Books

[TripleB]

I enjoy reading cookbooks. I've read some real stinkers this year, but one of the good ones was Salt, Acid, Fat, Heat by Samin Nosrat. Nothing earth shattering, but her stories that support the premise of essential cooking was well done. She does not talk down to her audience and quite often makes her points by exposing her failures.

[Dewesq55]

Funny. I made dinner tonight from Food of Sichuan. It was my first time doing so.

[rickgregory]

I like single topic books. Food of Sichuan is one I need to cook from more. Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast for bread.

PS: I don't really look for recipes in cookbooks anymore. As someone said above, you can find those online. What I look for is authoritative information on how to do the thing that the book focuses on. There will naturally be recipes too because they let you practice the techniques being discussed, but they're almost secondary.

[Jfrosty27]

I received Aaron Franklin’s book for Christmas last year. Really enjoyed that one. Otherwise my ten or so bbq cookbooks were packed away when we remodeled our kitchen two years ago. Never unpacked them. All info comes online now.

[Mojo0209]

Mostly inexpensive ingredients, but my grandmother always made it taste so good. Maybe sometimes simple is better.

[Steve Vojtek]

I'm kinda fond of " Great Sausage Recipes and Meat Curing " by Rytek Kutas.I have two boxes of cookbooks gathering dust in the garage - this is the only book i keep inside. I do my research online now....

[scorched_porch]

I have it as well. I am continually marveling at the attention to detail, beautiful photographs and downright good ideas that can be adapted to BBQ. My current favorite is using Sodium Citrate to make a cheese sauce for Mac 'n Cheese. I chop jalapenos and add those to it for a spicy cheese sauce for dogs and burgers.

[Dr ROK]

Amen to that. Especially since he is so willing to share his techniques and recipes.

[Breadhead]

Weber's Big Book of Grilling is also a good recipe book...

[Breadhead]

IrondeQuer... If you read about the size of his research facility, the professional staff of Chef's he hired, the equipment he bought and the detailed research he and his staff did to put this all together you would be amazed. Then there is the photography...Oh my! Then each volume is a coffee table size and quality book. Plus... It is as much a history book of the culinary arts as it is a teaching manual. Then there is the recipes... Mmmm. Then there is the printing cost. The cost of sales.

I've thought about this many times... How is he ever going to show a profit? He might eventually but only a frivolous Billionaire could pull this work of art off. He and his staff worked on this book for years before he ever saw the first $ of revenue.

If you read his history... While he was the CFO of Mircosoft he travelled the world and he always took the time to dine in extraordinary restaurants and... Chat with the Chefs and owners. My assumption is that he researched this project for 20 years before he even started it.

I feel blessed to have a copy of it. I had to learn the baker's percentage system to be able to really understand it. That necessity was also a blessing. Understanding that system is a game changer in your pursuit of understanding cooking and recipes.

[IrondeQuer]

I am also enjoying Aaron Franklin's book. It almost makes me wish I had a stick burner. Maybe someday.

I also enjoyed:
Dr. BBQ's Big-Time Barbeque Cookbook
Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book
Paul Kirk's Championship Barbeque and Championship Barbeque Sauces
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: An American Roadhouse (probably because they're local in Upstate NY)

And for some strange reason, Smokin' with Myron Mixon, for the stories more than the recipes.

I learned the concept of pulled pork from the Cook's Illustrated Guide to Grilling and Barbeque. That's what got me interested in actually doing backyard bbq.

I have more damn cookbooks than I know what to do with and I like reading them all. Sometimes it feels like a curse...

[IrondeQuer]

At $500+ for the set, maybe he did.

[ontheranch]

Who needs a cookbook?? I just follow Ernest around on this site!

[Jon Solberg]

I have to agree with you sp. I started it yesterday and went about halfway thru. He's a righteous dude for sure.

[scorched_porch]

Aaron Franklin's book is fabulous. Just went through it.