Just about to order some books, whaddaya think?

#1 01-07-2001, 12:17 AM

The Pie and Pastry Bible Rose Levy Beranbaum
The Cupcake Cafe by Ann Warren & Joan Lilly
The Cake Bible by Rose Beranbaum
Great Cakes by Carole Walter
Perfect Pastry by Nick Malgieri

#2 01-07-2001, 07:12 AM

Both of the books by Rose Levy Beranbaum are great reference books - she is vey scientific and explains everything in great detail. I like the way the ingredients are listed by weight and volume. Sometimes I find thsings a bit too cumbersome to be practical(not a quick reference), but overall these are a must have.

Anything by Nick Malgieri is good. I have that book and others by him. I really like all of his stuff. Concise and informative, I'd love to meet him someday.

I can't comment on Great Cakes. If I have it (I'm and addict and buy nearly everything, but my resolution HAS to be to stop doing that - too much $$$$!

I also have Cupcake Cafe - I was attracted by the cover picture, but I have to say that I haven't once used the book - it seemed light in substance. It's not even on my "working" shelf anymore - I think I retired it to the dustballs.

Hope this helps!

#3 01-07-2001, 07:19 AM

Both of the books by Rose Levy Beranbaum are great reference books - she is vey scientific and explains everything in great detail. I like the way the ingredients are listed by weight and volume. Sometimes I find thsings a bit too cumbersome to be practical(not a quick reference), but overall these are a must have.

Anything by Nick Malgieri is good. I have that book and others by him. I really like all of his stuff. Concise and informative, I'd love to meet him someday.

I can't comment on Great Cakes. If I have it (I'm and addict and buy nearly everything, but my resolution HAS to be to stop doing that - too much $$$$!

I also have Cupcake Cafe - I was attracted by the cover picture, but I have to say that I haven't once used the book - it seemed light in substance. It's not even on my "working" shelf anymore - I think I retired it to the dustballs.

Hope this helps!

shroomgirl · #4 01-07-2001, 10:24 AM

I have Rose's books as well as her Christmas cookie book....I don't like them...I followed directions a couple of times for a lemon pound cake and it turned out BAD.
I'm just not that impressed. Check them out from the library try acouple recipes and see if they work for you.

I have taken a couple of Nick's classes and think his stuff is incredible...linzer augen cookies!!!!! He's on tour now with his cookie book.

Other one's I don't know.
I have a few books that were slapped together quickly with inaccurrate directions...Italian Baker has a couple of poorly written recipes in it, as does David Reggerios book. With new books running $35+
I'm careful about not buying dust collectors.

I just picked up "The Cook's Encyclopedia of Chocolate" and it looks like a winner. I'm impressed by the combos and pictures. Got it at Sams over the Holidays for $6.58 go figure....
Anyway that's my two cents.

Isa · #5 01-07-2001, 12:32 PM

I love Rose Levy Beranbaum’s Christmas cookie book. Shroomgirl you have to give it another try. Every recipes I tried from that book turned out great. The Mexican wedding cake, linzer cookies...just thinking about them makes me hungry.

shroomgirl · #6 01-07-2001, 02:34 PM

I HATE AOL>>>>had an extensive entry and as I was typing they closed it out from inactivity GRRRRRRRR

Rose's cookie book is ok
her cake bible I don't like, at all and I've tried several times, check it out at the library and see if it works for you.

I like Flo Braker,Maida Heatter, Nick Malgieri, some of Wolfgang Pucks baking is great and easy to do. LeNotre (always misspell his name)is what I use for baking components
But when I do reg baking and want ideas I like Silver Palate for their inclusion of high flavor components...they have great combos, and I get super results.
I have 3 of Rose's books and they are not ones I use often (the cake will go elsewhere when I start sorting through.)

#7 01-07-2001, 03:32 PM

Nick Malgieri's books are great-well tested recipes, readable instructions with an approachable style. I concur with others that Berenbaum's books are too, how to say it?, cumbersome? pedantic?--well tested, yes, but not approachable and written with a style I find insultingly superior. Baking is not rocket science folks! I also had the opportunity of attending a press luncheon with the woman and was horrified by her behavior! Hence, I cannot with good feeling recommend her books. I admit, I own a few of them, but in editor's proof form.

Isa · #8 01-07-2001, 03:41 PM

I agree with you The Cake Bible's recipes left to be desired. The few I tried didn't come out too good either. The Pie & Pastry Bible is better. I like the technical part of it and the recipes I tried came out pretty well,

I love Lenôtre’s books and the Roux brothers on pastry. I used those two for most cakes and pastry. Lenôtre’s recipe for génoise always come out beautiful. And is chocolate mousse is too died for.

I have Nick Malgieri’s book on chocolate but I prefer The Chocolate Bible, because it has lots of petits fours and chocolate candy recipes.

I've never heard of The Silver Palate but I will check it out, maybe the library has a copy. They don't have much in terms of cookbooks though but that is another topic.

#9 01-08-2001, 12:22 AM

Okay, well I'll get them for 4 bucks plus S&H and one of the books are half price 10 more bucks. So for that price, I'll probably take the plunge. Weeeee!
Thanks you guys, your thoughts are just plain smart, and respected!

#10 01-08-2001, 02:04 AM

Has anybody know where I can get a copy of "Wenzel's Menu Maker" Author Wenzel
I went to Chapter's the book store and it is out of print. The price was $211.00 Canadian dollars.
Please Email me if you can get ahold of a copy.

------------------

Chef Robin Lane

shroomgirl · #11 01-08-2001, 08:04 AM

So what is the menu maker? $211 CD woooow.

judy · #12 01-08-2001, 02:09 PM

there are four copies on the ABE book search and all in the same price range, reading the discription it seems worth it.

KC · #13 01-08-2001, 07:25 PM

The Pie and Pastry Bible is OK, but I think Easy as Pie by Susan Purdy is better (and cheaper). Or The Complete Book of Pastry by Bernard Clayton. Also check out Baking with Julia.

shroomgirl · #14 01-09-2001, 07:34 AM

I have Bernard Claytons and used it alot years ago..
Baking what a tomb....great recipes but my goodness it has trouble sitting upright on my counter, wish they'd make them more user friendly.
Silver Palate (Sheila Lukins and Juli Russo) have several books together and separately, I really like their first few. They combine their dough crust ingrediants dump it out on the table and smear the ingrediants with the heal of their hand...then fridge and procede.
Sisi these books are wonderful and they should be readily available even though they are over 10 years old.

I have the most wonderful recipe for butterscotch pie with a quick crust I got out of Savuer a couple of years ago...Iowa State Fair winner!!!! this is a great pie.
I'll post in Baking section soon.

#15 01-09-2001, 08:33 AM

I use the cake bible wedding cake recipe often. I usualy add zest or flavorings because I found the flavor to be lacking in punch. But the consistancy is perfect.
I also like Malgeri's "How To Bake" as a great refrence. I met him a couple times through Beard competitions. The man is a wealth of info. He used to teach at Krumps in NYC. Whats he up to now?
I also find I look up a lot of food questions in "On Food and Cooking".