I am currently playing a little game with my cookbooks that I like to call Ship, Store, or Pitch.
Most of them will be stored, and a few will be given away or sold. But are there any that I can’t live without for a while? The answer is probably no, particularly considering the wealth of recipes and information available on the internet. Still, I’m thinking it might be nice to have a few favorites sitting on the shelf in my tiny Paris apartment like old friends, reminding me of dinner parties past.
Here are just a few of the contenders for the crossing:
Mastering the Art of French Cooking, volumes I and II by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle. Pro: Duh. Con: May be rendered redundant by ubiquity of actual French food in what is, after all, the capital of France.
The Time Life Good Cook and Foods of the World collections. Pro: Classic, thoroughly annotated, reliable recipes, written or edited by, among others, Richard Olney, Waverly Root, and M.F.K. Fisher. Con: I currently possess 15 titles from these two series; there is no way I could take them all.
Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan. Pro: I actually use this one. Con: I’m thinking. Give me just a minute…
The Gourmet Cookbook, edited by Ruth Reichl. Pro: So. Many. Recipes. Con: I think most of them are available online at Epicurious.
The New Book of Middle Eastern Food, by Claudia Roden. Pro: This one is especially useful in the summer months, when eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes are abundant. Also, with recipes from Iran to Morocco, this is the perfect food to eat before devouring toothache-inducing sweets from La Bague de Kenza. Con: This leaves less room for toothache-inducing sweets from La Bague de Kenza.
The Simple Art of Perfect Baking, by Flo Braker. Pro: This book lives up to its title. Con: I may not have a stand mixer for a while.
The Art of Simple Food, by Alice Waters. Pro: This is pretty much how I like to cook, much of the time. Con: I usually don’t use a book when I’m cooking this way.
Room for Dessert, by David Lebovitz. Pro: These are great recipes for the kinds of desserts I like most. Con: I’d rather go straight to the source.
What do you think? Do you have any favorites that you couldn’t live without?
“Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking” is also one of my faves.
Wow, I think I’d have a tremendously difficult time choosing, I feel like my books are my kids in some weird way. I’d definitely keep Baking With Julia, Japanese Cooking, The French Laundry and Larousse Gastronomique just to name a few…who am I kidding, I’d take them all.
Heather: I think Signora Hazan will make the cut.
Connie: I didn’t mention the Larousse because it is definitely going, no debate necessary.
Marcella for sure. I have a bunch of duplicates my Paris apartment, of which I use Patricia Wells’ Bistrot Cookbook the most and her book with Joel Robuchon, Simply French, somewhat less. The latter give me inspiration for what to do with the wonderful things I find in the French markets. I love Gordon Hamersley’s Bistrot Cookbook and use it in Paris but not as much as at home for some reason.
Oh, I don’t envy your task! I vote for Marcella Hazan, too…you can’t leave M.F.K. behind and I agree with you on the Gourmet cookbook. I have it and use it, yes — but, more often than not, I just look up the recipe on Epicurious and cook from it using my iPhone.
The one cookbook I can’t live without is a little offbeat…”The Best Curry Cookbook Ever” (which I’m not sure is “the best” but has pretty great step-by-step pictures) …
Here’s one for your wish list–I am constantly referring to Elizabeth Schneider’s “Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini”. It’s wonderful for those times I get an adventure veggie from my CSA. It has beautiful photographs of all the veggies–tips on storage and prep, history, and recipes–some of which are in the traditional format, and others which merely suggest uses and creative ways of combining them. Wonderful resource.
I’ve ordered my copy of Claudia Roden’s book as well as the Hazan. Can’t wait…
I didn’t bring any of my cookbooks when I moved to Europe 27 years ago. Over time I have replaced the Marcella Hazan and am on my 2nd copy of the Claudia Roden. There are so many interesting new cooks here in Europe. My Current favorite is Yotam Ottolenghi who has a vegetarian restaurant in London and writes a regular column for the Guardian.
Welcome – I’m sure you’ll be very happy living in Paris.
I gave up trying to find an original affordable print of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” so I bought the reprint at Barnes & Noble last year. I had no idea that the original was a two volume.