Best cookery book

[Live It]

I know there's no such thing as the "best" cookery book, because there's all different cuisines etc to cover. But basically what I'm looking for is a book that will give me some nice, big homely dishes. At the moment I'm using my mum's Good Housekeeping cook book which to be fair is awesome because it tells you how to do EVERYTHING. However, it's a bit boring because it's all just the standard dish - it doesn't make cooking exciting.

At the moment I'm looking at Roast Chicken and Other Stories by Simon Hopkinson. It's had rave reviews and initially I was worried about the hype... But then again it was written nearly fifteen years ago so surely hype can't last that long? Any experience of this book (or any others in a similar vein?).

Also, I'm looking for a good chicken recipe to cook for me and my girlfriend on Valentine's Day so any suggestions for a book containing one of those would be appreciated.

TIA

[missdiane]

How about Practical Cookery? Don't that is a book with pictures though

I think Jamie Olivers books are quite like homely food- he just zazzes up how to make it.
Unsure if Hairy Bikers do a cookbook- but their TV show food looks easy and

[Mobile Chicane]

I have dozens of cookbooks, but those I use the most are Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's 'Meat' book, and Nigel Slater's 'The 30-Minute Cook'. Both are good for chicken recipes, and a whole lot more.

[escargot]

Nigel Slater's real food is a good one.

[OllieWinchester]

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Meat book is fantastic, so informative and a real passion is evident from the author. Some cracking recipes, including side orders and sauces etc as well as a buying guide, list of good suppliers. One of the only cook books you can also read cover to cover like a traditional book, and then dip in and out when required.

[Live It]

This "Meat" book looks rather promising, if not a little expensive at 20 pounds.

Has anyone got/read Roast Chicken and Other Stories?

[Wadeski]

a Nigel Slater book (Real Food, Real Cooking etc) is essential in any kitchen.

[Noger]

Live It said:

Also, I'm looking for a good chicken recipe to cook for me and my girlfriend on Valentine's Day so any suggestions for a book containing one of those would be appreciated.

TIA

The chicken from "Roast Chicken...." is sublime. It does have half a pack of butter in it ! That, and a little dribble of olive oil mash from the same book, and the buttery juices .... heaven

The books I go to again and again are :-

Nigel
Hugh
All the Moro books
All the River Cafe books (particularly Green).
Marcella Hazan's Italian

[anonymous-user]

How about this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Larousse-Gastronomique-Gre...
Doubles as a doorstop.

[10 Pence Short]

For general cooking, the Mary Berry cook books take some beating. They work every time and a well thought out. Very good for teaching the basics.

[Coq au Vin]

Grab the first 2 Jamie Oliver books (Naked Chef and Return of the Naked Chef). These are still the best 2 books he's done and are a great starting point - Just heaps of simple, tasty, idiotproof recipes.

I know a lot of people don't like the bloke, but it would be a shame to overlook his books because of that.

[Cotty]

This is a nice roast chicken dish, I have cooked many times but don't bother with the sauce
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/roast-chicken-w...

Not sure you really need to buy a cook book these days as there are so many recipes on line like the Delia link above and for Jamie Oliver see http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes

Edited by Cotty on Monday 2nd February 10:31

[Tanguero]

"Sauces: Classical and Contemporary Sauce Making" by James Peterson transformed my cooking. More of a text book than a recipie book, but fascinating inspirational and some exceptionaly tasty results!

Edited by Tanguero on Monday 2nd February 13:50

[SpydieNut]

OllieWinchester said:

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Meat book is fantastic, so informative and a real passion is evident from the author. Some cracking recipes, including side orders and sauces etc as well as a buying guide, list of good suppliers. One of the only cook books you can also read cover to cover like a traditional book, and then dip in and out when required.

in the same vein, georgio locatelli's 'made in italy' is a fantastic read - good recipes too

[Wadeski]

if you're interested in chinese food, Fuscia Dunlop's "Land of Plenty" is probably the best asian cookbook ever written. It will change the way you think about chinese food...

[Gruffy]

Tom Aiken's Cooking came into my collection at Christmas and every single recipe I've tried so far has been a complete success, from the simplest to the most complex.

[toasty]

The French Laundry Cookbook is gastro porn.

http://www.amazon.com/French-Laundry-Cookbook-Thom...

Just don't expect to be able to cook any of it though.

[taldo50]

im a chef, and larousse gastronomique is my bible! however i also like bill grangers' Bills Food books. think theyre full of lovely simple recipes forthe home-cook, however i still look tothem for inspiration when writing menus occasionally