I'm Thinking About Purchasing Some Culinary Books-Please Help!

I've been thinking about doing this for a long time, yet never had the chance to do so. The books I am mostly interested in are those that can help start me on the path to becoming a chef. I've read Michael Ruhlman's book called "The Making Of A Chef", and so far, that's the only culinary book I can recall reading. I was thinking about ordering a copy of it but didn't have the chance to do so.

Does anyone know of any good culinary books besides this one that I could read? I just came from another topic in the Inside Scoop, called "Master Chef-What Does It Take?", and that topic immediately reminded me of the books I wanted to read. There are so many, I just don't know where to start! Someone help me here please! Almost every time I see a culinary book I feel the urge to read it, but I never purchase it, as I don't want to spend money uselessly on a book that I might regret later for having bought.

If you could help me out here in choosing the right books to buy, I will be forever grateful to you! I am eager to start looking for some good books soon, so I greatly appreciate each and every response that will be posted to this topic!

[ August 27, 2001: Message edited by: Afra ]

Afra
Check out this website. Some books are sold great prices. thegoodcook.com I have recently started to expand my Culinary library.

[Isa]

Recently Fireman asked for cooking books suggestion, you should check it out, lots of great suggestions. Click here to get there.

[ August 27, 2001: Message edited by: Iza ]

[W.DeBord]

I know your on a limited budget right now, so I'd suggest you go to the library. The librarys' in my area work together with MANY other librarys throughout the state. So I could walk in with a list of books and they can request and recieve an almost endless supply of cookbooks though this sharing system. It doesn't cost me anything. They call the other libraries to arrange this and they call me when the books arrive.


Picking which books interest you...I can't help in cooking anymore, but any classic books by Julia, Peppin, Clayton, Gourmet etc.. would all be good learning choices.

[Linda Smith]

Hello Afra:

I think that you should read anything by MFK Fisher. She combines food, life and love which is what one does in this business. She is a wonderful writer and she has always been my inspiration. Many of her shorter works are available in anthology form. Check it out at the library.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! I'm not sure if my library has every book everyone suggested, but I will check out the ones they do. My library is rather small, as Post Falls is a small town, so I don't really know what they have. The other reason I asked you guys for help in this is because when I do look at the culinary books the library has, I just don't know which ones to pick out, to start me on my way! That's why I always ask around when it comes to doing something I want to do like this. Thanks so much for all the responses, everyone! I really appreciate them!

If you're on a tight budget, you may not want to go with this one, but "The New Professional Chef" (Culinary Institute of America") is such a good reference book for a large variety of culinary topics. I recommend this one, but as I mentioned, it's pricey, so perhaps save up for it? My wife nearly threw it at me when I brought it home, and that would've hurt (over 1,100 pages).
Good reading to you...

[Mezzaluna]

I just got a 1996 copy of The New Professional Chef for $30 at Half Price Books. They're a chain, I think. They sell books at half or less of the cover price.

Cool, "The New Professional Chef" sounds appealing! Unfortunately, my library does not have a copy of that book. I thought they did! Well, anyway, could anyone tell me of a cheap way I could get a copy of it? What about Barnes & Nobles and Borders? Do they have any copies and are they cheap? Thanks so much in advance for all the responses!

By the way, Mezz, please check your private messages. Thanks.

[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: Afra ]

[markdchef]

Afra,

I have a link at my webpage for all cooking related books at a discount:
http://www.onthemarkpcs.homestead.com

Click on buy Louis Lanza's and discount books
and it takes you to Jessica's Biscuit.

Another great site is half.com. Books at 50% to 75% off original prices.

Thanks, Mark! I visited your site and was impressed with it! By the way, I noticed that "The New Professional Chef" has several different editions. I remember it said "1996 edition", etc., so I'm also wondering now about which edition is the best? Or are they all the same? Thanks so much in advance for all the responses to this question! I just want to make sure I am not paying too much for one book and that I am getting the right edition that will truly help me out!

I have this book on my wish list at Border's website, so I hope I get it soon! The way it was recommended to me makes me really interested in it! Click here Amazon.com to view my wish list! You can find it under my name, Holly L. Hall.

[ August 30, 2001: Message edited by: Afra ]

Well, since some good friend on Chef Talk sent me a message saying I could have his copy of "The New Professional Chef" (God bless his generosity! ) I deleted the book from my wishlist on the website as it is not worth it for me to spend a few hard-earned bucks on 1 book so soon. I would have gotten it in the near future myself if this friend had not offered to give me his copy. Thanks, friend!

[Suzanne]

Read EVERYTHING your library has. You will learn to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. And even from the chaff, you may pick up some useful information. Just as only YOU can develop your own palate, only you can determine what books are helpful. Oh, sure, there are classics out there -- but I've found that, to me, many of the so-called "great-chefs'" books just AREN'T that great.

My first books were joy of cooking, escoffier, and alice waters' books. Then there was Harold McGee's book. Check out my friend's site, www.kwcookbooks.com; he sells used cook books w/passion. Also Amazon is a great source. But really, get into a kitchen and start working w/food...
Good Luck!

[markdchef]

The Joy of Cooking is a very useful tool to have in your library.

Anything by Marcella Hazan for Italian Cooking.

Modern Vegetarian Kitchen by Peter Berley

The Moosewood cookbook.

Some celebrity cookbooks are just fluff.