Tried & True: Cookbook Edition Part 3
I’m devoting a whole “Tried & True” Cookbook post to what I call “Cookbooks Beautiful Enough For The Coffee Table”. These are my favorite cookbooks that feature not only fabulous recipes from some of the most renowned chefs in the world, but also stunning photography and food styling and, in some cases, a travel/time-and-place element. These books are more than cookbooks – they’re a design statement in and of themselves. They also make great gifts for foodies and budding chefs.
Simply put, having these gorgeous cookbooks on your shelves or coffee table says, “I’m serious about cooking and food”.
My first selection is a two-fer, from the most renowned chef in the United States, Thomas Keller. I splurged and added “The French Laundry Cookbook” (published in 1999) to my culinary library when I started to REALLY get into cooking. Not only does the book feature extraordinary photography by Deborah Jones, but it’s an homage to Chef Keller’s vision of the French Laundry in Napa Valley as a culinary “bucket list” destination (it’s on my list!) This cookbook is a 21st century classic.
“Ad Hoc At Home” (published in 2009) is to family-style dining what “The French Laundry Cookbook” is to fine dining. I love the little “light bulb” ideas featured in several recipes. Not only is this a beautifully photographed cookbook (it’s Thomas Keller, after all), but the recipes are imminently achievable. A little tip: I don’t open up these cookbooks while I’m actually cooking – I simply take a photo of the page and print that out on my computer (#messybutgoodcook applies here).
One of my absolute favorite cookbooks, “Lunch in Provence” (published in 2012) is an amalgam of my favorite things: gorgeous photography, wine, beautifully-prepared food, and Provence. All in one book. Oh, and the recipes are from Michelin-starred chef and winemaker, Jean-André Charial. The introduction is written by Patricia Wells, whose Provence cookbook I featured in my post, Cookbooks That Will Make You A Restaurant-Good Home Cook. As I learned on my travels to the region, lunch is a sensory experience in Provence, and this stunning book transports you there, one photograph and recipe at a time. My favorite recipes are Racks of Lamb in an Herb Crust and Ratatouille Niçoise. Patricia Wells sums up Lunch in Provence perfectly: “The meal need not be grand but the experience surely can be.”
Next up on my list is “Noma: Time and Place in Nordic Cuisine” by René Redzepi, who, dare I say, has single-handedly made Nordic cuisine downright sexy. This is more than a cookbook – it’s truly shows food as an art form. This is creativity and craftsmanship at its finest, and this more-than-a-cookbook is worth every penny.
Another two-fer here from the Williams-Sonoma Savoring Series, which will transport you to Italy and France, right from the comfort of your sofa (and who doesn’t need THAT these days?)
“Savoring Italy: Recipes & Reflections on Italian Cooking” by Michele Scicolone and “Savoring France: Recipes & Reflections on French Cooking” by Georganne Brennan (both published in 1999) were two early additions to my culinary/travel library. I love the large format of these books, which are part cookbook, part travel guide, with stunning photography of various regions in both countries. This pair of books would make a wonderful gift for the wanderlusting cook.
The cover graphics on “The Art of Pasta” by Lucio Galletto & David Dale (published in 2013) gives you an idea that this is no ordinary cookbook. Anyone who doesn’t think that pasta is an art form hasn’t seen this book, written by the chef/owner of Lucio’s Italian restaurant in Sydney, Australia. Beyond the beautiful photographs are recipes for many forms of pasta – from ravioli to gnocchi – plus various sauces. Trust me, after reading this, you’ll want to bust out the pasta machine and “00” flour and start rolling!
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“The Country Cooking of France” by noted cooking school owner Anne Willan (published in 2007) is one of my favorite cookbooks that isn’t tucked away on a shelf. No, it’s on display on my dining room table (which also serves as an ever-changing library table of favorite food, design and art books). This cookbook has taught me how to make classic French fare – including Cassoulet and our family favorite, “Gigot de Sept Heures” (“Seven Hour Lamb”). In fact, I recommend this cookbook for those two recipes, alone. This cookbook is a must for any Francophile cook on your gift list.
I’ve been a fan of The Gramercy Tavern
I took one look inside “L’Art de la Table: Taste of the Mediterranean” by Gintare Marcel (2015) and was instantly sold. Moody and romantic photography is the superstar of this cookbook, which features authentic recipes from Spain, France and Italy. The food styling in this book is stunning in its rustic simplicity. This one also has a spot on my dining library table.
I’ve been a fan of The Gramercy Tavern in New York City since it opened in 1994. The food is amazing (I’m still raving about the Cassoulet I had in the “tavern” part of the restaurant on a blustery winter day several years ago). I loved bringing out-of-town visitors to the bar for drinks and appetizers when I lived in the city. A little confession: I prefer the casual tavern atmosphere to the more-refined dining room. But that’s just me. And I think the Gramercy Tavern has one of the most beautiful bars in all of NYC. “The Gramercy Tavern Cookbook” (2013) is more than a cookbook – it tells the story, through owner Danny Meyer’s narration – of how this New York City institution came to be. And the innovative cocktail recipes in the book are fabulous..
One of my most memorable dining experiences was at Boulevard in San Francisco, housed in a stunning Beaux Arts building that survived the 1906 earthquake. The elegantly restored interiors are surpassed only by the recipes featured in“Boulevard: The Cookbook” by Nancy Oakes (2005). The detailed recipes are definitely geared toward the more advanced cook, with a focus on seasonal, “special” ingredients (such as black truffles, fava beans and white asparagus). The recipes take time, but are worth it. I also love the Kitchen and Shopping Notes, with helpful insider advice. This book is one of my favorites I turn to when I want to make something special for a dinner party.
Best quote in the book: “There is a lot more to cooking than getting to the end of the recipe”. Exactly.