Can someone recommend me a good Cooking Bible?

[Barrister]

Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? 

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Cooking---Guys/dp/1592572693/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302562036&sr=8-1

Or, back to my suggestion of "Joy of Cooking".

But really - just go into a bookstore, find a cookbook that has recipes that you want to try making yourself, and buy that.

[MadImmortalMan]

You said you were inspired by Bourdain, so why not:

http://www.amazon.com/Anthony-Bourdains-Halles-Cookbook-Strategies/dp/158234180X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302561105&sr=1-5

For basic cooking skills you can't go wrong with Julia Child:

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Art-French-Cooking-Set/dp/0307593525/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302561336&sr=1-2

or Jaques Pepin. I have this one for basic techniques and classic French recipes:

http://www.amazon.com/Jacques-Pepins-Complete-Techniques-P%C3%A9pin/dp/1579122205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302561028&sr=8-1

+1

Julia is the gold standard. Even if Mastering is over the top for you, then The Way to Cook is probably the best getting-started book.


I also have the Les Halles book and love it.

[jamesww]

Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? 

Good grief Chipwich, tell me that isn't you ?

Next time the languishites and you meet up in london, I could legally buy you a pint. 

[Ed Anger]

Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? 

Watch Good Eats on the Food Network. Alton brown is good. Never read his books however.

[garbon]

I feel sad for people who didn't have decent mothers to impart knowledge upon them.

Also, a cooking bible? Does that mean that the cookbook would contain contradictory information?

[Darth Wagtaros]

Alton Brown's books. The Science of Cooking. Cooking for geeks. 

[DGuller]

I feel sad for people who didn't have decent mothers to impart knowledge upon them.

Or maybe some of us didn't care about cooking until they moved out of their mom's house?

[garbon]

I feel sad for people who didn't have decent mothers to impart knowledge upon them.

Or maybe some of us didn't care about cooking until they moved out of their mom's house?

Sounds like poor life planning. Better to be more like the ant than the grasshopper.

[Syt]

If you're going to get a Cooking Bible make sure it's in a bargain pack with a Burning Quran.

[Tonitrus]

If you're going to get a Cooking Bible make sure it's in a bargain pack with a Burning Quran.

Just watch out for the Latter-Day Sauces version.

[Brazen]

Your best bet is to sign up to a course. In the UK they won't even let you in the kitchen more advanced than KFC without at least a basic qualification. There's health and safety and hygiene elements to a course you need to prove you know.

Though you're not specifically after a French book, you should go for Escoffier. He was the first to commit to paper the simple to complex techniques used by both traditional and modern chefs.

The Escoffier Cookbook: Guide to the Fine Art of French Cuisine

[BuddhaRhubarb]

The Vulgate is nice for BBQ but for roasting I'd go with King James.

[Zoupa]

You would find a good number of pro books in French, made for those attempting the various concours (pastries, meat, etc.)

One of the easy reference guides for beginner students is La cuisine de référence: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisine-r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence-pr%C3%A9parations-techniques-fabrication/dp/B001CL8DIW/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1302559699&sr=8-14.

I don't think it has been translated.

No scribes allowed. 

[chipwich]

Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? 

Good grief Chipwich, tell me that isn't you ?

Next time the languishites and you meet up in london, I could legally buy you a pint. 

Yeah, I'm turning 23 this May. I should've graduated last year but I suck too much 

[Grey Fox]

http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-James-Peterson/dp/1580087892/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302606148&sr=1-1


http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Cook-Illustrated-Essential-Techniques/dp/B001SERNYS/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302606386&sr=1-8

I have that, well the French version. I think it's exactly what you are looking for.