5 comments about The Los Angeles Times California Cookbook.

1. A friend gave me this cookbook and it quickly became the source of some family favorites. I lost all of my cookbooks in a house fire in 2002 and this was the one cookbook I missed the most. My family LOVED the Lasagna pg.167 and the Chicken Enchiladas pg.215 and no one was happy with any other recipe I tried. I've already received the replacement I found on Amazon.com and I'm thrilled. For only 85 cents plus shipping my family and I are celebrating!



2. I use the California Cookbook at least once a month, mostly for recipes that are a little too West Coast-centric for Joy and the other oldies, but too old-fashioned or boring for Epicurious. Browsing through this collection of 650+ recipes from the paper's archives, it doesn't take long to stumble across dishes from one-time celebrities -- Mahalia Jackson, Lawrence Welk, Polly Bergen -- and popular restaurants of yore. (Remember The Velvet Turtle? The Hungry Tiger?) Each recipe has a little piece of marginalia that introduces its source, adding a bit of backstory and flair



3. As a mother of four daughters, I would call this a legacy cookbook. My personal favorites are the Ribs Diablo (to die for...sweet and just a little spicy), banana bread recipe, Chicken Dijonnaise...I could go on and on.) I have found copies of this at Orange County swap meets occasionally, and have given them all away. If you have a chance to get a copy of this cookbook, snatch it up. Nothing I have tried in this cookbook has ever been a disappointment.



4. I bought this because I wore out my old copy that I was given when I worked selling the Times door to door in my teens. I was able to check it out at the library from time to time but then it disappeared. What a relief to find it on [...]. I couldn't wait to get to those favorite recipes again! Some of them were so great I had them memorized like the recipe for turkey that I've used every Thanksgiving for the last twenty years, gaining the reputation of having the juciest turkey anyone's ever tasted. I love that some of the recipes came from famous restaurants or even celebrities. My family can now enjoy their old favorites again that I stopped making when my original cookbook fell apart and was lost.



5. This cookbook has some really great recipes. My new daughter-in-law is from California, and I am making a big hit finding recipes she is used to that appeal to our whole family, as well.

4 comments about Breakfast in Bed Cookbook: The Best B and B Recipes from Northern California to British Columbia.

1. Carol Frieberg continues to find the most delicious, and easy to prepare, breakfasts in town. There are so many good recipes, this book makes it easy to celebrate the morning! I cannot wait until Carol's next B&B adventure.



2. If you have looked for great muffin, coffee cake, cobbler recipes, this book has them. I'm pretty picky about recipes but I have found some great ones in here. I made the blueberry coffee cake and it was so easy and delicious. The banana bread was great and I can't wait to try others. I'm going to check out her other one!



3. So far all the recipes I have tried have been a huge success. The organization is simple, as are most of the recipes, so it is fairly easy to turn out a tasy breakfast with little effort. Like another reader, I am looking forward to checking out the author's other B&B cookbook for more great recipes! Make sure to check out the apple cider syrup in this one, it smells fabulous and tastes even better!



4. This cookbook is awesome! I have had it for about 8 years now and have tried quite a few of the recipes and have yet to find one I haven't loved. The recipes are easy to follow and contain ingredients that are usually in my kitchen already or are easy to find at the grocery store. Although everything I've sampled is super-good, my favorites are "Yogurt Coconut Coffee Cake" and "French Breakfast Puffs". Several of the recipes call for 'melted butter or margarine', but I found I can substitute healthier canola oil and the recipes come out great! I highly recommended this cookbook!

2 comments about Wines and Wineries of California's Central Coast: A Complete Guide from Monterey to Santa Barbara.

1. Let me start by saying that I am a little biased toward this book because the photograph on the cover is the view from my parents' living room. I did not take the picture but the oak tree and the grapevines in that picture have been a familiar sight for many years. This is a good overview of the wines and wineries of the Central Coast. It is a good place to start to build your own "Sideways" trip. I have my favorites as I am sure others have theirs. The Central Coast is often overlooked by many as a serious wine country but those who actually know what they are talking about know this region as the real wine country in California, not our Napa neighbors up north.



2. this book is a very complete guide of wineries in central coast. The author spent time meeting the winemakers and providing some backgroud on the wineries in the discussion. Also provides recommendations for which wines are notable and a star rating (ratings, of course, are personal preferences and your own taste may be different than the rating.)

5 comments about The Georgian Feast: The Vibrant Culture and Savory Food of the Republic of Georgia.

1. I gave this book to a Georgian and she loved it. It had all the dishes she had eatten as a child. If your looking for a book to fill in any missing recipes this is the book for you.



2. As someone who was born and grew up in Tbilisi, I was very happy to find this book -- it captures all of my favorite recipes, and when I prepare them according to this book, they taste just like my grandma's cooking.
   
   More than just a recipe book, this is also an exploration into the rich history and culture of Georgia, and how the history shaped the cuisine. I suggest this book to everyone who would like to add some interesting preparations to their cooking. For vegetarians, Georgians have plenty of healthful and filling ways to prepare veggies and beans, and also some mouth watering sauces that will enliven any dish (veg or not).
   
   I enjoy this book both as a cook book, and as a historical book!



3. I've already written a review of this great book. I have only one suggestion: the basic khmeli suneli recipe can be augmented further to reach the authentic smell and taste. The wikipedia article on khmeli suneli has additional ingredients that can be added to the recipe. I tried that, about 2 teaspoons of each ingredient that's not already in Darra's recipe (less for black and chili pepper), and it came closer to the authentic smell and taste. I think the author of the wikipedia article might have meant safflower (marigold) instead of saffron though, so I didn't add that.



4. This is a marvelous, utterly authentic encyclopedia of Georgian cooking. I tried some of the recipes before leaving for Georgia in summer 2006, and they were great, and gave me a good idea of what to expect. Once in Georgia, the book was an invaluable reference that I constantly turned to whenever I tried something new. Just about *everything* I had is in here, along with many things I didn't get around to sampling.
   
   This book also helped me learn the correct Georgian names for the dishes and many of the ingredients. A significant portion of the book is devoted to providing cultural background on Georgia and Georgian food, such the elaborate rules for a _tamada_, or Georgian toastmaster. With its charming photos of representative paintings scattered generously throughout its pages, it also made me a Pirosmani fan, and better able to appreciate the originals when I saw them for myself.
   
   Most importantly, as the other reviewers say, the recipes *work*. We just made the potato salad with walnut paste (p. 172), and it was delectable. Other dishes we have tried and like include tomato soup with walnuts and vermicelli (p. 73) and green beans with egg (p. 130). Pkhali was one of my favorite dishes in Georgia, and I'm glad to have the recipe for when I get around to making it myself. There is a recipe for beets with cherry sauce, a dish a travel companion had tried but that even some of our Georgian hosts weren't familiar with. For the few recipes that seem to be missing from this book, like eggplant with walnut paste, try Please to the Table: The Russian Cookbook, another excellent collection of delicious recipes from all the former Soviet republics.
   
   _The Georgian Feast_ is well worth having even if you don't eat meat - many of the recipes are completely vegetarian. This book is a real treasure.



5. This is an ok effort by Ms. Goldstein but unfortunately the recipes don't quite result in the amazing flavors that Georgian cuisine is known for. Perhaps it is Ms. Goldstein's substitutions of less authentic ingredients as some ingredients in the "real" dish are hard to find. Perhaps it is something else. (Her "adjika" is REALLY bad/wrong for instance....)
   
   OK book if you want an idea of what Georgian cuisine is like. Not good if you REALLY want the real thing...

5 comments about San Francisco A La Carte.

1. I've had this cookbook and SF Encore ever since they were first published and have made many recipes from both cookbooks. Not one has failed to meet expectations. One caveat, however. This cookbook is meant for people who know their way around a kitchen, not for beginniners. Since I've been cooking for a very long time, this was no problem. These two cookbooks are well worn and often-used. I recommend both very highly.



2. If ever there is a "must have" cookbook, this one wins hands-down! I am usually pleased with a cookbook if there are 5 recipes that are savers---I have made over 50 from SF a la Carte and not been disappointed. Every page has scrumptious recipes whether a main course, hors d'oeuvre, or dessert. I own cookbooks from around the world, but this is my favorite and I am thrilled to see it once more in publication! Now I can treat my best friends to this treasure and they will no longer have to ask me for recipes.



3. Fun and easy receipes for dinner parties. The enchalada verdes is especially good.



4. I have many Junior League cookbooks in my extensive cookbook collection. I purchased the San Francisco A La Carte book along with the I'll Cook When Pigs Fly...and They Do in Cincinnati (Junior League) cookbook with this purchase. Like most Junior League cookbooks, the Cincinnati book was fabulous. If it were as simple as going to my neighborhood bookstore to return the San Francisco A La Carte book, I would. There was nothing unique or unusual in it and I will never crack it open again. It was a very poor choice and I would not recommend it to anyone. In fact, I can't think of anyone to even give the book to...



5. I own over a thousand cookbooks (great reading, good ideas, good stories) and this book is on my TOP TEN list. I have been using it over 25 years to great raves from dinner party guests.

2 comments about The Stinking Rose Restaurant Cookbook.

1. LOVE the restaurant, and the cookbook is a great extension of some of the great recipes they share! I slow-roasted a roast this weekend and the aromas in my house were unbelieveable.......the cheese fondue recipe is fabulous!!



2. Awsome book! Some restaurant history and some excellent recipies from their menu. A must have for any garlic enthusiast.

5 comments about Firehouse Food: Cooking with San Francisco's Firefighters.

1. My wife got me this for Christmas (Thank you!). She said that just reading it made her mouth water.
   
   This book has recipes from firehouses in San Francisco. If you see this book anywhere, just look through it. That should be enough to want to buy it.



2. I think we can all agree that all firefighters are usually good cooks. My boyfriend who is a retired firefighter,asked me to buy this book for him because there is actually a picture of him in it. When it came, he was pleasantly surprised at how good the book was. I also spoke to another firefighter who said that he regretted not submitting a recipe and also thought the book and the recipes were very good.



3. Great hearty foods that have perfect seasoning and with fresh ingrediants. So many of the mens cookbooks are open a can of this and add a can of that. Not so with this one.
   Yet, the recipes are easy for those of us who are not in familar territory in the kitchen. This is a collection of the best of the best. You will be your own best customer and you can expect to be treated to accolades and requests of repeat performances.



4. My husband is a SF firefighter and tells me that these recipes get made on a regular basis. My husband is a great cook and enjoys cooking for his fellow firefighters. He also knows that if it's not good he's going to hear about it. When he first started with the department he used this book a lot knowing that the recipes had been tested in the firehouses and became classics. The men and women of SFFD know how to cook and love really good food. If you want to get a sense of what they eat in a real big city firehouse you can't go wrong with this book!



5. This is a great book. I am a firefighter who loves to cook and I have tried almost every recipe in this book. Everytime I make a dish out of it at the Firehouse it gets rave reviews. The recipes are easy and survive if called out to a Fire in the middle of my preparation. I have seen many other firefighters thumb through the book only to go and pick one up themselves. This is my Firehouse bible I finally bought a second copy to keep at my station after getting sick of digging it out for another cook upon request.
   
   I would recommend a few recipes: BBQ Thai chicken, Lemon Taragon Asparagus and finally the Chorizo Chicken Enchilatas.
   
   I hope the boys in SF make a follow up book.

5 comments about California Sizzles.

1. Collecting and using new cookbooks has been a thiry-five year hobby. "Sizzles" is truly the book that I consult first whether I'm planning an event or a family meal. At least one half of the recipes have been tried and have become favorites at our house. I am ordering another copy of this today as a gift for a friend....this makes four that I've purchased.



2. Love the balboa broccoli salad and carrot cake made with baby food! great if you don't like shredding carrots! Lots of great recipes



3. California Sizzles provides excellent recipes that are devoid of the blood-sweat-and tears with which many of us are too familiar.
   I learned of this book at a lunch where one of the cookbook's praiseworthy recipes was served. There was almost a stunned silence when the group learned I didn't have it on my bookshelf. Well, I do now and don't regret it for a minute. American cuisine has long been extremely underrated.



4. My husband and I both like to cook. We have quite a varied collection of cookbooks, and this is still the best all around source for reliable, tasty meals. We make notes on the pages, recording dates we tried things, and ways we may have tweaked something. Now when I give a copy to anyone (I think I am on #10), I add my own notes of favorites. Recipes are not complicated, but sure to impress. From appetizers to desserts, you will not be disappointed.



5. California Sizzles is a must-have cookbook. It has a wide range of dishes and contains suggestions for food combos for a variety of events. I've found that the menus produce quality results without those "oops" that you find with recipes in some cookbooks. It makes a great gift.

5 comments about The Wines of the Northern Rhône.

1. Livingstone-Learmonth does a knock up job, has meticulously researched and what's more--- knows that you should make your drinking decisions by looking into the vigneron or negoc behind the wine and the way they work and not by looking at a score.
   
   Who knew that a guidebook to the Rhone could not only be a necessary resource book but also a hell of a read? This is an in-depth and entertaining insight into a region that produces the ne plus ultra of syrah (yes, viognier and the other whites, but it's all about the syrah, isn't it?).



2. After reading this book I changed my itinerary for my recent tour of Provence/Cotes du Rhone to include three days in the Northern Rhone. I am so glad I did. This book was so helpful during my visit. I carried it with me. After reading this book, the vignerons become your new best friends. It also gives a real sense of place. The detailed reviews of vintages is fabulous. I'm now collecting the wines of the Northern Rhone.



3. John Livingstone is an old and good friend of mine, and after reading (parts) of his book I am really anxious to try Condrieu and Hermitage wines. So far I always stick to Bourgogne, Bordeaux and Loire wines. I cannot imagine how he con review all those different wines in one life. This book is like a bible.



4. Wonderfully informative. This book has become my most trusted reference for the northern Rhone. It is well written and informative. Mades me feel I am there. While about wine the information about people and places adds an import aspect. I bought two more and gave them to friends I knew would enjoy all the details and great information.



5. I just finished reading Kermit Lynch's Adventures on the Wine Route and was so enthralled by the chapter on the Rhone Valley that I searched for more books on the subject. I purchased Wines of the Northern Rhone, which has a foreward actually written by Kermit Lynch, but that's where the romance ended for me. Learmonth's writing style is nowhere nearly as engaging as Lynch's. If Lynch's writing is a sandwich with fresh ingredients slathered in homemade aioli, Learmonth is cafeteria boloney; dry and flavorless. The pages are filled with technical data including charts of rainfall in centimeters and dull reviews of the wines he's tasted that most of us can't afford.

No comments about Seaweed, Salmon, and Manzanita Cider: A California Indian Feast.