Reading List … page 2
Leone’s Italian Cookbook
Leone’s Italian Cookbook is arguably one of the best Italian cookbooks ever written. I have a copy from the original 1967 print. This cookbook follows the astonishing success of the New York City restaurant from its beginning in 1906 to its sale in 1959. Gene Leone shares more than 300 of his mother’s favorite recipes and tells you many fascinating stories about the renowned restaurant started by his mother. In this cookbook you find delicious recipes for soups, salads, meat courses, antipasto, desserts, pasta, sauces, Italian coffees, vegetables, fish and poultry – In fact, dishes of every kind suitable for everything from light meals for two to large family dinners. All the are recipes easy to cook and clearly written with step-by-step instructions. The foreword is written by Dwight Eisenhower. Recipe’s of note: Red Wine Sautéed Filet Mignon, Cannelloni alla Romana, Gnocchi, Veal Scaloppine Piccata, and Minestrone soup. The cookbook has a recipe for Whale Steak Stew. Anyone know where I can get some whale steak?
The Joy of Cooking
This is the the most influential American cookbook of all time. Period! Initially published in 1931, The Joy of Cooking cookbook has sold over 18 million copies. Author Irma Rombauer’s approach to cooking is as simple as it gets … Step 1: stand facing the stove. This cookbook is considered a bit daunting for beginning cooks, yet it is the backbone of many prfessional kitchens and home cooking libraries. It’s as indispensable as my Wüsthof Santoku chef’s knife. I couldn’t live without either one! Recipes of note: pumpkin bread, Swedish meatballs, basic pancakes and stir-fried garlic chicken. There is a food blog called JoyfulCooking which is dedicated to making and chronicling every recipe in the Joy of Cooking cookbook. Check it out!
The Gourmet Cookbook
I was browsing for books at the Borders across from my office when I saw The Gourmet Cookbook on the bargain rack. I recognized the font that “Gourmet” was written in and bought the book without even opening it. Great steal for only $7! Published by Gourmet Magazine, this cookbook is one that can appeal to beginners and seasoned cooks alike. Whether you’re looking for an quick, everyday recipe, or a knock-your-socks-off culinary challenge, you’ll find it in this book. It hoffers a fantastic collection of classic and contemporary recipes with easy to follow instructions. There are also lots of interesting historic introductions that precede the recipes. What sucks about this book is bright yellow titles for all the recipes. What publishing genius thought this up? Bright yellow headings aren’t easy to read for most people. It’s an overall a great cookbook! Slate.com published a great article on the history of Gourmet Magazine that can be found here. Recipes of note: rosemary roast potatoes, banana fritters, shrimp dumplings and chicken with forty cloves of garlic.
Three Guys from Miami: Cook Cuban
Most people who know me know of the Cuban influence on my cooking. Cuban and Italian are by far my favorite culinary styles. I live off frijoles negros, mojo and plantains! No one has done more to promote Cuban cuisine and culture in the U.S. than the Three Guys from Miami. Their main web site The Internet Cuban is one that I constantly keep up-to-date with by reading articles, recipes and information on Cuban restaurants. The cookbook is easy to read, full of funny stories and packed with Cuban delicacies that are simple to prepare. Nothing tastes or smells like good home cooked Cuban food. The Three Guys from Miami perfectly capture the essence and spirit of Cuba. Recipes of note: Croquetas de Jamón, frijoles negros rapidos, mojo, ropa vieja and flan. Cuba Libre!
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