They require more knowledge, skill and precision in cooking. The Cake Bible and The Pie and Pastry Bible, both by Rose Levy Beranbaum, address these needs in thoroughly researched, exhaustive detail. Either or both make wonderful gifts for that dessert-obsessed girlfriend or boyfriend who loves to spend days in the kitchen piping rosettes. Memoirs with recipes attached are the hottest thing in cookbook publishing right now. What we think this means is that recipes are so much richer when put in context.
Cooking means something to people.
Foods and dishes that touch us as children mean so much more as adults. This list stops here, but our abridged list of favorite cookbooks goes on a bit further. Find something that touches you and makes food memories. All rights reserved.