Good books for foodie folks

[Stu R]

I'm looking to expand my collection of good books about food. It's an industry I'm involved in and can't seem to read enough about. Whether it be historical, modern, educational, industry focussed - anything really.
I'm certainly not short of cookery books, but I'm more interested in reading something interesting on the subject of food, rather than the latest Jamie Oliver festive cash cow, but chuck whatever tickles your fondant fancy below

To get started I recently picked up:

Charcuterie and French Pork Cookery by Jane Grigson, well worth a read - http://amzn.to/rrccIO
Schott's Food Miscellany - Ben Schott - anyone familiar with the Schott's book will recognise the format, lots of random facts and tidbits, one to sit on the cistern, rather than the bookshelf - http://amzn.to/rPs2wF
The Forme of Cury: A Roll of Ancient English Cookery Compiled - Samuel Pegge - no idea what it's like, presumably a medieval / middle english cookbook, but someone recommended it and I'm currently awaiting it's arrival - http://amzn.to/rPs2wF

With an honorary mention for Kitchen Confidential and the Big Fat Duck Cook Book.


So, recommendations, suggestions, ones to avoid, over to you

[miniman]

Meat, by Hugh Faintly Wittering.

Great recipes, great read. Foolproof methods of roasting beef, which are worth the cover price alone.

[Mobile Chicane]

miniman said:

Meat, by Hugh Faintly Wittering.

Great recipes, great read. Foolproof methods of roasting beef, which are worth the cover price alone.

To which I'd add:

Niki Segnit's Flavour Thesaurus

Dan Lepard's The Handmade Loaf

Kenny's Cajun & Creole Cookbook. Undeservedly long out of print - bag a second-hand copy if you can.

[Stu R]

Great call on Kenny's - bought that some time ago on your recommendation for the Jailhouse Chili, excellent one to have to hand

[thetapeworm]

Larousse Gastronomique?

http://tinyurl.com/7jmjohk

[15peter20]

Smokestack Lightning - a great book about BBQ / Slow cooked meat in the US

http://www.amazon.com/Smokestack-Lightning-Adventu...

[Output Flange]

If his way of cooking floats your boat, the smaller of the two Fat Duck books is as good for reading as it is for recipes you'll never make.

::£15 on BookPeople::

[SlidingSideways]

The Silver Spoon - Italys best selling cookbook. Proper Italian food, not the olive oil drenched muck that Mr Oliver tries to pass off.
Also possibly used by Mafiosi to batter their victims to death, given it's weight!

[Gold]

If you're interested in (good!) beer, and particularly in pairing it with (good!) food, the Brewmasters Table http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brewmasters-Table-Discover...

[escargot]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-ElBulli-insight-method...

This book is beautifully bound. It's very much a coffee table cookery book but it's also very very interesting for the enthusiastic amateur/foodie.

[thetapeworm]

escargot said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-ElBulli-insight-method...

This book is beautifully bound. It's very much a coffee table cookery book but it's also very very interesting for the enthusiastic amateur/foodie.

That's going on my wish list

[CommanderJameson]

How about a Flavour Thesaurus?

ETA: Damn you, Mobile Chicane.

Plenty?

[Luca Brazzi]

escargot said:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Day-ElBulli-insight-method...

This book is beautifully bound. It's very much a coffee table cookery book but it's also very very interesting for the enthusiastic amateur/foodie.

This book is indeed excellent.

[Cheese Mechanic]

To give as a pressy?

The Forgotten skills of cooking, by Darina Allen.

Does what it says on the tin.

[Stu R]

I'm pretty sure my postie is going to be claiming compensation for curvature of the spine, but I've ordered loads of them now.

Next on my hit list is some confectionary books

[flyingjase]

SlidingSideways said:

The Silver Spoon - Italys best selling cookbook. Proper Italian food, not the olive oil drenched muck that Mr Oliver tries to pass off.
Also possibly used by Mafiosi to batter their victims to death, given it's weight!

I bought that for my stepdad (who is mad into Italian cooking) a few years ago when they first translated it. Some of those recipes are very 'genunine'

This year I have bought him Pellegrino Artusi's "The Art of Eating Well". It is another Italian cookbook, this one has been in continuous print in Italy since 1894 but they only translated it into English once in 1996 so it's now out of print. I managed to get an 'as new' copy from Amazon.

Definately worth a look if you are into authentic Italian cooking:-

[Melman Giraffe]

flyingjase said:

SlidingSideways said:

The Silver Spoon - Italys best selling cookbook. Proper Italian food, not the olive oil drenched muck that Mr Oliver tries to pass off.
Also possibly used by Mafiosi to batter their victims to death, given it's weight!

I bought that for my stepdad (who is mad into Italian cooking) a few years ago when they first translated it. Some of those recipes are very 'genunine'

This year I have bought him Pellegrino Artusi's "The Art of Eating Well". It is another Italian cookbook, this one has been in continuous print in Italy since 1894 but they only translated it into English once in 1996 so it's now out of print. I managed to get an 'as new' copy from Amazon.

Definately worth a look if you are into authentic Italian cooking:-

Oooooh I like the look of that

[SVX]

Cooked in Africa by Justin Bonello is a good read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooked-Africa-Justin-Bonel...

[Simpo Two]

miniman said:

Meat, by Hugh Faintly Wittering.

I heard recently that his name makes the anagram 'I fart while stag hunting'. Sadly it doesn't

[Jammiedodger]

We have our own books, but they're definitely aimed at rookie cooks...could be good presents for younger ones though!

http://sortedfood.com/shop