

[rkolluri]

I don't know if this counts, but I have been listening to the audiobook version of Salt: A World History. Quite fascinating, actually.

Audible.com is a great source for unabridged audiobooks.

rkolluri

[thin mint]

Alton Brown's "Gear For Your Kitchen" . Very helpful and entertaining book.

[sput]

In no particular order:

Alton Brown's Gear... witty, informative, entertaining etc. etc.

Best Food Writing 2003...ed. Holly Hughes... great collection (as are previous)

Tom Colicchio's Craft of Cooking.. Sure everyone says the restaurant is wildly expensive, but the book will only set you back a partial fraction of a meal there, and wow, a chef's cookbook with actual recipes people can try at home.

( although I am not so sure about the porcetta which calls for brining a whole pig saddle, head and legs removed for other purposes... Sure would be fun to try though!)

El Bulli 2003-1998, but only in my dreams...

[Okbrewer]

Just finished Typhoid Mary and immediately started Kitchen Confidential.

[woodford]

Finished Amanda Hesser's "Cooking for Mr. Latte," and found it to be utterly charming. Just a real joy to read.

And thanks to glenn for recommending "Cosmopolitan: a Bartender's Life."

I couldn't put it down. A real peek "behind the scenes"-it appealed to the voyeur in me. The writing was so elegant. My husband, the non-foodie, started looking at my copy while in the hospital waiting room (I was having a minor procedure) and told me he couldn't wait to finish it, he was so rapt.

Does anyone have any recommendations for books about Southern cooking? Something with anecdotes and humour, maybe a memoir?

[Toasted]

"My Kitchen Wars" a memoir by Betty Fussell- picked this up at the used

book store for $2.00.

"Women Who Eat"- a new generation on the glory of food- Basically a

compilation of stories by women in and out of the culinary profession.

Just got this from Amazon, a gift from my sister and it looks really good.

Halfway through the "Best Food writing of 2003"- another great book,

excellent writing.

[tsquare]

"Love Like Gumbo" by Nancy Rawles. Soon to start "Crawfish Dreams".

"An Unthymely Death" by Susan Wittig Albert.

She writes untaxing mysteries set in the fictional town of Pecan Springs, Texas. This particular book is a collection of short stories that started as on-line weekly episodes. There is a lot of information on herbs and gardening, some folk type crafts, and some recipes. I don't recall making any of them. The main character, China Bayles, is an ex-attorney making a life as the owner of an herb shop and tea house - and solving the occassional mystery.

The books are entertaining and informative.

There is another series of books about a caterer/mystery solver in Colorado - by Diane Mott Davidson. I think the character is named Goldy Bear. Consider yourself warned. But they are fun to read.

[Richard Kilgore]

My main interest right now is Robb Walsh's "Are You Really Going To Eat That?: Reflections of a Culinary Thrill Seeker", a fine set of essays.

Also this week reading Ruth Reichel's "Tender at the Bone", Calvin Trillin's "Travels With Alice", and Jacques Pepin's "The Apprentice". In addition browsing through Madeleine Kammin's "The New Making of a Cook".

[chezlamere]

My main interest right now is Robb Walsh's "Are You Really Going To Eat That?: Reflections of a Culinary Thrill Seeker", a fine set of essays.

Also this week reading Ruth Reichel's "Tender at the Bone", Calvin Trillin's "Travels With Alice", and Jacques Pepin's "The Apprentice". In addition browsing through Madeleine Kammin's "The New Making of a Cook".

phew, your busy

[pattimw]

I just finished "Home Cooking" by Laurie Colwin and found it to be, well, there is no other word but delightful. I have to get my hands on More Home Cooking.

I just started "It Must have been Something I ate". "Near a Thousand Tables" is next.

Ongoing, I am perusing "More Cooking in the Wine Country" and am still on "Zingerman's Guide to Good Eating" - it's a treasure trove.

[alacarte]

"My Kitchen Wars" a memoir by Betty Fussell- picked this up at the used

book store for $2.00.

I loved that book too. I had the unexpected honor of meeting Betty Fussell at an event recently, and she says they are making the book into a play! The play is supposed to debut in March here in NYC.

You heard it here first.

[Toasted]

"My Kitchen Wars" a memoir by Betty Fussell- picked this up at the used

book store for $2.00.

I loved that book too. I had the unexpected honor of meeting Betty Fussell at an event recently, and she says they are making the book into a play! The play is supposed to debut in March here in NYC.

You heard it here first.

Wow, that is so cool. Please keep us updated about that. I would definitely

come to the city to see that play.

Right now I'm reading "The Joy of Eating" by Katie Stewart- this book describes

the foods and methods of cooking from ancient times to the victorian era. The

pictures really make this book.

I'm so embarrassed to admit this but I'm also reading "Is Salami and Eggs

better than Sex? " by Alan King and Mimi Sheraton. Again, a used book store

find, who could resist that title? In a nutshell, it's a somewhat humourous

book about King's eating habits and meals shared with other famous people.

I've read worse.

[NeroW]

Not food books, but earlier this week I finished Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand (what a story!) and now I am reading Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. This is a fantastic book if you have not read it, I highly recommend it.