Got my first two reference/cookbooks, recommendations for more?

[fireweaver]

Silver, to add to marmalady's suggestions, use:

www.bestbookbuys.com

www.bookfinder.com

the first will search all the online stores and tell you who's got it cheapest, the second will search some online stores and lots of local little mom & pop used bookstores. i've gotten great deals on plenty of books from both!

 

[Brukky]

Larousse Gastronomique.
The Professional Chef.
Food Lovers Companion.
Culinary Artistry.

 

[Gretchen]

I think AB is a hopeless twit.
If you are going to be buying a lot of cookbooks you might like to look at Jessica's Biscuit or zooba.com . The savings are prodigious, although I HATE to steer you away from a local independent bookstore.
Also, joining a cookbook club like the Good Cook can give you huge savings by their introductory offer--4 books, $1 each, fifth book half price. I once got 5 $40 cookbooks for a total of $35.
And Amazon is a good source.

 

[skilletlicker]

I think AB is a hopeless twit.

Gretchen, how can we get you to come out of your shell and tell us how you really feel?

 

[Silver]

Just added the new 75th Anniversary Edition Joy of Cooking to the library after a trip to Costco today.

Regular price $20 (CAD!) and then it was $5 off, to boot! $15 CAD is FANTASTIC. So good, I think I'll make a new thread for the benefit of all the Canadians on the board.

 

[Nicholas Mosher]

I use The Professional Chef as my technique bible, On Food And Cooking as my how/why reference, and specific texts focusing purely on the cuinine I'm cooking for recipes and added information (such as "Les Halles" for Bistro food, or "Real & Rustic" for Louisiana Grub).

But the CIA text and McGee would be my foundation and core from which everything else branches.

EDIT: I purchased Alton Brown's 27-DVD set with some gift certificates I had, and they are definetly worth a try. many of his dishes aren't exactly "traditional", but they teach you techniques, equipment, ingredients, history, and even a few good dishes... (3 Episodes on each DVD, so 81 Topics). At the end of each episode, he spends an additional 10min or so answering common questions people eMailed/snail-mailed him. I don't have cable, so I watched a few DVDs a week until I finished them, and still pull 'em out now and then when I'm trying something new that he did a show on.

I also purchased the CIA's incredibly over-priced "techniques" DVD 3-pk, and found them to be good, but not at what they charge. I would have been just as happy with my texts.

 

[YT2095]

Mrs Beaton`s Everyday Cookery is my favorite, I have the 1923 edition, but it`s still perfectly readable (although a little battered now).

it`s a Must Read for any good cook in my opinion.