5 comments about The Tasha Tudor Cookbook: Recipes and Reminiscences from Corgi Cottage.

1. Tasha Tudor's cookbook makes you long for the past when your grandmother taught you how to make the perfect pie crust. Ms. Tudor's own illustrations add to the charm of a book that reminds you of happy times spent in the kitchen. Her recipes and personal stories encourage you recreate that time with your own children and grandchildren.



2. Anything by Tasha Tudor is a work of art! Her illustrations, and down to earth practicality, is revealed -- upclose -- in this delightful book! This is the kind of book you can give a little girl of any age -- even 99!



3. I bought this more for nostalgia, so in that case it gets 5 stars for pictures and memories. Most of the recipes are modern, yet impractical. There are a few that I would say are great heirloom recipes, but that's all.



4. This book is so charming. The artwork is lovely and the recipes are good too. It's a book to use and treasure for years to come.



5. This cookbook is actually very beautifull. Havent tried the recipes in it yet, it was a gift for my mom. She really loved receiving it. It took a little longer to come to my house than i expected, but i did order it right around Christmas, so i guess that can be expected. I cant wait to try the recipes. The pictures are georgous!!

5 comments about The Country Cooking of France.

1. The Country Cooking of France is a very, very helpful cookbook by a seasoned writer and instructor.
   
   I have 3 other books by Ann Willan,and have picked up many techniques, and learned to appreciate French cooking from her lessons in these books.
   
   This book might at first seem, with it's fresh, glamorous photographs, superior to the author's earlier books, which lack the lush photography, however photography isn't everything. Her precise organization, and terse instructions are just as clear as in previous recipes in the earlier books. The photos, (and there could be several times more), are gravy, a rich gravy to savor, especially if you try to match the photograph's appearance with the end result of your cooking of the pictured dish.
   
   I won't go into the individual recipes, as I have not tasted how these recipes "'should" ideally taste to a picky native French diner. I do not need to cook from this newest book by Ms. Willan to know that she will continue to give recipes for authentic and tasty French Country Food-her word is good enough for thousands of others who enjoy her books, and I've certainly cooked quite a few dishes from her previous books to agree.
   
   Now, reading the earlier three books-two La Varenne cookbooks, and Cook it Right can be helpful but not required- these offer a depth of background on cooking that I find useful as a precursor to some of the recipes. Depending on your experience with French cooking, you may find one or more helpful as solid background marerial.
   
   Ms. Willan contines to raise the bar for truly instructive cookbooks. While Damien Pignolet in "French", his beautiful cookbook, is more involved in his instructions, Willan certainly gets the message across clearly.
   
   This cookbook, with it's unique "new" Country recipes, is a must add to a serious French cook's bookshelves.



2. Many years ago, I remember reading through cookbooks. Anne Willan's La Varenne, named for her cooking school, offered tremendous insight into technique applied to based French dishes, and I learned much from it. So I was delighted this Christmas Eve day to receive a review copy of her new book, The Country Cooking of France. There are many books on French country cooking, and, yes, you'll find Salade Niçoise and Pot-au-Feu, but she pulls in many recipes that I hadn't heard of - for example, Galettes Bretonnes au Sarrasin, or Breton buckwheat galettes, in which buckwheat crepes can wrap around such fillings as ham, cheese, or egg (and I'll be trying these tomorrow morning, as we're having ham tonight, and I'll want to do something with the leftovers). There's Turbot Vallée D'Auge (turbot with apple and cider sauce), the Burbundian cheese puff called Gougères, and Salade Tiède de Pommes de Terre, Saucisse À L'Ail (warm potato salad with garlic sausage). The book is beautifully produced - hardback with great photography by France Ruffenach. The only fault I can find is that when I opened the back cover, it started to come away from the spine, which might have been a singular defect, but at a list price of $50 it is a shortcoming that should not be tolerated. All in all, a marvelous new text from someone who deeply understands French cooking and how to write and structure a useful cookbook.



3. Great reference book
   Easy to follow recipes with few "exotic" ingredients
   Good photos



4. Anne Willan has gifted us all with a truly wonderful tome of french country cuisine. It is of the same quality as her other: La Varenne Pratique. The entries reflect the true approach to the informal cooking of the country - beautiful creations using elements which naturally occur in each area. The recipes are interesting, truly "do-able" and completely delicious. The photos are beautiful and the narrative is accurate and inspiring. This book will be a worthy tool always as well as a lovely goft for any recipient. Cheers.



5. This is now the finest French Cookery book that I possess. It is interesting just to read, and is well illustrated. The recipes are well laid out and easy to follow.
   Absolutely love it !

5 comments about SmartFrench Audio CDs Beginner Level.

1. I recently moved to France for a short-term job, and unfortunately I studied Japanese in high school and Spanish in college. No French. So I had about 6 weeks to cram before moving to France; Smart French was luckily just one of the items I purchased.
   The primary problem I have in learning French is that words on the page and the slow speaking of most French CDs do not help you understand people on the street, or in the next office, or anywhere. Spoken French is fluid, many letters are left out, and many words are linked. This is where SmartFrench is helpful.
   If you are starting from scratch on French, like I was, I highly recommend getting a good beginning French book, a good set of beginning French CDs, and studying for a few weeks before listening to SmartFrench. Then, once you know some words and sentence structures, start listening to SmartFrench so you know what things will sound like when you hear them in real life!
   The CDs are well-produced, and move at a pace that does help you to quickly follow the 'real-life' situations. It stops in places to explain why things sound the way they do, and points out general rules. You can use the enclosed booklet or not to follow along or read the translations, I have found benefits to doing it both ways. SmartFrench gives you a very honest view of what it will be like to hear french spoken on a day to day basis, and for that alone it is worth getting--otherwise you will think you know a lot of vocabulary, and feel incredibly lost when you must follow someone's directions or answer their questions.
   Bottom line, I recommend this as a supplement to other methods of learning French. Do not use it as your first step in the process of learning French, but don't neglect to use it early in the process either. Once you have a little bit of knowledge, it will help you know better how to read to yourself and what to listen for in conversations.



2. My investment in SmartFrench was the best money I've spent in a long time. I'd had some French experience in my growing up years while living overseas, and some high school and college French. But though I had a basic understanding and comprehension of the language, I didn't feel comfortable enough to actually open my mouth and attempt an actual conversation! About three months ago I purchased the Intermediate/Advanced cds from SmartFrench. The best way to describe the effect that my exposure to these cds has had, is to say that my mouth feels comfortable (and even rather delightful) with French rolling about in it now! After all the listening and repetition (the cds have been my constant driving companions), I'm no longer feeling tentative about pronunciation, or even the rhythm of the language. It's as though I've learned some dance steps and am now free to, albeit somewhat tentatively, move about the dance floor!
   It's also very enlightening to listen to the French interviews and learn to understand what is being said by the non-teacher-types!
   In addition to the new freedom I feel with the language, SmartFrench has clarified a lot of what categorizes a non-French speaker as just that - and has given practical advice on how to sound more French and less obviously foreign.
   French feels approachable and adventuresome to me again, and I'm excited that I discovered these wonderful cds.



3. I tried a lot of material before, but all I was looking for was good tight nicely designed, organized and natural dialogs, with different degree of complexity and good vocabulary. Up to date course. This information isn't just thrown at you, but is being guided through, by the author who created this courses. You feel more like you are in the classrom and he is tutoring you, this is so valuable when you are trying to learn it fast with our our speedy needs. The name speaks for itself. Smart person's choice definitely!
   Thanks a lot Christian!
   SmartFrench Audio CDs Beginner Level
   SmartFrench Audio CDs Intermediate/Advanced
   SmartFrench: Learn French from Real French People



4. The method is great. Listening, then speaking, but for someone like myself with absolutely no French (ie a beginner)the content was inappropriate. I am planning a trip to France later this year. I still don't know any basic vocabulary, how to introduce myself. How to ask for directions, the bank, everyday stuff like that.
   
   On a positive note, I thought , hey, this is what I need for Spanish. I did very well in high school Spanish but have never been comfortable trying to speak. This method actually gets you speaking right away. So with a solid vocabulary in Spanish and a knowledge of grammer, I expect Smart Spanish to get me speaking.



5. This is an excellent program for learning to speak French the way it's supposed to be spoken. I used to speak as a child in school, but haven't spoken the language for many years. As my kid is learning French, I'm trying to help. School classes teaches the hard stuff, like grammar, etc., and not exactly how to speak/listen to the language. We tried a few other programs and were fairly disappointed until we got SmartFrench. This is an excellent program where you learn to speak, and as importantly, listen to real conversations, at different speeds. There are also text to refer to, as well as the vocabulary list for the CD materials.
   
   One thing to understand though, that this program (Beginner level) does assume some basic knowledge of the language, and therefore not exactly for the absolute beginners. For the absolute beginners who never had any experience with the language, the also excellent SmartFrench - Introduction to French 1 & 2 CDs, also by Christian Aubert are more appropriate to start with.
   
   Finally, this is not a program that teaches you to conjugate verbs and such. There are many books and others for French grammar. This program excels at the one objective, training your listening and speaking skills so that you can speak French like the French do. It's a perfect program if you've had some French in the past and want to brush up on speaking/listening.
   
   Have fun!

5 comments about French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure.

1. I bought the first book(French women don't get fat) while living in the US and thought it was great.
   
   After having moved to Paris for almost a year now and also after reading this second book "French women for all seasons," i suddenly realize how naive I was buying in the French fairytale.
   
   I'm an asian women who came to work in the US about 7 years ago. My American experience was very satisfying and rewarding. American people are nice and friendly in general. Very rarely was there someone (friends or total strangers) who was mean to me or gave me bad service. American diet may not be the healthiest in the world and there exists an obesity problem, but I still appreciate people's kindness, whether they're over- or underweight.
   
   My french experience is the totally opposite. They're the most unfriendly people I've ever met, they look down on English speakers, especially americans. By no means do they resemble the elegant, calme, relaxed French image the author tries to sell to the reader. (excellent marketing though cause so many people has bought it).
   
   The author is a very wealthy woman-CEO of a big wine company. Most of the people (French or not) I meet can't afford her lifestyle. There're nice tips we can pick up (like try to eat seasonal fresh rather than packaged food and portion control). That's about all.



2. I really enjoyed this book - it is a great lifestyle read that doesn't just focus on losing weight. I liked the blend of recipes, childhood memories, clothing advice, flower arranging tips, wine tasting lessons, cheese tasting information - it was an interesting read that was informative and not preachy. Buy it just for the discussion of enjoying food and wine (and how to pair both - she really goes into detail and, of course, knows her stuff).



3. I loved this little book with suggestions which real women could use. The diet ideas make sense and the recipes are wonderful..Mireille Guiliano is a breath of fresh air in the miriad of self help and alternative eatting books which have flooded the market. Merci to her and the wonderful French culture.
   J.K.
   Colorado .



4. Enjoyable reading...love to see how the French think...humorous...good recipes. I like this author.



5. "The art of living is pacing yourself in the long run." ~ pg. 34
   
   After discovering a delicious recipe for croissants in Mireille Guiliano's first book: "French Women Don't Get Fat," I was eager to read her second book. "French Women For All Seasons" is as much about the pleasures of food as it is about learning to abstain from overindulgence.
   
   As each season passes, Mireille Guiliano blissfully captures moments she loves. Whether she is talking about her idyllic childhood or her travels she seems to be able to weave in subtle comments about weight issues. Diet aside, I think her love of yoga and walking are her real secrets. Her stories of riding her new bike may also inspire you to dust off the bike in the garage.
   
   There are interesting moments like the recipe for a facemask made with strawberries and Vaseline. The cucumber and yogurt mask seemed more acceptable. I'm also not quite sure why she objects to refrigerating fruit. I tend to keep a fruit salad in the refrigerator but I can see her point about eating room temperature fruit in season.
   
   Many of the recipes look delicious and you might want to try to make your own eggplant tapenade, butternut squash soup, pears with ginger and chocolate mousse or grilled peaches with cinnamon and rosemary. There are a few recipes for pasta and lots of ideas for potatoes. Mireille Guiliano's love affair with fresh fruits and vegetables is very evident. While the recipes are interesting it is Mireille's cozy writing style that draws you into the book and keeps you reading right to the last page.
   
   If you love this book you may also want to look for books by Peter Mayle.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about Bon Appetit, Y'All: Recipes and Stories from Three Generations of Southern Cooking.

1. Virginia Willis brings to the crowded table of Southern cooking a unique and welcome voice: warm, witty, steeped in tradition and yet with a sense of playful fun and genuine love for the pleasure of food. This isn't a mere collection of recipes; rather, with each dish Willis shares personal anecdotes and stories from her mind and heart. These pepper (pardon the over-obvious imagery there) the book with a lived-in quality that makes the book feel, and read, as though every recipe held within is a classic.



2. A thoroughly enjoyable cookbook to read. Easy to follow recipes, nostalgic dialog, just an all around nice addition to my southern cookbook gallery. I have made the barbeque sauce she recommended and with a few personal tweeks, and it is now one of my go-to sauces. It's really tangy and good. I am planning to use this book alot. Virginia Willis has really hit a home run with this one! I also love "The Glory of Southern Cooking" by James Villas. Both of these authors have that old southern charm about them that just warms my heart.



3. Wow. This is one of my new favorite cookbooks! My seven year old daughter and I met the author at a book signing and "tasting." She was fabulous, genuine and the picture of Southern hospitality! My daughter and I got two books- one for us and one for my mother. We plan to give it to her for her birthday next month in hopes of continuing our own multi-generational Southern cooking story. The author is an inspiration to Southern cooks to keep cooking and spice it up a bit from time to time. I loved her stories about her "Meme." Thank you for sharing this interesting piece of history, heritage and home with us Miss Virgina. Ya'll will love these recipes!



4. This cookbook it great with wondeful recipes and delightful stories. Really blends /french techimque with good ole Southern hospitality!!



5. This book is great. I love the pictures and the recipes are not too complicated. I made the Red Velvet recipe for a social gathering and everyone just raved over it!

5 comments about Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking.

1. This is a bible and a foundation for anyone interested in seeing good results from their efforts in undertaking french cooking. These recipes are durable and refined for someone who wants to illicit "oh wow" responses from their guests. I can't overstate the social value of enlisting your friends and local grocers and butcher for this journey. This is a book for someone with some time and love to dedicate.



2. I was quite pleased to receive this cookbook as a gift, but disappointed once I started cooking the recipes. Mr. Bourdain's talents as a writer are not to be denied, but it must be said that these recipes are a bit anemic and wanting. While I definitely appreciate his passion for good food, that passion doesn't seem to extend into making the actual food himself. Which is totally fine -- Bourdain's advocacy for top-quality cuisine is definitely appreciated -- but it means I'll look elsewhere for the nuts and bolts of good recipes.



3. Classic cooking done in classic Anthony Bourdain style. If you like his TV show, you'll love this book.



4. The recipes includes are a bit difficult in my opinion (especially finding the right ingredients), but Bourdain's aim is to challenge you and not to dumb down everything, which I appreciate.
   
   His writing style is very approachable and unlike with most cookbooks you feel like he's talking to you as he warns you to not overfill the blender when you are making soup and hold the top down tight unless you want soup all over you.
   
   I've made one thing so far which was mushroom soup and it was delicious, so I can imagine the the rest of the food is equally so.



5. That's a big statement but I can tell you with all honesty. This is the best cookbook I've ever read, more importantly it is the best cookbook I've ever USED. And, do I use it often, YES! Here Tony Bourdain shines not only as an amusing and talented writer but exposes to us all to the REAL principal behind all great dishes, and not just French food, that good, quality ingredients coupled with time-proven methods ARE the best. I have been a cook for many years and I specialise in Italian cookery but Tony's book brought me back to appreciate French-style cookery as never before. But the country of origin doesn't matter, it's the approach. No BS! Tell it like it is. All cookbooks are, to me, guides, but Tony has the nous to say, in places, you MUST do this and that. Little details and quality advice tips that take a good dish to 'great' status. His, utterly correct emphasis on the basics like a good stock or jus, tells us that these are the real fundamentals of good cookery. And, he shows us that which is so true: all great cookery has its origins in 'peasant' food, be it French, Italian, British or Asian. I class this book and Fergus Henderson's, 'Nose To Tail Eating' as two of the most important cookbooks of the 20th Century.
   William Kenneth Halliwell
   Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

5 comments about Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home.

1. Ina Garten has created an impressive cookbook designed for anyone interested in making French food at home. Everything looks so delicious, so where do you begin? I decided to try the "Spinach in Puff Pastry." While I was making the recipe I substituted mozzarella for the Gruyere cheese and left out the nutmeg and pine nuts. Quite a few of the recipes rely on Gruyere cheese, which you may or may not be able to find at your local grocery store. I found it but decided to save the cheese for when I make the cheese puffs. If you are looking for a cheese shop, sometimes you can find one next to a cheese factory.
   
   The recipes in "Barefoot in Paris" have all been double tested so your success is assured. The instructions are precise so you don't waste any time and they are well suited to the home cook who loves entertaining. Some of the recipes I can't wait to try include:
   
   Garlic Mashed Potatoes
   Scrambled Eggs with Truffles
   Filet of Beef au Poivre
   Ice Cream Bombe
   
   Throughout the book there are notes from Ina Garten who is in love with life and has lots of advice about flower arranging and shopping in Paris. You won't have to import any foods (well, maybe the truffles that you can order online) and Ina has taken modern conveniences into consideration. For instance, there is no need to wash and boil spinach since you can just buy it frozen. Thaw out your puff pastry and you are ready to cook. So a lot of the work has been taken out of the recipes to make your life easier.
   
   I was surprised that some recipes call for Crisco although from my own experience this ensures flaky pastries. Most of the recipes use extra-large eggs but I found I could substitute large eggs in the spinach recipe. There is also a delicious idea for a Tarte Tatin that uses plums instead of apples.
   
   Highly Recommended!
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. I love cookbooks and am very picky bc I dont want one that I only use one recipe out of.I love every recipe here. This book has easy to do recipes and I have used it many many times already since I got it. Makes me want to be in Paris.



3. I love reading Ina Garten's cookbooks. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the same stores she does, so I have trouble recreating her recipes. I like to use them as a basis for a good dinner. This book will give you some great ideas for a French meal



4. I received this book for Christmas and was so inspired by the recipes and lovely photos that I immediately started planning a trip to Paris. We got back a week ago and had a fabulous time! I mapped out all the recommended destinations at the back of her book. We were having such a good time we only made it to one (giving me an excuse to go back), E Dehillerin. It is the Mecca for anyone who loves to cook. Needless to say, I came back with a set of Mauviel copper pots and pans. We also had a Croque Monsieur during a picnic on the Champ de Mars (wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower) which I reproduced using the recipe from this book. It was like I was in the City of Lights all over again. Thank you Ina!



5. Ina makes her recipes so easy to follow. This is a wonderful book for people who love French food...

5 comments about Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One (1) (Fortieth - 40th - Anniversary Edition).

1. The best Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon recipes you'll find are in this book. I've had Mastering the Art of French Cooking for years and recently gave one to my son, who also loves to cook. This cookbook tells you what to do, how to do it, and where to easily find the ingredients in your American supermarket. I don't do much (any?) baking, so don't have Volume II Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 2 (Paperback), which I understand is primarily about baking, but this one, Volume 1, is fantastic.
   
   This book and The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 are the first ones I turn to in the kitchen. Together, they will teach the new cook how to cook and the experienced cook how to cook much better.



2. This book bring together years of cooking by recipe. It actually explains things so I can understand why I'm doing them.



3. Julia's book was recommended to me by a French Chef we met in the Caribbean. It is the perfect book from which to learn French cooking. Julia's instructions are very detailed and make it easy to prepare each recipe. I highly recommend this book.



4. Being french and a lover of cooking, and living in United States for the last 15 years, I was intimidated by this thick and presumably academic American Cook Book, until I read "my life in France" also written by Julia Child.
   In this book,the way she describes how she wrote "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" was so lively and appealing that I decided to give it a try.
   And I was not disappointed.
   Not only she gives all the equivalent proportions, quantities and temperatures, but she explains very clearly and simply how to make a dish a success. I tried several of the recipes, my best being a "souffle with orange and Grand Marnier" .
   To get the most of her explanations I also borrowed a couple of DVDs of her first cooking shows from my local library, and I got the same good feeling.
   The reason I gave only 4 stars is because of the presentation of the recipes, with a very detailed master recipe, and just a few lines for the variants. That makes a little bit uneasy to go back and forth during my usual rush cooking time. But that is part due to my own lack of organization.
   I was so thrilled by this book that I also gave it , as a gift , to a friend who loves cooking.



5. Continuation of Volume I. This volume has breadmaking for one that wants to duplicate wonderful French bread. Unless you live near a fabulous bakery, the recipes in the bread and pastry section will make life better.
   
   Both Volumes I and Volumes II are must have and make absolutely wonderful gifts for any new bride.

5 comments about My Life in France.

1. I love this woman, and this book! Viva Julia! It made me want to cook again.



2. It all began with a new bride wanting to learn to cook and progressed to owning a share in a cooking school, writing classic cookbooks that will be in print for many years, and becoming a television celebrity.
   
   During her last years, Julia Child and her husband's grandnephew, Alex Prud'homme, met frequently to record her memories. The heart of the narrative is her first years in France, where she arrived in 1948 as a newly wed whose cooking repertoire was comprised of a bad job of boiling water. The serious home cook, who has dabbled in a variety of cuisines (and most certainly French), may reap the most enjoyment, yet her story is intensely interesting, on a personal and public level, and very well written. There were moments when I wished I had a French dictionary at my side, but those moments weren't frequent enough to spoil a good read.
   
   Considering her age at the time of the writing, Prud'homme most certainly would have been responsible for the organization and undoubtedly did the bulk of the writing. But his contribution and his great aunt's voice are seamlessly interwoven. As I read, I could hear her warbling, high-pitched voice and was reminded of her wit from her television cooking shows.
   
   I read the last page with a smile, shut the book, and felt as satisfied as if I had just finished making her recipe for Cream of Mushroom Soup and found it to be perfect in every respect. I get the feeling that Julia looked back on her life with that same sense of satisfaction. She doesn't apologize for her privileged background, and she doesn't complain about being a somewhat homely, well-educated, quite bright, six-foot-two-inch woman who didn't marry until she was well into her thirties and never had the children she and her husband wished for. She mentions her sadness at not being able to share a close relationship, or even a viewpoint, with her father, but she doesn't wallow in it. She incorporates names, but never drops them. She is unpretentious, natural, and disarmingly honest.
   
   So many people look back with harrowing tales of disappointment and unhappiness; Julia gave us her joys and successes to share. I liked her before I knew anything about her life; now I like her a lot more.



3. "My Life in France" by Julia Child w/ Alex Prudhomme, ©2006
   
   I love how this book reminds me of Julia, from seeing her on television. You can just hear her expressing herself, in person, about something, just that way.
   She had a love of life and her husband. Of course she was a bit privileged and her husband earned a good salary with the fringe benefit of living in foreign countries, like France and Norway. But the privilege and life she led seems to be less important than her attitude: she truly was having fun.
   This book is not limited to her life in France. She describes her childhood, how she met her husband, her parents, where they lived in Washington, her politics, etc. It is more her memoir. A more fun memoir can not be imagined. It is wonderful she and her great-nephew got this done.



4. This was a wonderful memoir about Julia Child. I especially found it interesting that she fell into cooking at the age of forty. Her passion to learn about cooking and gastronomy, as well as, her love for good food and wine were contagious. It made me want to get in the kitchen and whip something up. I think what Julia said at the end of the book, sums up what I learned by reading My Life in France, "Learn how to cook-try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!".
   
   While I was reading My Life in France, I watched the video "Julia Child! America's Favorite Chef". I found it to be a good compliment to the book. It was like a visual summary of everything I had read.



5. A delightful book for foodies and Francophiles. At last a story of a happy marriage of two successful people.

5 comments about The French Laundry Cookbook.

1. even tho i dont cook much, i love giving this gorgeous gift as a special wedding birhday xmas gift. its beautiful on a table, to savored and appreciated as art to eat. and i do love to eat. great combined with some fun kitchen item, gorgeous french towels, cake server or plate, wonderful serving bowl or plate. we are blessed to be able to have chef keller sign ours, an even more special gift



2. Keller steps out and does something amazing with this book. An absolute pleasure to read and learn new ideas from.



3. Beautiful in its design, photography, inspirational story telling and food. There is wonderful attention to detail and accuracy in terms of the recipes and methods. A timeless classic from one of the world's best.



4. Physically speaking, "The French Laundry Cookbook" is dense, somewhat cumbersome, and teetering on intimidating--it will surely be the largest cookbook you'll ever own, and the statement is clear; this is not a cookbook for amateurs. On the contrary, this is a dense, meticulously-structured culinary opera aimed at those courageous enough to attempt to recreate 4-star dishes out of the home kitchen. Visually, the cookbook features countless, beautiful, full-page photographs of food so perfectly conceived that it comes off as easy, although once you read through any one recipe, you're sure to realize the difference between fantasy and reality. Keller is quite obviously a food perfectionist, and takes every extra step, every precaution, every effort, to make every component of every dish as flawless as possible. If this sounds like your cup o' tea, then you should order this cookbook with no delay. Granted, some recipes are on the easier side, but that's on the French Laundry spectrum, where easy is still more difficult than what you're probably used to. On the opposite end of the spectrum, this cookbook features recipes that, despite Keller's obvious and applaudable efforts to make his masterworks' a possibility for the at-home chef, are nearly impossible to pull-off, unless you have skill, patience, and around 4 days with nothing else to do.
   
   If you're very serious about cooking and want to take the difficulty level up quite a bit, then consider this cookbook. Every recipe you complete will make you a more well-rounded, knowledgeable cook, and that's the bottom line--this cookbook is like a portable culinary school. Just be aware that unless you go into the cooking process dedicated, patient, and determined, frustration could take over and the dish might not be worth the effort. If done right, some of the dishes in this cookbook, from sight to taste, are simply stunning, and like nothing else out there.



5. This is book is amazing. It came just as described and shipping was on time. I'm so glad that it was all wrapped up as promised in the original plastic seal.