1 comments about New World Provence: Modern French Cooking for Friends and Family.

1. 
   There are reasons why French cooking enjoys a world-wide reputation for the excellence of its cuisine. Now the husband-and-wife team of Alessandra and Jean-Francis Quaglia (proprietor-chefs of the immently respected Provence Mediterranean Grill and the Provence Marinaside restaurants in Vancouver, Canada) have compiled "New World Provence: Modern French Cooking For Friends And Family", a cookbook collection featuring an impressive series of simple but elegant recipes specifically designed for the palates and preferences of contemporary North Americans. Graced with beautiful full color photography of finished dishes, "New World Provence" recipes are enhanced with a succinct anecdotal introduction introducing the recipe, which then lists the necessary ingredients and a series of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions for preparing the dish. From such gourmet delicacies as Stewed Squid in Tomato Saffron Sauce, to such hearty fare as Warm Potato Salad with L'Ancienne Mustard Vinaigrette, to impressive entrees like Seared Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine & Peppercorn Jus, to dessert delicacies such as a Lemon Tart, "New World Provence" is an elegant and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

1 comments about Zinfandel: A Current Study.

1. HAVING SPENT THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AT RAVENSWOOD WINERY GIVING TOURS TO LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY EDUCATIONAL TOURS ON THE VIRTUES AND MAKING OF ALMIGHTY ZINFANDEL, I WAS NOT ONLY AWED AND IMPRESSED BY THE BOOK; ZINFANDEL, BY CATHLEEN FRANCISCO, BUT I'VE SINCE USED IT (AND GIVEN IT AS GIFTS) REPEATEDLY. I HEARTILY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO IS - OR KNOWS - A LOVER OF ZINFANDEL. HOLLY EVANS-WHITE, RAVENSWOOD WINERY

No comments about The New Gourmet: Sensational & Satisfying Low-Fat Cooking (California Culinary Academy).

1 comments about California (Williams-Sonoma New American Cooking).

1. Every time I went into Williams-Sonoma I picked up this book. I continued to put it down and leave the store. Finally, down to its last copy, I had to make the purchase. Indeed, it is worth every penny and I now wondered what ever made me wait.
   
   The recipes in this book are fantastic. Every bit Californian, the recipes feature bold, bright and vivid pictures of the succulent food. One can almost smell the food as it glistens before the reader.
   
   Additionally, the recipes are not overly (or needlessly as the case may be.....enter The French Napkin) complex. Nor do the recipes attempt estoeric creations featuring items one would expect from the cabinets of Dr. Moreau.
   
   In short, fairly to medium-esquely-ish simple meals, great taste, wonderful dialogue, and something worth having/adding to your collection.
   
   It shouldn't disappoint.

No comments about The California Seafood Cookbook.

3 comments about Controlling Your Fat Tooth.

1. I thought I knew just about all I needed to know about dietary fat and its effect on American health. This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read because it gave me information that I had not previously encountered. It lacks a lot in helping you make healthful choices for non-labeled foods, however, because there is another book written by the same man with that sort of information in it. I have tried many of the recipes included and they are usually quite delicious. They aren't NO FAT usually, but they are certainly LOW FAT and absolutely delightful to eat. Most entres require some serious preparation time, but if you have the time these healthful recipes are worth the effort.



2. I bought this book for a bargain (under 5 dollars) and wondered if I was wasting my money. Why was this book selling for so cheap when I couldn't even find a copy of the South Beach Diet on my local store bookshelves?

   I was pleasantly surprised at how much sense this book made. And how much detailed information and explanations were given. I really think anyone could benefit (even people who are not overweight) and everyone should read it. It's like a primer for your health.

   The only complaint I have is that so many statistics are thrown at you, and I'm not convinced they are all soundly presented. For example: Cancer deaths are increasing... Well maybe that is true, but are the rates increasing? I mean the population is growing exponentially, so even if the number of deaths are increasing, the rate could be decreasing.

   But overall I rate this a must for all persons interested in their health and fitness.




3. I found this book to be extremely informational and helpful. It isn't filled with a lot of quick weight loss hooey that so many other books contain.

No comments about Breakfasts & brunches.

1 comments about Chinese Cooking at the Academy (California Culinary Academy).

1. This book is an exemplary overview of chinese cooking. The basics are covered in a simple to follow manner, organized in a progressive fashion which eases the reader into rapidly gaining confidence. The photographs depict techniques, ingredients, and the resulting dishes in a clear and concise fashion. Best of all the results are excellent tasting (while still open to fine tuning to suit your taste preferences.) I highly reccomend this book.

2 comments about Grands Vins: The Finest Châteaux of Bordeaux and Their Wines.

1. This thorough if narrowly focused study by a major British wine critic covers the ground with thoroughness and dedicated skill. Not for beginners, it's a requirement if you're getting seriously into collecting Bordeaux



2. This top quality reference, now getting a bit dated, provides one of the most thorough and detailed examinations of the Bordeaux region ever written. Though not as exciting to read as Markham's "1855" it is much more informative than Parker's "Bordeaux." Any serious collection of wine histories should include this book. I am hopeful that a newer edition will be arriving soon.

5 comments about Napa.

1. Covers the history of the valley, mixing money, family fueds, and agriculture.

   I read it in one flight, couldn't put it down




2. Conaway's Napa is subtitled, "The Story of an American Eden." Conaway has done his research in uncovering the history of the valley and the origin of its now world-class wineries. However, readers who are looking for a romantic evocation of this "American Eden" may be disappointed. Conaway devotes more space to land use issues, corporate politics and social history than to the development of the vintner's art in the Napa. The story is told through a series of short chapters relating to many of the people who have had made an impact on the valley. This provides a detailed history, but the author does little to provide much synthesis for the many narratives. The book begins with the arrival of Jack and Jamie Davies and their renovation of the Shramsberg winery in the early 60's, but the last several chapters deal almost exlusively with the political battles between the big vintners, portrayed as greedy and selfish, and the slow-growth advocates, the story's idealistic heroes. The conflicts between growth versus conservation and art versus commerce do provide some interesting drama and are necessary elements of the story of Napa Valley. But the essence of Napa is wine and the good life, and this story gets lost in the politics of Conaway's version of Napa. Read the book for the interesting history of Napa's wine industry and the wealth of historical detail, but understand that the author is more conerned with how the beauty of Napa can be preserved than with the romance of the vine.



3. Napa is a fine book for anyone interested in wines in general and in the ones produced in Napa Valley in particular. The beginning of the book is really the best part. With a great deal of interesting details, the author recalls the beginning of wine production in the area. Reading the story of the pionners who settled there in the beginning of the century is really fascinating. The description of the lives of great characters such as Gustave Niebaum, Georges de Latour or John Daniel are really well written. The second part of the book is less interesting. It focusses too much on political battles in the late 80's and the author has clearly chosen his camp and shows too much the people that he does not like. It would be great if the author would suppress the last chapters and write about what happened in the 90's. Napa Valley has changed, new producers have emerged and an up-dated version of Napa would be a great gift for all wine lovers.



4. ------- as a classmate of robin daniels and mickey mondavi, as a son of a winery-worker who worked with joe heitz and mike grgich, i delivered newspapers to them and all the rest.

   napa managed to never mention me or my paper-route, but i'm behind every page, just around the corner.

   cold and raw in the winter, hot and dry in the summer, sticky and heavy (picking grapes and prunes)in the fall, napa (st. helena in particular)seems like it "ought" to be an Eden. guess what? it's not. it's a business. want to make a small fortune in the wine biz? start with a LARGE fortune!

   the people who grew up and worked there are just like the people who grew up in stockton.

   you may never meet me, but you'll get the chance to meet the "players". you won't meet the gallos, however, yet they kept napa in the grape/wine business by guaranteeing a market (even if penny-ante)when wine wasn't "hip."

   napa is spot-on all the way through, with that one exception . . .




5. Especially if you're planning a visit to the California Wine Country, consider spending some time with this book. The story is fascinating and provides an almost personal connection that gives a wonderful context to one's own experience of the place. Footprints of many of the storied poineers can still be found in the Valley today, but one might miss them trusting only a tour book. Conaway is sometimes criticized for his politics shining through the latter part of the book, but (perhaps due to my on sympathies?) I would disagree. There have been dramatic changes in the American wine industry and especially in Napa Valley over the past twenty years, and hearing a well articulated commentary (at least through the first of those watershed years) detracts little from the picture Conaway evokes. Grab a glass of your favorite Napa Cabernet or Chardonnay and enjoy!