5 comments about Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.).

1. This guy rocks, and his books are as good as his tv show (No Reservations).;)



2. For anyone who's ever done any kind of commercial cooking this book, and it's earlier version, is a MUST read. I'm a retired line cook and I can assure all potential readers that Tony knows of what he speaks. For 'civilians', the avid home cook or the addicted restaurant patron, this clever work gives an engrossing, entertaining and sometimes scary peek behind the restaurant kitchen door. Chefs and cooks are, well, just people, but there is something special about people who want to please hundreds of anonymous diners; stay true to their own standards and achieve the respect of thier peers. As Tony says, it is one of the hardest, yet most rewarding, and crazy jobs in the 'every-day' world.
   Anthony Bourdain is one of my 'cooking gods' because he specialises in classic, time-proven dishes; he knows that all the world's great food is, basically, 'peasant' food, not the titivated, sculpted, value-added 'art works' on a large white plates -- and he's a good writer. I too write -- was once a food writer and journalist -- and I know how hard it is to combine the two jobs. This work is honest, controversial yet extremely fair in its assessments of the high-pressure world of the New York and American restaurant scene, then and now. I strongly recommend that you buy this book and then graduate to Bourdain's absolutely fantastic "Les Halles" cookbook. I use it, refer to it or just fawn over it at least three times every week. With over 25 years experience under my (large) belt, his Les Halles book 're-taught' me and gave me new inspiration to take up semi-professional cooking again, just for the pure joy of producing really special, simple, dishes. Please buy all his books; Bourdain is an honest, decent and admirable cook (I hate the term 'chef').
   (No I'm not Tony Bourdain!) Just a genuine fan who appreciates his sharing of a once 'hidden' and unsung profession.
   William Kenneth Halliwell
   Hobart, Tasmania, Australia



3. I was a frequent viewer of Mr. Bourdain's program "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel so I purchased this book already knowing and loving his style as an edgy chef/traveler.
   
   This book did not dissapoint. Bourdain reveals some of his history as a "low-life" (he would not object!) struggling to make it in the food industry. He discusses his early life as a child and later cutting his teeth in the world of food. Much of the book is Tony passing along some hilarious, and some shocking, stories of the restaurant biz during his time in the kitchen.
   
   I recommend this book for anyone with at least a marginal love of cooking or eating. Basically everyone!



4. Kitchen Confidential is a series of semi-chronological biographical essays(pre-Food Network) that begins as an exposé of the restaurant industry and end as an ode to the characters chef Anthony Bourdain met along the way to his dream job.
   
   Bourdain writes with the voice of a no-nonsense cowboy proud of his exploits - the constant references to drugs, criminal activity, and the bad language may be too much for some. Despite the moral ambivalence, we meet some truly interesting characters (including Bourdain himself) and may learn something about cooking/food generally and the restaurant industry from Kitchen Confidential. Despite the 300 pages, Bourdain's conversational style makes this book a fast read.
   
   Recommended for readers with strong stomachs looking for a rambunctious memoir of a chef and a few laughs.



5. Great book lots of good info. I don't go to buffets and now I know I never will. It's just like sitting across from that sexy man and just listening to his stories. It's great.

5 comments about Ball Complete Book Of Home Preserving.

1. If you buy only one book on home canning/preserving, this is the one! I checked out every book at the local library; browsed bookstores and website publications. The recipes are great...love the variations for using the minimum of sugar for canning fruits etc. Instructions on canning/preserving are very clear and precise. Side notes on the recipes tell you why a particular technique is best and how it actually works. Much more than a "pickle, jam and vegetable" book. You can preserve all kinds of meats too! Goose, Duck, Game Birds, Roast Beef, Fish Clams...just to name a few. The only difficult part is deciding what to cook LOL!



2. This is my first year canning, and I've made 2 recipes from this book so far (pickled peaches and pickled cantaloupe), and both seemed tasty before canning and boiling. My only complaint with this book is that the recipes do not give weights of fruits needed.
   
   For the pickled peaches, I used 16 cups of small sized peach halves, but instead of 5 pints of finished product, I got 10 pints. I guess the recipe was designed for larger fruit, but it was never specified (and I looked through the book trying to find the answer).



3. I love the great amount of recipes in this book, and the helpful sidebar notes. You should be able to find just about any recipe here. I was able to make mulberry jam from our own trees using a recipe from the book.
   
   I really like the getting started recipes at the beginning of the book. They allow you to jump right in. I made my first batch of strawberry jam using that recipe. Turned out great too!!
   
   The canning section in the back is concise and easy to understand as well as complete. This is a great book to add to your collection!



4. I checked this book out at the library several times before finally buying it. This is a wonderfully informative book that will answer all your questions about canning. It is easy to understand and reading it will give you the confidence you need to preserve food. One benefti to this is that you are not required to purchase a lot of expensive equipment, you can pick up what you need from your local grocery store! I am looking forward to preserving a lot of food this summer and fall, I am new at this, but reading this book has showen me that anyone can do this!



5. When I decided to begin canning, I had no idea what to do. This cookbook has everything you need to know. It's not just a bunch of recipes. Within it you will find instructions on how to prepare your cans and lids, tips for keeping fruit from browning, and dozens of other pieces of advice. Really and excellent resource that goes beyond the typical pickles, tomato sauce, and jams recipes. I would buy it all over again.

5 comments about Skinny Bitch in the Kitch: Kick-Ass Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Stop Cooking Crap (and Start Looking Hot!).

1. As awesome as it's counter part. Needed to cmplete the idea and give you ideas for your own healthful, mindful living with a good kick in the pants to boot!



2. Cute book. Not a LOT of recipes, but enough for some little things. Cute gift to give.



3. First let me say that some of the other reviewers aren't exactly fair. This is a vegan cookbook. It's not fair to use this review space to share opinions about the entire vegan lifestyle. You knew it was a vegan cookbook, so don't complain that none of the recipes call for meat or that you think not eating meat is unhealthy.
   
   That being said, I think this is a great cookbook for vegans and non-vegans. There is a consistent use of faux meats and cheeses, so if you are not comfortable with that, this is not the cookbook for you. Yes, some of the recipes are simple, but it seems like the book is also about inspiring vegan cooking ideas rather than just recipes for complicated dishes. This is really great for new vegans or new cooks. It's also great for non-vegans who want healthier alternatives to their favorite meat and cheese meals, but are not sure where to start. However, the recipes are not lost on more advanced cooks or vegans because some of the dishes (most of the soups and appetizers) can become very complicated.
   
   Some of my favorite recipes are:
   
   Cream of Broccoli Soup
   Macaroni and Cheese
   Meatloaf
   Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
   Corn Bread Muffins
   Basic Fruit and Nut Muffins
   Fruit Crisp
   Stuffed Mushrooms
   Potato Skins
   
   I can basically survive very happily on these meals and I feel as if they are decadent. I am a vegan who has struggled to give up dairy products and these recipes don't make me feel like I'm giving up anything. My parents, whom have high cholesterol, also greatly enjoy the recipes and my mother's cholesterol has gone down 30 points. Finally, my fiancé, who REFUSES to even look at a meal without meat, loves everything I make from this book and now says I'm the best cook he knows. He especially likes the casseroles and the mashed potatoes.



4. I got this book from the library and while I am not a vegan, still managed to make and enjoy a few of these recipes. I am a cookbook whore (as you can probably tell, I don't mind their f*@&ing language) and this is a small, basic cookbook that serves well for those times when you are uninspired and are tired of meat, but can't think of what to make. I made the Club Sandwich with vegan turkey, vegan bacon, vegan mayo, etc. and was pretty impressed at how close it is to the real thing but without the heavy greasy feeling afterwards. No, this will not teach you how to cook or give you super exotic haute cuisine, but expand your library of basics if you're looking for a meat-free alternative.



5. THERE WAS TO MUCH SWEARING, I'M NOT A PRUDE BUT THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE WAS UNCALLED FOR TO GET THEIR POINT ACROSS. I WON'T BUY ANYMORE OF THEIR BOOKS. THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE APPROACH, I WASN'T IMPRESSED AT ALL!

5 comments about Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook.

1. Love, love, love it. Easy to follow recipes that are SUPER-impressive. So entertaining at the same time! I'm addicted to the "Baja-Style Grilled Tempeh Tacos", I've made it at least 4 times already! Also has great chapters on the BASICS, like how to cook a vegetable and how to get ready for a dinner party. I've already purchased a copy for a friend, can't say enough good things about this book!



2. If your Vegan cookbook collection needs a benchmark book, this is it. If you're new to being a Vegan, this book will save you months of salad boredom. If you're an old timer and you don't have this book, you must live under a tempeh rock somewhere.
   
   Buy this book. Do it now!



3. this is the cookbook of my dreams. so well written, well researched, and fun to read. it will certainly replace Joy of Cooking for me because of all the super general info about ingredients. and the recipes are DELICIOUS. this is a must have cook book for all, herbivores AND omnivores alike. a bargain at twice the price!



4. I bought this book as my fourth vegetarian cook book based on the good reviews and for some more variety. So far I've tried about six recipes. I'm not a picky eater and have actually had to throw out two because they were so bad! One was good and the rest ok. Some of the ingredient proportions also seem off. I like how the book is organized and the ingredients are not too exotic, but think there are better out there.



5. This is not just a cookbook, it is a fun-to-read, text-book-sized instruction manual on how to use your vegan kitchen and almost everything in it. Not only are these recipes tasty (the ones I've had time to try, listed below), they are thoroughly explained, step-by-step, in a delightfully humorous fashion. My boyfriend was teasing me for "reading" a cookbook, but I just couldn't put it down! I have read it cover to cover since last Friday when I received it, and I am thoroughly impressed.
   
   As a relatively new vegan, I'd been suffering through trying to "veganize" standard recipes with fake meats and fake cheeses with marginal success. This book moves beyond using store-bought fake ground beef, etc and gives you home-made, unique, and delicious alternatives. So far I have made the Almesan (vegan parmesan topping - YUM!), marinara sauce (so delicious and easy that I will never buy sauce in a jar again!), tofu ricotta (wow, it even looks like ricotta!), spinach lasagna (my omni boyfriend LOVED it), and jelly donut cupcakes (big hit at work).
   
   The book starts out with an introduction on the terminology and a description of some of the "unusual" ingredients with which a new-ish vegan may not be familiar. Then there are 3 sections on basic things you need to know to be successful in the kitchen before you try a recipe - "How to cook a bean," "How to cook a grain," and "How to cook a vegetable." If you don't learn something from these sections, then you probably don't need to buy a cookbook to begin with and should just open your own restaurant immediately!
   
   While some of the recipes are decidedly "gourmet," this manual is filled with so many great tips that go along with the plethora of recipes, and tips for vegan kitchen use in general that you should be successful even if you've never boiled water before. However, the style of the writing makes the in-depth descriptions interesting even if you are an advanced cook who doesn't need all the details provided.
   
   My recommendation: Buy it. Read it. Laugh. Cook. Eat. Smile!

5 comments about The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life.

1. The book was enjoyable to read, the pictures were nice, and the recipes were palatable. Learning how to substitute healthier ingredients for the ones we 'crave' is essential to losing weight and having a healthier self. Ellie gives good nutritional information and the tips are valid. Good without a lot of hype.



2. This is a great companion to the Small Changes Big Results book. If you're looking for a variety of recipes that are good for you (not the same old salads and grilled meat), this is the book for you. Nothing seems impossible to make in this cookbook.



3. Excellent cook book with lot's of Ellie's slimmed down recipes that still taste delicious! A must buy if you want to eat healthy, but still enjoy flavors.



4. received the book a while ago,was very excited to try some tasty low fat,low cal receipes...to be honest the book is under my expectations.not too many pictures,which are important for the presentation of the dish,some dishes seem to involve a lot of ingredients,thought it was a little bit simpler and helpful in cooking and dieting.would not have bought it had i had a chance to look through it before my order.



5. This book is great my favorite recipe is the Peach French Toast- whenever I make it the family is so excited. Many ideas and help in making food tasty and healthy. I do agree that the text needs to be easier to read and a bit bigger and lots more pictures! They should also sell her tv show episodes that go along with the book. I would buy them all!

5 comments about Hello, Cupcake!: Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make.

1. I bought this book because I saw the writer on the TODAY SHOW. The ideas to decorate cupcakes are the best. I bought it for my grandson and his Mom to use over the summer rainy days, along with lots of decorations to compliment their creations. My daughter absolutely loved this book! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to create in the kitchen!!



2. This book has some unusual and fun decorating ideas for cupakes with no special equipment needed.



3. Easy to follow and wonderful results. Such cute ideas to turn cupcakes into little cakes of art.



4. I just got home from a little vacation and found this book waiting for me. I went through it and I can't wait to try it. It shows you step by step how to do everything. I have a lot of baking and cooking books but this one has me the most intrigued. Some books have these great photos but have you on your own as far as replicating them, but that is not the issue with this book. They even tell you how to make your frosting bag and tip out of a zip lock bag and scotch tape! There are so many different designs in this book and it tells you everything you need to make awesome little cakes and the best part for me is that they don't use fondant! They make great use of different candies to make the flattened colorful pieces and none of that tasteless fondant that so many books rely on now. These are truly creative ideas and come with step by step instructions and templates. I can't wait to try them out!



5. The projects in this book look professional but are made with grocery store items! Very doable. The photos are well done, descriptive, leave no questions as to how to do something. Sometimes we just sit down and read it like a coffee table book. Each cupcake is ultra creative and inspiring.

5 comments about The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine.

1. I was very interested when I had the sample sent to my Kindle. I read the sample and was intrigued. The story seemed to drift back and forth. It was somewhat confusing at times. I was disappointed by the ending of the story. I feel as though the author was confused himself with his telling of the events that took place. I had to force myself to continue reading until I finished.



2. An interesting, but slow moving book, The Billionaire's Vinegar jumps around frequently between the life of Thomas Jefferson, and the modern day auction of the wine bottle labeled 1787. I would have liked to have read more about Thomas Jefferson, because that part was more interesting then the associated neurotic wine collecting characters. The book fails to say, if the bottle is really fake, because it was published too early. I suggest newer editions be updated. The last paragraph poignantly goes back to Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was reduced to drinking cheaper wines in his declining years, but does not explain the reason behind his financial hardship.



3. As a wine writer for more than 30 years who knows some of the players mentioned in the book, I enjoyed the way Benjamin Wallace cleverly wove together history, the world of wine and France in particular and the hoax so many bought into. Not only does he chronicle an incredible array of details into understandable context with dexterity, he weaves in a steady thread of humor (Harry Waugh, the English wine merchant and writer, was once asked how often he confused Bordeaux with Burgundy. "Not since lunch," he replied."). The confusion and complicity of some of the world's best-known wine critics and auctioneers comes to light as the hoax unfolds. Some reputations are ruined because of seeming complicity.
   
   One parallel that might have been pursued further: the brilliance of Bill Koch, the billionaire who exposed the fraud, and Thomas Jefferson, whose name was attached to the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. Both were meticulous in their work and record-keeping. The fact that no records existed at Monticello of the so-called Jefferson bottles should have put the Rodenstock collection into question immediately. Then, with carbon dating and other modern technology, the Koch team exposed the fraud. A tale well told.



4. This is a gripping read. Hard some times to think its non fiction given the complexity and deviousness of the players



5. An excellent book which traces the history of the very rare wine market and explains how its excesses led to the Rodenstock-Koch-Broadbent fiasco. The author deftly explores both the business issues and the psychology of the rare wine world, and shows little mercy for the "experts" who were taken in by Rodenstock, either because of cupidity or stupidity.

5 comments about The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals.

1. I know a lot about whole foods and was a little suspicious about this book but it gave me some new info. and some great, inspiring ideas for my 2 year old!



2. I've heard some strong opinions about this book being about deceiving own children and that no matter what good intention a mother has, she should never deceive her own children. Although this could be a good ground for a longer discussion about ethics, here are some points that, in my opinion, make `Sneaky Chef' a good buy:
   
   1. Children only eat what they find attractive to their eyes and their taste buds. Any reasoning about food nutritional value is blocked and absolutely ignored. So if you have a case of a child absolutely abhorring vegetables then the only way to make vegetables a part of daily meals, is to sneak them in to the dish under some disguise.
   2. Any reasoning about nutrition is simply not possible in case of small children. It's better to feed them now with the help of Sneaky Chef and teach them later to eat more variety of foods.
   3. Many of the recipes provided by the author are also very useful in case of stubborn adults who, like big children, are only guided by the physical appeal of meals rather then by their nutritional content.
   4. In the first part of the book the author provided a lot of valuable information about selecting the proper ingredients for making meals, about organic foods, as well as about food contamination, etc.
   5. The variety of healthy food recipes in this book is tremendous!
   6. Last, but not least, the meals are tasty and appealing to the eye.
   
   `Sneaky Chef' is a great book for anyone who makes his or her meals at home, not only for mothers concerned about properly feeding their children. I also suggest reading about Proper Food Combination in this other book that I highly recommend for all people concerned about healthy life style and longevity.



3. Love the nutritional info! The recipes are easy and practical. I am very pleased with this purchase.



4. i love this book, the style in which is was written, the recipes, the whole enchilada. i have bought several copies as gifts AND i think it's much better than seinfield's wife wanna be who copied it.



5. This is one of my favorite cook books. I bought this book about a year ago. I have a 10 year old, a 3 year old and a very picky husband.
   
   This book has more than just recipes. It is filled with nutritional information about the purees you are sneaking into the recipes. It also has a "must have in your pantry" list, which are items that are now a must have in my home. There is also a section that talks about how to sneak the purees into your own recipes. Very helpful I must say.
   
   The first thing I made was the brownies. My husband and 10 year old liked them but asked me what I had done different, texture wise. My 3 year old had no clue they were different. I even gave some to my father in law who called me later when he found out that they had spinach and blueberries in them and told me that it wasn't right to be able to sneak that kind of stuff in there and him not know.
   
   I have made several other items in this book that have gone over very very well. The favorite has got to be the chicken on a stick. They are not only yummy they are on a stick which makes it cool for the kids.
   
   Today I purchased The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on your husband Cook Book. I can't wait to get it.

5 comments about Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World.

1. To be fair, I'm not quite sure why I bought this book in the first place. I don't really visit Ms. Lillien's website very often, and sometimes her caloric shockers would just depress me and make me not want to eat anything. However, I just grabbed it at the bookstore since I had a credit so it would be pretty cheap.
   
   I am so happy I did. So far I've done about seven of the recipes in this book (busy girl, I am!) and they have ranged from good to blissful. I made her chicken pot pie, which someone could probably cook in their sleep (a big bonus if you're sick, say, and are totes craving cpp!) and it is so. good. My father told me it was the best chicken pot pie he'd ever had, ever. Plus, after eating her recipes I don't feel immediately hungry like I do if I eat a Lean Cuisine, say.
   
   It seems that the most controversy, if one could apply that word here, surrounding HG's recipes are that they contain too many "processed foods." Well, on the whole, her recipes contain way more vegetables and soy than those in "normal" cookbooks. Her salads are absolutely bursting with veggies and so are the soups! Even her "Sloppy Janes" contain veg. I did have trouble adjusting to the Cool Whip Free, since Cool Whip has always sort of scared me, but I don't think the recipes taste gross because of it. As for the Splenda thing, my mom really likes it because she's diabetic and it doesn't affect her blood sugar. Hey, I'm all for organic and healthy (I am ADDICTED to shopping at Trader Joe's), so if any of you can find an all-natural way for her to eat sugar without crashing, please let me know!
   The idea that we can just eat "sensible" portions of "normal" food is also nil, at least in this country. I spent ten months living in France, ate croissants for breakfast and huge steaks at night, not to mention various sausages, potatoes, and veg all fried in buttah, and lost weight. Why? Well, maybe the fact that I walked everywhere helped! Here in the States most people don't have that option. So until our cities start wising up to the fact that we can't and shouldn't drive everywhere, we need to find workable options to balance our caloric intake with our caloric burn. Besides, when presented with a huge, creamy bowl of fettucine alfredo, are you REALLY going to eat that sensible fist-sized portion of pasta? I don't think so.
   
   Hungry Girl has really done us a great service by changing our fave fatty foods into non-guilty, delicious meals. She's doing a great job. Thanks, HG!



2. I've had the whole family on WW and added Hungry Girl's book to our collection. I love the humorous style in which she writes...makes you feel better about "dieting". But since it's a whole new life style, I don't call it a diet anymore...;)
   Anyway, the recipes are easy to follow and easy to ammend if so desired.
   Our family of 4 has lost over 200 pounds...not just by following Hungry Girl's book but it sure has helped.
   Bravo on a job well done Lisa!!! Hurry up and do another one soon!!!
   Thank you!



3. This book is user friendly and gives a lot of ideas to swap ingredients and make foods lighter in fat and calories. You can also subscribe to her daily newsletter that gives good ideas. I would not eat every thing in the book, but I've used it several times.



4. My favorite thing about this book is the back part where they have mini sections on eating out at Chinese, Sushi and with movie theatre foods. Explains what is good to eat and best to avoid. The recipes in the book are fresh and fun too and easy to follow along with using ingredients I have at home. Written to target women but anyone can enjoy it.



5. I'm sure you have heard all of this before but this book is absolutely great. Whether you are on weight watchers or not this book is great for single eating or group fare. I have tried many of the recipies and if you are really craving something terrible, these replacements will do the trick! Great stuff completely reccomend

5 comments about Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food.

1. For those of us who what how we were designed to eat, the recipes in Deceptively are a little too processed and artificial, but they weren't awful like a lot of the reviewers are claiming. You have to remember that if you're used to eating trash, good food isn't going to taste so good right off the bat. The problem that this book is trying to combat isn't going to go away with some sneaky recipes though, unfortunately- the problem of childhood obesity is too big (no pun intended)



2. My friend and I both bought copies of this. Neither one of us has kids but we saw the author on Oprah and thought that the receipes looked good and the concept of getting more veggies by incorporating purees into food was cool. So I bought a food processor and steamer and got started. I really love this book and the recipes are great. Not sure why other people have not been so thrilled except that it is very time consuming to prep the purees. Just plan a night or day and take care of making purees that you put into your freezer. Then you can have a month's worth of veggies waiting for your recipes. It's a fun and novel way to prepare food. I plan on using the concept when I have children of my own as you honestly don't even notice the veggies inside traditional favorites like maccaroni and cheese.



3. The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals
   I have to say it is an interesting idea for hiding veggies if your children don't like the sight of them, but it wasn't Jessica Seinfeld's to begin with. There was a similar book written a few years ago called "Sneaky Chef" which basically used the same strategy.
   
   I have to say that the best way to benefit from any nutrients in veg is to eat everything raw, if not raw always undercooked. Once vegetables have been cooked, frozen and then heated up in a microwave, the nutrients/vitamins are dead. This is why frozen broccoli is of no use, unless you just love the taste.
   
   So, if your main purpose is to give your children the vitamins and nutrients they need to fight off cancer or basically to grow, it is a better idea to feed them fresh fruit and veg daily.
   
   I don't know why moms complain that their children don't like veggies, if you had started their lives off with feeding them healthy foods, they wouldn't know any different. They only know what you tell them after all!



4. ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THAT WHEN YOU PUREE A FRUIT OR VEGETABLE INTO A CONCENTRATED FORM, YOU DRASTICALLY INCREASE ITS SUGAR CONTENT.
   
   SO BOTTOM LINE IS IT'S STILL BETTER TO EAT FRESH STEAMED OR RAW VEGGIES, AND FRESH FRUIT.



5. I have been pleasantly surprised with this book. I have a two year-old and a 6 month-old. I already make puree's for baby food so it hasn't been too bad, making a little more. I have to add that my two year-old likes vegetables, BUT my husband hates them! Now, we can all sit down to dinner and eat the same things and enjoy them. We really like the tuna salad, meatloaf, and green eggs recipes.