I know that there are some amateur chefs around here and I would like to know if you had any literary help on your first steps in the kitchen.
My cooking skills are the ones of the typical bachelor, but being inspired by Anthony Bourdain's show and books, I would like to see what I can do of this new found interest.
I'm not looking for a recipe book, since those can be found everywhere, but of a good (even if expensive) book that would teach me some of the tecniques that I could learn if I invested in a Chef education.
I'm partial towards an English or Spanish book, but could be convinced to redevelop my French skills if necessary.
Thanks in advance :)
Joy of Cooking?
moving in with the gf then?
Quote from: Viking on April 11, 2011, 04:28:02 PM
moving in with the gf then?
Apart from that not being an option, we all know that men are better cooks that women. ;)
Quote from: BarristerJoy of Cooking?
I've checked it online and although interesting it seems based on recipes rather than tecniques or ingridients. Am I seeing it the wrong way?
Quote from: clandestino on April 11, 2011, 04:35:23 PM
Quote from: Viking on April 11, 2011, 04:28:02 PM
moving in with the gf then?
Apart from that not being an option, we all know that men are better cooks that women. ;)
Quote from: BarristerJoy of Cooking?
I've checked it online and although interesting it seems based on recipes rather than tecniques or ingridients. Am I seeing it the wrong way?
Yes, it is a series of recipes, but it is more than that. It does give techniques and strategies. I find it is a useful resources to make some very basic meals. For example, how to cook a roast, or stuff a turkey. A typcial cookbook will give you some very specific recipes, but not tell you those kind of basic techniques.
It's not great - it was probably written 60-70 years ago, and while it's been updated it still feels old. It's also thoroughly North American. But for what you asked, it's the only thing I can think of.
Quote from: Barrister on April 11, 2011, 04:39:14 PM
Yes, it is a series of recipes, but it is more than that. It does give techniques and strategies. I find it is a useful resources to make some very basic meals. For example, how to cook a roast, or stuff a turkey. A typcial cookbook will give you some very specific recipes, but not tell you those kind of basic techniques.
It's not great - it was probably written 60-70 years ago, and while it's been updated it still feels old. It's also thoroughly North American. But for what you asked, it's the only thing I can think of.
Thanks, but I was looking for something more
professional so I could get an idea if I should pursue a career in this area or if I should forget it. :)
Quote from: clandestino on April 11, 2011, 04:47:05 PM
Thanks, but I was looking for something more professional so I could get an idea if I should pursue a career in this area or if I should forget it. :)
Le Cordon Bleu at Home: http://www.amazon.com/Cordon-Bleu-at-Home/dp/0688097502 (http://www.amazon.com/Cordon-Bleu-at-Home/dp/0688097502)
I don't think you're going to find that kind of information in a book. :mellow:
Have you ever worked in a restaurant?
I dunno - personally I love cooking shows, cook books, and yes cooking, but I know 100% that is only as a hobby. Based primarily on my mother in law, but also from stories from other people, being a chef means working some very long hours, almost exclusively nights, and for not very much money. It is not an area I would want to pursue a career in at all.
What's a cooking Bible? Is that like a cooking wine?
Quote from: Barrister on April 11, 2011, 04:50:55 PM
I don't think you're going to find that kind of information in a book. :mellow:
Have you ever worked in a restaurant?
I dunno - personally I love cooking shows, cook books, and yes cooking, but I know 100% that is only as a hobby. Based primarily on my mother in law, but also from stories from other people, being a chef means working some very long hours, almost exclusively nights, and for not very much money. It is not an area I would want to pursue a career in at all.
No, I haven't worked in a restaurant and yes, I guess I can make an idea of how crappy a job working in a kitchen might be. But at the same time I'm finding myself in need of a
technical degree/knowledge so I can improve my employability here, but mainly abroad. And since cooking is a new interest I could check that out before going to other options.
About the pay, I don't know how much an entry level guy working in a kitchen (doing dishes for example) in Europe/US makes, but I find it difficult that the pay, conditions and fulfilment are worse than my current
job over here, so I'm feeling adventurous.
@Savonarola: thanks for the reference, I'll check it out.
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 (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.
Thanks Oex.
My French is very poor these days, but being a latin language I guess I can work it out with my old, rudimentar knowledge and a good dictionary by my side.
After all, I was kind of expecting to receive some recommendations in French, being the country that created modern cuisine and all that.
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 (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 (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 (http://www.amazon.com/Jacques-Pepins-Complete-Techniques-P%C3%A9pin/dp/1579122205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302561028&sr=8-1)
Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? :shutup:
Quote from: chipwich on April 11, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? :shutup:
That was me until I delved into the above sources.
Quote from: chipwich on April 11, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? :shutup:
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.
Quote from: citizen k on April 11, 2011, 05:36:45 PM
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 (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 (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 (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.
Quote from: chipwich on April 11, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? :shutup:
Good grief Chipwich, tell me that isn't you ? :unsure:
Next time the languishites and you meet up in london, I could legally buy you a pint. :P
Quote from: chipwich on April 11, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? :shutup:
Watch
Good Eats on the Food Network. Alton brown is good. Never read his books however.
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?
Alton Brown's books. The Science of Cooking. Cooking for geeks.
Quote from: garbon on April 11, 2011, 07:16:58 PM
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?
Quote from: DGuller on April 11, 2011, 08:45:47 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 11, 2011, 07:16:58 PM
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.
If you're going to get a Cooking Bible make sure it's in a bargain pack with a Burning Quran.
Quote from: Syt on April 11, 2011, 10:55:21 PM
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.
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 (//http://The%20Escoffier%20Cookbook:%20Guide%20to%20the%20Fine%20Art%20of%20French%20Cuisine)
The Vulgate is nice for BBQ but for roasting I'd go with King James.
Quote from: Oexmelin on April 11, 2011, 05:11:59 PM
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 (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. :sleep:
Quote from: jamesww on April 11, 2011, 06:58:56 PM
Quote from: chipwich on April 11, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
Can anyone recommend a cookbook for drooling idiot early 20's bachelors who want to advance beyond the microwave? :shutup:
Good grief Chipwich, tell me that isn't you ? :unsure:
Next time the languishites and you meet up in london, I could legally buy you a pint. :P
Yeah, I'm turning 23 this May. I should've graduated last year but I suck too much :shutup:
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.
The Cook Illustrated books are pretty decent too.
If you want to know how's the career and life of an apprentice cook, I'd recommend Bill Buford's Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany : the real life adventures of a journalist who tried to become a cook.
http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Adventures-Pasta-Maker-Apprentice-Dante-Quoting/dp/1400041201 (http://www.amazon.com/Heat-Adventures-Pasta-Maker-Apprentice-Dante-Quoting/dp/1400041201)
For Italian cuisine, The Silver Spoon is THE book. I think every italian family owns a copy of it.
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Spoon-Phaidon-Press/dp/0714845310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302627758&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Spoon-Phaidon-Press/dp/0714845310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302627758&sr=1-1)
L.