What We're Reading...
Last Month's Edition
Printer-friendly page 'What We're Reading' is a place for our staff to write a monthly listing of current cookbooks that have caught our attention. We may also mention other noteworthy books outside of the culinary category, along with the occasional past or backlist title that is a rediscovered gem. The latest additions to our reading lists are now posted on our blog.
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BALLS!
Round the World Fare for All Occasions
by Angela Murrills
Whitecap Books
October 2007
$24.95/Trade Paperback
Though the title will definitely get its share of giggles, the recipes in this book are no joke. From falafel to truffles to the many variations of meatballs, this book gives a comprehensive picture of round foods from ‘round the globe. Best of all, with playful names like Great Balls of Fire and Gorgeous Gougère, these recipes don’t take themselves too seriously.
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COOKING WITH THE SEASONS AT RANCHO LA PUERTA
Recipes from the World-Famous Spa
by Deborah Szekely and Deborah M. Schneider
Stewart, Tabori, & Chang
October 2008
$35.00/Hardcover
Craving a vacation? This book will do the trick. Recipes from the renowned Rancho La Puerta spa are fresh, clean, and bright: just what you need to revive you when you can’t quite make it to Mexico. Fish tacos and guava crème brûlée are bound to have your mouth watering for warm weather.
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PUBLICITY
7 Steps to Publicize Just About Anything
by David Carriere
Glitterati, Inc.
June 2008
$20.00/Hardcover
Twenty years of experience in the field have left David Carriere a veteran publicist. He shares his insight in a thorough overview of publicity tactics, from the minute (event invitations) to the general (campaign planning). Best of all, Carriere advocates for patience and honesty — two traits that are absolutely necessary when it comes to publicity. This book is a real gem and a must-have for anyone looking to understand publicity.
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SUSTAINABLE SUSHI
A Guide to Saving the Oceans One Bite at a Time
by Casson Trenor
North Atlantic Books
January 2009
$15.95/Trade Paperback
Fish-lovers have had a hard time lately, what with salmon and sea urchins disappearing at an alarming rate. One fish this book gives an unambiguous thumbs-up to is barramundi, which we have recently grown to love thanks to our new neighbors, Australis Aquaculture. Farm raised Barramundi from the US is a tasty white-fleshed fish that you can (and should!) enjoy guilt-free.
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PUFF
50 Flaky, Crunchy, Delicious Appetizers, Entrees, and Desserts Made with Puff Pastry
by Martha Holmberg
Chronicle Books
September 2008
$19.95/Trade Paperback
What makes the recipes in this book so irresistible? It is undoubtedly the butter. It’s the butter that adds that certain crispness to the Provencal pizza and the melt-in-your-mouth quality to profiteroles with coffee cream, and it’s the butter that will leave you dying for more. All recipes can be made with frozen store-bought puff-pastry, but I have to say I’m tempted to try Holmberg’s illustrated step-by-step instructions to make my own!
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SIPPS & APPS
Classic and Contemporary Recipes for Cocktails and Appetizers
by Kathy Casey
Chronicle Books
April 2009
$19.95/Hardcover
This charming book has got your back as the season of cocktails on the patio approaches. With loads of recipes for refreshing drinks and an array of delicate appetizers to match, this book promises the perfect party. Just imagine the menu: a bloody mary with rosemary and horseradish? A cucumber and elderflower fizz for the non-alcoholic guest? And a handful of fennel-roasted walnuts?
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DEFINITION
The Art and Design of Hip-Hop
by Cey Adams with Bill Adler
Collins Design
October 2008
$29.95/Trade Paperback
It’s not our usual subject matter, but this book has us hooked. Glossy images of graffiti, album covers, advertisements and limited edition sneakers fill the pages of this book and whet our appetites for the concise but informative history that accompanies the images.
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WINE COCKTAILS
50 Stylish Sippers That Show Off Your Reds, Whites, and Rosés
by A. J. Rathbun
Harvard Common Press
April 2009
$12.95/Hardcover
We all have those friends who insist on drinking wine only in its pure, unadulterated form, but for those of us who like to live on the edge, this book is just the thing. Wine cocktails are actually quite classy — c’mon, if you can have a mimosa at brunch they can’t be that bad. But the drinks aren’t the only things that pack a punch — Rathbun’s recipe notes may have you giggling as you mix.
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Past Picks...
THE SOUTH AMERICAN TABLE
The Flavor and Soul of Authentic Home Cooking from Patagonia to Rio de Janeiro, with 450 Recipes
by Maria Baez Kijac
Harvard Common Press
October 2003
$19.95/trade paperback
$32.95/hardcover
ISBN: 1-55832-249-3
Click here to order
Did you know that they drink Vino Caliente to warm up on cold winter nights in the Andes? This comprehensive cookbook shares more than
500 pages of history, lore, and authentic recipes from around the South American continent.
SIMPLY SAUTÉ
Fast, Easy and Healthy Italian Cooking — All in One Pan
by Silvia Bianco
Marlowe & Company
December 2003
$16.95/trade paperback
ISBN: 1-56924-561-4
Click here to order
Popular chef, restaurateur, and cooking instructor Silvia Bianco shows how to make exciting Italian meals in one skillet.
Sautéed Spinach with Gorgonzola is just one of the enticing dishes that can be made in minutes.
CAJUN-CREOLE COOKING
by Terry Thompson-Anderson
Shearer Publishing
2003
$18.95/trade paperback
ISBN: 0-940672-74-X
Click here to order
Bring down-home Louisiana cooking right into your kitchen with the newly revised version of this classic reference for Cajun-Creole techniques and
ingredients. Everyone will salivate over dishes like Sweet Potato Puffs which can be made ahead and frozen; then just pop ‘em in the oven for an
irresistible appetizer.
Recommended Article
Michael Pollan's been hitting on hot topic after hot topic with his books The Botany of Desire and, most recently, The Omnivore's Dilemma. Check out his piece on this year's farm bill, featured in The New York Times Magazine on April 22, 2007.
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