If you can read this, either the style sheet didn't load or you have an older browser that doesn't support style sheets. Try clearing your browser cache and refreshing the page.

(Wall Street Journal) Spiffy God of Nerds Alton Brown picks the five cookbooks you should have right this very instant   (online.wsj.com) divider line 261
More: Spiffy  
•       •       •

29208 clicks; posted to Main » on 08 Feb 2010 at 12:31 PM   |  Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook   more»   |    Get this fabulous T-Shirt and impress the methane out of your friends! shirt it!



261 Comments   (+0 »)
   

Archived thread

First | « | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | » | Last | Show all
 
2010-02-08 10:02:19 AM
Just ordered two of them. I get home too late to cook dinner for that day, but I love to cook so I cook for the next day quite often.
 
2010-02-08 10:31:03 AM
Funny, none of his are on that list.
 
2010-02-08 11:03:20 AM
Ratio sounds fantastic, but I'll wait until I can get the ebooks before adding them to my wishlist.
 
2010-02-08 11:11:47 AM
The Icelander: Ratio sounds fantastic, but I'll wait until I can get the ebooks before adding them to my wishlist.

just downloaded the iphone app. looks interesting.
 
wee [TotalFark]
2010-02-08 11:15:59 AM
The Icelander: Ratio sounds fantastic, but I'll wait until I can get the ebooks before adding them to my wishlist.

It's a very, very informative book. I read it cover-to-cover, in one sitting. It's helped quite a lot because you can just think about the ratio and the recipe is just telling you what adds "flavor" and isn't so mysterious.

Only other one I'd suggest is Eat Me my Kenny Shopsin. The food is really easy to make and reading about his philosophy regarding food gave me some good insight. (And he goes in breaking down a dish to its essence, which is something that Rulhman talks a lot about in his book about the CIA.) And the food it good.
 
2010-02-08 11:21:13 AM
I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.
 
2010-02-08 11:27:21 AM
The Icelander: Ratio sounds fantastic, but I'll wait until I can get the ebooks before adding them to my wishlist.

Ratio is THE cookbook period. The rest of the cook books you'll read focus on getting the amounts right, or focus on the procedure of the cooking mother (which is important don't get me wrong)

But in Ratio, it assume you really already know how to make a gravy for instance and goes into the application of knowing that ratio and how it can be applied across a broad spectrum of dishes creating new and inventive ideas.

It basically throws out the idea that there is Italian, Greek, Japanese, or whatever food. Sure they all use distinctive ingredients and some use distinctive procedures... but they all use the same ratios and often in the same methodology.

Essentially showing you that all dishes use these same basic ratios and so long as you know those ratios... its pretty hard to fark up any dish.

If you love to cook, hate following a recipe book its the cook book for you.
 
2010-02-08 11:28:14 AM
I'm rather surprised Mastering The Art of French Cooking isn't on his list.
 
2010-02-08 11:30:33 AM
oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

well, lah-di-dah.
 
2010-02-08 11:36:30 AM
oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

Do you own a television?
 
2010-02-08 11:42:12 AM
oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

There is a lot to learn from just reading cook books from the masters, even if you don't actually give many of the actual recipes a go.
 
2010-02-08 11:44:35 AM
Nabb1: oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

There is a lot to learn from just reading cook books from the masters, even if you don't actually give many of the actual recipes a go.


THIS
 
2010-02-08 11:46:31 AM
wee: Only other one I'd suggest is Eat Me my Kenny Shopsin. The food is really easy to make and reading about his philosophy regarding food gave me some good insight. (And he goes in breaking down a dish to its essence, which is something that Rulhman talks a lot about in his book about the CIA.) And the food it good.

I read that after seeing "I Like Killing Flies". When I make it out to NY, Shopsin's is the first place I plan on going to.
 
2010-02-08 11:48:23 AM
oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

you must be a shiatty cook then.
 
2010-02-08 11:50:17 AM
Wait, Alton Brown is the "God of Nerds?" I admit it, he's nerdy, but the "God?"

That Italian cookbook looks good.
 
2010-02-08 12:18:23 PM
Got "The Joy of Cooking" - fantastic book. What else do you really need?

OK, stupid question. I guess it would be nice to pick up The Frugal Gourmet...any recommendations?
 
2010-02-08 12:20:08 PM
In the first, as-yet-unaired episode of Iron Chef America, Alton Brown single-handedly defeated an all-star team of Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Hiroyuki Sakai. The secret ingredient was 'whimsy'.

/one of the many not so widely known facts about Alton Brown.
 
wee [TotalFark]
2010-02-08 12:21:48 PM
Cagey B: I read that after seeing "I Like Killing Flies". When I make it out to NY, Shopsin's is the first place I plan on going to.

My wife and I were thinking about that too. Though from what I hear, he's moved from that new place he moved into at the end of the movie. He's got what amounts to a stall in this market But he still serves like 8,000 items from his menu.

BTW, if you haven't made it yet, his marinara sauce is the shiat. Take 45 minutes to make and it's incredibly tasty. We make extra and then use it in anything that calls for a rich, tomato flavor (even tomato soup gets some). And he's right about the type of tomatoes. The Nina brand San Marzanos make a sauce that tastes wildly different that if you use normal American whole canned tomatoes.
 
2010-02-08 12:23:05 PM
Paris1127: Wait, Alton Brown is the "God of Nerds?" I admit it, he's nerdy, but the "God?"

That Italian cookbook looks good.


not THE God of Nerds, but definetely A God, it's a subtle difference to be sure.
 
2010-02-08 12:29:38 PM
gopher321: OK, stupid question. I guess it would be nice to pick up The Frugal Gourmet...any recommendations?

i have it. it's find. his immigrants one is good, too.

frankly, these days i just toss an ingredient into epicurious.com and see what recipes come up. it's the best
 
2010-02-08 12:34:17 PM
2. The Frugal Gourmet

I hear there's a great recipe for Cream of Sum Yung Guy in there.
 
2010-02-08 12:37:12 PM
gopher321: I guess it would be nice to pick up The Frugal Gourmet...any recommendations?

Since he died in 2004, I'd recommend looking in a cemetery.
 
2010-02-08 12:37:54 PM
sigdiamond2000: 2. The Frugal Gourmet

I hear there's a great recipe for Cream of Sum Yung Guy in there.


Didn't take long for that!
 
2010-02-08 12:39:09 PM
On my 2nd copy of Joy of Cooking!
 
2010-02-08 12:39:46 PM
The one problem I have with the cookbooks I own..
I never remember to look up new recipes before I go grocery shopping.. I get the to the store and I'm all like "damn gina!"
 
2010-02-08 12:39:57 PM
The 1st one on his list is my go to for the last 20 years...
 
2010-02-08 12:39:58 PM
Joy of Sex with the Frugal Gourmet
 
2010-02-08 12:40:02 PM
oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

Hookers count as an ingredient now?
 
2010-02-08 12:40:50 PM
LeafyGreens: sigdiamond2000: 2. The Frugal Gourmet

I hear there's a great recipe for Cream of Sum Yung Guy in there.

Didn't take long for that!


I always thought he liked Elmo a little too much.

Where is the Justin Wilson cookbook? Specifically Justin Wilson's Outdoor Cooking with Inside Help.
 
2010-02-08 12:41:11 PM
Recipezaar! Ratings and comments are valuable.
 
2010-02-08 12:41:13 PM
Paris1127: That Italian cookbook looks good.

It's brilliant--I should really use it more often. But I agree with tnpir: Mastering the Art of French Cooking should be on the list...I'd put it slightly ahead of Hazan.

I also would have put something by Nigel Slater on there, but only because Nigel is a Genius.
 
2010-02-08 12:41:19 PM
I once heard Alton Brown describe his show as a mixture of Julia Child, Mr. Wizard, and Monty Python. That about sums it up, I think.

/my boyfriend thinks Alton Brown is indeed a nerd god
//LOVE having a boyfriend who knows how to cook
 
2010-02-08 12:42:37 PM
Ratio's good, but make sure you have a scale to go with it.
 
2010-02-08 12:42:39 PM
I dug the Frugal Gourmet's show. Used to be on PBS right before Burt Wolf. The guy was a little too church-y for me, but his approach was friendly, simple, and unpretentious.

I use cookbooks because not every recipe has been transcribed to the intertubes, and it helps me to know *which* quality ingredients to procure, and in what quantity...

I love to garden. I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to cook what I grow, and I love to eat what I cook. Me loving food is damn near recursive.
 
2010-02-08 12:43:07 PM
The number one cookbook you should own is the one that has all of your favorite recipes in it.
 
2010-02-08 12:43:21 PM
Mark Bittman taught me everything I need to know.
 
2010-02-08 12:43:32 PM
He didn't mention On Food and Cooking, which is fair because it's not a cookbook.

But if you're comfortable with high school chemistry, READ THIS BOOK. I'm reading it now -- it goes into amazing depth (65 pages on milk?!) and it's not afraid to go down to the molecular level to explain a given reaction.

This book is the Rosetta Stone of culinary science -- with it, I can analyze a recipe and figure out what the worthless organic operative meant when they used their worthless organic words, and I can synthesize dishes from multiple recipes because I finally know what the individual parts of each were meant to do.
 
2010-02-08 12:43:48 PM
This year for Christmas, my wife got me (and herself) meet and greet tickets to an event he's hosting in a couple weeks. I'm pretty excited about it. I have his 2 cookbooks, which I consider textbooks more than recipe books. Between that and his shows I concider myself a fairly knowledgable home cook.

I can figure out what I did wrong when something doesn't turn out, and I can invent new dishes without having to refer to a recipe.
 
2010-02-08 12:44:18 PM
i.biblio.com

ecx.images-amazon.com

www.cookbkjj.com
 
2010-02-08 12:44:39 PM
Here's a link that works. (new window)
 
2010-02-08 12:44:55 PM
sigdiamond2000: oldebayer: I am beyond cookbooks. I spend my money on good ingredients.

Do you own a television?


I think I just loled all over the floor.
 
2010-02-08 12:45:34 PM
My father taught me how to skin a squirrel.

He also taught me how to skin a rabbit, clean fowl (quail, pheasant, etc.) and field dress deer. My mother taught me the art of baking bread. Grew up in Iowa.

RIP Mom & Dad I miss you both...

/A year younger than Alton
//Love his show and lectures..
 
2010-02-08 12:46:12 PM
Alegria: I once heard Alton Brown describe his show as a mixture of Julia Child, Mr. Wizard, and Monty Python. That about sums it up, I think.

THIS.
 
2010-02-08 12:46:41 PM
#6.ransackery.com

Some god of nerds for leaving that out.
 
2010-02-08 12:47:29 PM
AB is the man... will have to pick these up.
 
2010-02-08 12:47:38 PM
3 outa five ain't bad, but most of my fave recipes are in my head.
 
2010-02-08 12:47:42 PM
www.papamedia.com


A must have for everyone.
 
2010-02-08 12:47:48 PM
I Know How to Cook should be on there. It's the best!

http://www.amazon.com/Know-How-Cook-Ginette-Mathiot/dp/071485736X
 
2010-02-08 12:49:29 PM
NOVanHelsing: My father taught me how to skin a squirrel.

He also taught me how to skin a rabbit, clean fowl (quail, pheasant, etc.) and field dress deer. My mother taught me the art of baking bread. Grew up in Iowa.

RIP Mom & Dad I miss you both...

/A year younger than Alton
//Love his show and lectures..


So you were raised on a lot of bunny and squirrel sandwiches, then??
 
2010-02-08 12:52:06 PM
Too bad Alton Brown is causing the extinction of the critically endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus with his arboreal calamari recipe.
 
Displayed 50 of 261 comments

First | « | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | » | Last | Show all


This thread is closed to new comments.

Continue Farking
Submit a Link »