The Lutece Cookbook
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • French home cooking
  • First class cookbook from a first class chef!
  • Elegant, direct, wholesome
  • A must for fans of good cooking
  • Wonderful classic French cooking
The Lutece Cookbook
Andre Soltner , and Seymour Britchky
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
HistoryHistory | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
FrenchFrench | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
New YorkNew York | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Paul Bocuse's Regional French Cooking Paul Bocuse's Regional French Cooking
  2. Georges Perrier Le Bec-Fin Recipes Georges Perrier Le Bec-Fin Recipes
  3. Le Bernardin Cookbook: Four-Star Simplicity Le Bernardin Cookbook: Four-Star Simplicity
  4. Ducasse Flavors of France Ducasse Flavors of France
  5. The Farallon Cookbook: The Very Best of San Francisco Seafood Cuisine The Farallon Cookbook: The Very Best of San Francisco Seafood Cuisine

ASIN: 0679422730
Release Date: 1995-10-10

Book Description

Contains 333 recipes, with illustrations by Henry Kibel.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars French home cooking.......2006-06-05

After graduating from college I started to cook for myself, primarily so I could eat a healthier diet. Two-odd years and many barely edible messes later, I find myself starting to develop a cook's intuition: what brand names provide better ingredients, what substances are NOT adequate substitutes (the cliche being baking powder vs. soda), when proportions are balanced, how much time recipes take, and so on.

When I picked this book up after failing to find Bourdain's "Les Halles" cookbook in the library, I wasn't expecting anything special. Later on I took the time to flip through most of it and was intrigued. Finally I tried the Rhubarb Tart recipe and BAM! -- I was amazed. As other reviewers have mentioned, Soltner has an unerring sense of harmony, and most of his recipes call for (relatively) basic ingredients.

After reading the book in depth and trying a few more recipes, I felt in awe. This was clearly the best cookbook I had ever come across, beating out even Marcella Hazan's "Essential Italian". To name several of many reasons:

1) Soltner started cooking before my dad was born, and clearly maintains a respect for the terrines, quenelles, and mousses that characterize classic French cooking. But as he admits he adapted the best parts of food trends throughout the years, and even includes some childhood favorites and regional specialties from his boyhood in Alsace. (Incidentally, Alsace seems to have produced more than its share of world-class cooks...) So you are as likely to find a recipe for inventive pike sausages or Alsatian potato pie as something with sole or truffles.

2) The recipes are clearly chosen for the home cook. There are complicated recipes, to be sure, but without the showy intricacy common in Thomas Keller's recipes or, say, the "Babbo" cookbook, where long and careful preparation leads to just one small dish. Every recipe offers plenty of "bang for the buck".

3) The introductory material is fascinating. It includes a description of the trademark atmosphere of Lutece, a "day in the life of" recorded before Soltner retired, some musings from Soltner himself, and a concise but thorough discussion of the most common ingredients and techniques. Through it all you get a sense of the warmth and hospitality that characterizes Soltner both as a cook and as a person. And the wry, lighthearted comments continue throughout for most recipes.

A few final words of praise. The presentation of the book is nigh-perfect. Large enough to be readable, small enough to contain a slew of recipes covering the main categories of French cuisine. The directions are precise, the ingredients proportions correct, no glossy images take up space but there are occasional hand-drawings.

Getting back to my own experience, I don't think that I could have fully appreciated "Lutece" a year ago. Every single recipe is worth making. And what's more, Soltner has this remarkable way of pointing out the subtle, yet important, details for each recipe (for example the exact butterfat content necessary in chocolate for the Chocolate Tart). Yet he is not too fussy, often suggesting adequate substitutes for more rare or expensive ingredients such as morels. Use this book, eat well, and become a better cook.

Mr. Soltner, my deepest respect to you for your marvelous work, both in the kitchen and in print. And Mr. Britchky, my heartfelt thanks for convincing Mr. Soltner to produce this book. I would be minus a culinary gem without it.

5 out of 5 stars First class cookbook from a first class chef!.......2001-04-15

This is one of the best and most useful cookbooks by a great chef that you are likely to find. Too often such books aren't suited for the home cook and are more about ego than food. That is definitely not the case here. Andre Soltner was the owner and chef of the renowed Lutece, a New York institution, for three decades. In this book he shares some of the history of the great restaurant as well as his Alastian heritage. The focus of the book, however, is the food. Significantly, Soltner recognizes that he is writing for the home cook. He thoughtfully provides tips on how to find ingredients or acceptable substitutes for those of us who don't have access to an exotic wholesaler and suggests the best kinds of kitchen accessories to use. It is obvious that Soltner cooks these recipes in his own home. You don't need a first class professional kitchen to enjoy these recipes. Also, the recipes are designed for suitable portion sizes; these aren't recipes to feed a crowd that have been shrunk to fit the cookbook. Just because this book is practical, however, doesn't mean that it doesn't focus on the most sophisticated kind of food. There is plenty of classical French cooking in this book, but it all seems like something you can accomplish in your own kitchen. There are plenty of things in here that you won't want to cook - there's an abundance of organ meats - but you will thoroughly enjoy anything that you do prepare. This is a great addition to any kitchen library.

5 out of 5 stars Elegant, direct, wholesome.......2001-03-30

The collaboration between Britchkey and Soltner is a long one and began when the former became a food critic at large. He continually gave Lutece the highest award year after year for the very reasons found in this book: No fancy dancy, inside out topsy turvey "presentation", no exotic mixing of Indian and Southern cooking, no "tricks". What he admired was the sheer artistry behind the dish, the always fresh ingredients, the simple yet complete recipes that harken back to the chef's days as a boy in France and in particular, the Alsace region.

Many of these offerings are peculiarly French with ingredients that may not be common to average American cooks. Yet almost all can be prepared at home with a little bit of time and effort. This is NOT food for the diet crowd although Soltner's use of creams and butters and oils is entirely reasonable and serves to accentuate rather than hide flavors. Particularly appealing are the many stories of his childhood and early cooking days that are shared throughout the book.

5 out of 5 stars A must for fans of good cooking.......2000-02-27

If, like me, your idea of culinary hell is quinoa blini with kimchee "tartare", wasabi sorbet in a pesto tuile, and a two-inch stick of "roasted" tuna on an acre of herb sprigs, then this is the cookbook for you. Soltner's recipes appear remarkable today, since they are both delicious and totally unpretentious, almost simple. These recipes are classically French, from the Alsace region, and despite the fact that they were regulars in one of the world's greatest restaurants, many are also easy to prepare. There is neither fusion nor fussiness in this food, just respect for good ingredients and some tried and true techniques. You don't need to be a highly experienced or highly equipped amateur to try many of these; all you need is a bit of patience and a good appetite. Try the mushroom-Gruyere salad or the grilled trout. Of course there are some very sophisticated and difficult dishes as well. I never ate at Lutece and probably neither did you, but at least all our favorite entertainers did. So if you like true French food and would rather beat eggs than fend off paparazzi, you should buy this book.

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful classic French cooking.......1997-12-12

This is the first cookbook I bought that introduced me to truly amazing food. The wonderful sauces and new ingredients were fantastic to cook and bake. If you like excellent, simple food, this is the book to get.
The Final Crisis: Combat in Northern Alsace, January 1945
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Richard Engler's work is wonderfully written.
  • Gripping, compelling...a must have!
  • Crisis Indeed
  • Vivid picture of war at the front and at hone
  • Doom Awaits Tomorrow in Alsace
The Final Crisis: Combat in Northern Alsace, January 1945
Richard E., Jr. Engler
Manufacturer: The Aberjona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

StrategyStrategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Personal NarrativesPersonal Narratives | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Western FrontWestern Front | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Germany | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND Seven Days in January: With the 6th SS-Mountain Division in Operation NORDWIND
  2. When the Odds Were Even: The Vosges Mountains Campaign, October 1944-January 1945 When the Odds Were Even: The Vosges Mountains Campaign, October 1944-January 1945
  3. Into the Mountains Dark: A WWII Odyssey from Harvard Crimson to Infantry Blue Into the Mountains Dark: A WWII Odyssey from Harvard Crimson to Infantry Blue
  4. Bootprints Bootprints
  5. YOU CAN'T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN THIS: Combat With Company H, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division YOU CAN'T GET MUCH CLOSER THAN THIS: Combat With Company H, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division

ASIN: 0966638913

Book Description

A multi-faceted book built around an intensely personal and vivid memoir of infantry combat in the last brutal winter of WWII. The author combines these carefully-verified recollections with an insightful description and analysis of the social dynamics within an incompletely-trained infantry platoon thrown into combat unexpectedly and prematurely in the face of Operation NORDWIND, the last German offensive on the Western Front in WWII. Framed by a comprehensive and detailed account of the US Seventh Army's tenacious struggle to halt a combined German force including Tiger tanks, Luftwaffe paratroopers, previously-undefeated SS mountain infantry, and the last of Germany's manpower reserves, The Final Crisis provides credit to the American infantrymen and tankers who halted the last threat to the Western Alliance. Long overshadowed by the Ardennes Offensive, the so-called "Battle of the Bulge," which barely preceded it, the struggle to halt the NORDWIND offensive comes to life at every level from foxhole to field army.

8.5" x 11" format; 25 original maps; 20 original pen and ink drawings, rendered by Colonel (then-Lieutenant) Ted MacKechnie, 42d Infantry Division, WWII; index

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Richard Engler's work is wonderfully written........2006-06-21

Dear Sir or Madam:
The only thing that keeps this book from being a 5 star is that it is softcover and does not include photos. The U.S Army combat cameraman nor Colonel Bonn can be blamed for this because the U.S 7th Army's combat cameramen 163rd Signal Photo Company records for January state that they indeed took photos and film of the nightmarish and terrifying "Battle of Rittershoffen and Hatten"(ofcourse "The Battle of 'Rittershoffen'" meaning in German "The Battle of 'Knight's Hope'."
These and other Battles like the Saar Gap, Vosges Mountains at Wingen and Reipertswiller, Herrlisheim and Gambsheim, and the Moder River were heavily filmed and photograped by the 163rd Signal Photo Company combat cameramen are now missing in action at the National Archives.
Gratefully, the 100th Infantry division now recognizes that it was the 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron on their eastern flank, an independent unit, just attached to Task Force Hudelson, that bugged out without confirming even radio contact to the U.S 14th Armored Division's 94th Cavalry Reconaissance Squadron in the center, before the 117th Cav Recon Sqdrn took off "without orders" and ended up in Saverne!
Called what?
Yes that right.
"The 117th Cavalry Recon Squadron 'Bugged Out'.
Also, soldiers must understand mathematically from the U.S Army Statistical Branch Studies that an Infantry Division has to have twice as many casualties as an Armored Division to have the same average casualties per rifle company. In other words, there are no Infantry Divisions that fought along the Upper Rhine during Operation Northwind that have double the number of casualties of neither the 12th or 14th Armored Divisions (see appendix "U.S 7th Army History").
Yes, they had 25% of their casualties in tank companies. But they only had 9 armored infantry companies per armored division which would take 65% of the casualties in each armored division (see U.S Army Statistical Branch Studies of casualties in Armored Divisions verses Infantry Divisions.
Finally, the only error the Editor and Legend Colonel Keith Bonn made is that he failed to connect the 2nd phase of "Operation Northwind" along the Upper Rhine against the U.S 6th Corps (of Anzio fame) and its 12th and 14th Armored Divisions, the legendary 36th,42nd (Task Force Linden),45th,70th (Task Force Herren),79th, and 103rd Divisions; against the re-equipped 10th SS Panzer, 21st Panzer, 25th Panzer Grenadier Divisions along with the 7th Parachute Division, the 6th SS Mountain Division and 2 German Infantry Divisions and its real purpose to destroy American forces North of Strasbourg on the Upper Rhine which the German High Command thought Eisenhower was going to cross as early as late November 1944! Nothing to do with the Ardennes, the German were pulling out on January 8th, 1945 while the 3 entire German Corps challenged the VI Corps from January 5-26th, 1945. See "Riviera to the Rhine" by Dr.Clarke 'A Dubious Decision' and the 400 pages of records captured by Soviet Forces south of Berlin at Potsdam where the World War II German Military Records were archived. The are now stored at the open Russian Central Military Archives in Podolsk south of Moscow.
Dan Kneeland


Sincerely,
Dan Kneeland

5 out of 5 stars Gripping, compelling...a must have!.......2004-09-04

One of the best memoirs/battle accounts of any book on WWII. Meticulously researched, compellingly told, it will satisfy both the avid WWII reader and the scholar. Engler includes plenty of footnotes at the end of each chapter which demonstrates an unparalled research effort, one done with most care and then crafted into a wonderful narrative.

This little-known but critical battle finally gets its due. Engler masterfully recounts the infantryman's-eye view of battle, all the while integrating the street-to-street and house-to-house fighting into the larger context of the American effort in WWII in 1944-1945. Engler elaborates on the condition of the American Army post-Normandy breakout. Everyone expected the war to be in its final stages. But behind the "greatest generation" was a desperate effort to keep America motivated, and an even more desperate effort to scrape whatever barrels remained of soldier manpower. Engler's research convincingly demonstrates the faults of America's technology over manpower approach which stacked logistics and the machine arms while shortchanging the infantry. It is a conclusion in short supply, but one that sheds light on the battle and the war.

The only minor quibble is that the book is physically too large--the pages are 8.5 x 11, and the text can be hard on the eyes. But that is not enough to detract even 1/2 of a star from its top rating.

5 out of 5 stars Crisis Indeed.......2004-05-27

Though I have read many, many books on WWII, I never understood the significance of the campaign in Southern France, and the Vosges, until I read this book. I never knew how close the Allies actually came to having serious problems!

Engler covers a lot of ground in this book. The readers gets several different ways of looking at what happened. These range all the way from the strategic decisions, all the way down to looking over a GI's rifle sights.

The book is well researched, and well written. I found it very informative, and I'm sure anyone else will, also.

5 out of 5 stars Vivid picture of war at the front and at hone.......2004-02-15

The best aspect of "The Final Crisis", apart from its detailed and powerful memior of combat, is Richard Engler's inclusion of descriptions of the U.S. home front as Army infantrymen pass through training and the voyage to Europe to reach the battefield.

Engler descibes the process and circumstances by which many young men who had joined up expecting to take slots in Army aviation or officers' programs, instead found themselves issued rifles and sent into the forests and mountains of the Rhineland. Although Americans generally wanted to be leaders in the war effort and not rank-and-file soldiers, the brutal reality of battle losses swept away many well-laid personal "war plans".

5 out of 5 stars Doom Awaits Tomorrow in Alsace.......2003-12-08

The late Dick Engler's The Final Crisis is an essential read.
A first-in-print, moving account of major force engagements late in the WWII European Theater, this work recounts savage West Front fighting long overshadowed by the larger fabric of final war months.
In winter 1945, what must be assessed as the last of some of the most powerful engagements, Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, and Waffen-SS units locked horns with Allied forces in the varied terrain of Lower Alsace in eastern France -- from the Vosges Mountains to the river plain of the Rhine -- and, ultimately, lost the initiative.
The Gemman "Operation Nordwind" intended to cut through combined Allied-French lines that had been overextended to support the Battle of the Bulge.
Crack SS Panzer units "Frundsberg," Goetz von Berlichingen," 21st and 25th Panzergrenadier divisions, and the SS 6th "Mountain Division 'Nord'" as well as Luftwaffe airborne and German Army ground forces and Volksgrenadier units worked in company to join battle. Ensuing combat was sustained and bloody. Soldiers of the US Seventh Army absorbed horrific enemy blows but held their ground, ultimately blunting the German attack.
The author who participated in the fight, shows detailed research and understanding of this part of the war in Europe. He did extensive research at the National Archives and at the US Military History Institute. Mr. Engler's understanding of this often overlooked part of WWII translates into a stunning account that is worthy of historians' high praise.
Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)

    Manufacturer: Michelin Travel Publications
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GuidebooksGuidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
    Green GuidesGreen Guides | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
    EuropeEurope | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
    FranceFrance | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Travel BooksLook Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Michelin  Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps) Michelin Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps)
    2. Michelin the Green Guide Burgundy Jura (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin the Green Guide Burgundy Jura (Michelin Green Guides)
    3. Michelin Green Guide: Northern France and Paris Region Michelin Green Guide: Northern France and Paris Region
    4. Michelin Green Guide Dordogne Berry Limousin (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin Green Guide Dordogne Berry Limousin (Michelin Green Guides)
    5. Michelin Green Guide Chateaux of the Loire (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin Green Guide Chateaux of the Loire (Michelin Green Guides)

    ASIN: 2067119206

    Book Description

    Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne
    Touring In Wine Country: Alsace (Touring in Wine Country)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Alsace or bust!
    Touring In Wine Country: Alsace (Touring in Wine Country)
    Hubrecht Duijker
    Manufacturer: Mitchell Beazley
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    SpiritsSpirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    Wine & WinemakingWine & Winemaking | Wine | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
    Reference & TipsReference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books | Beaches | Business Travel | Cruises | Essays & Travelogues | Food & Lodging | Guidebooks | Pictorial | Reference | Spas | Tips | Tourist Destinations & Museums | Travel Writing
    GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Travel BooksLook Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Michelin  Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps) Michelin Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps)
    2. Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)
    3. Michelin Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)
    4. Touring In Wine Country: Bordeaux (Touring in Wine Country) Touring In Wine Country: Bordeaux (Touring in Wine Country)
    5. Touring In Wine Country: Burgundy (Touring in Wine Country) Touring In Wine Country: Burgundy (Touring in Wine Country)

    ASIN: 1857325818

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Alsace or bust!.......2000-06-23

    Having never been to the Alsace region, I cannot personally verify the accuracy of this book's information. However, I can vouch for its tantalizing pull compelling me to make the trip!

    This book is well organized and perfectly suited to the reader/traveller who is making a first aquaintance with the Alsace region of France. Though its main focus is introducing the many wines which are produced in this area, I found it to be very informative regarding the history, architecture, and other main attractions of the local cities, towns, and villages. I would definitely recommend it to the everyday traveller as well as the connoisseur interested in a wine touring holiday.

    The preface of the book includes a general introduction to the area, its local cuisines, and wine making traditions. Accompanied with many great pictures, the book then reviews numerous towns and villages which are chosen primarily for their wine making appeal. Each town is introduced with a brief historical background and charmingly described in prose that belies the practical layout of the book: "Possibly the most beautiful spot in the Turckheim is the Place Turenne, tucked behind the Port de France gate. If you spend an evening in the village, listen out for the singing night watchman, who continues a centuries-old Turckheim tradition. Each evening at 10 pm, armed with his halberd and lantern, he walks through the streets passing through each of the gates and warns inhabitants to 'watch their hearths and candles'."

    The book outlines the local hotels and restaurants in each town, including phone numbers and typical prices of these establishments. It also lists local places of interest, market times, and seasonal wine festivals.

    My enthusiasm to visit Alsace has been greatly enhanced by this book. I can almost taste the choucroute and Munster cheese, imagining myself ensconsed in one of the many delightful Alsatian villages.
    The WORLD OF JEWISH COOKING: More Than 500 Traditional Recipes from Alsace to Yemen
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Wonderful cookbook and cultural lesson!
    • The recipes work.
    • Superb book on Jewish food - history, symbolism and recipes
    • an interesting book about food history
    • A great resource on Jewish cuisine.
    The WORLD OF JEWISH COOKING: More Than 500 Traditional Recipes from Alsace to Yemen
    Gil Marks
    Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    SpiritsSpirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    KosherKosher | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Jewish | World | History | Subjects | Books
    Kosher FoodsKosher Foods | Judaism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Religion & Spirituality BooksLook Inside Religion & Spirituality Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Olive Trees and Honey: A Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities Around the World Olive Trees and Honey: A Treasury of Vegetarian Recipes from Jewish Communities Around the World
    2. The Scent of Orange Blossoms: Sephardic Cuisine from Morocco The Scent of Orange Blossoms: Sephardic Cuisine from Morocco
    3. The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking: 200 Seasonal Holiday Recipes and Their Traditions The Essential Book of Jewish Festival Cooking: 200 Seasonal Holiday Recipes and Their Traditions
    4. The New York Times Jewish Cookbook: More than 825 Traditional & Contemporary Recipes from Around the World The New York Times Jewish Cookbook: More than 825 Traditional & Contemporary Recipes from Around the World
    5. 1,000 Jewish Recipes 1,000 Jewish Recipes

    ASIN: 0684835592

    Amazon.com

    Rabbi Marks explains how the Jews, spreading to all corners of the world beginning with the Diaspora, adapted their recipes to local ingredients and adopted the local fare, often giving it new twists. A historian and a chef, he provides a clear explanation of what makes a dish Jewish and why so many Americans associate Jewish cooking with Eastern European food. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy the more than 500 recipes Marks includes. A wealth of historical and culinary information, as well as photos and drawings, accompany the recipes.

    Book Description

    A Comprehensive and Beautiful Treasury of Jewish Cooking

    There is a whole world of Jewish cooking beyond chopped liver and gefilte fish. Scattered across the globe, there are many distinctive, delicious, and authentic Jewish cuisines to be savored. Gil Marks, a rabbi, gourmet chef, and authority on Jewish food history and lore, guides us through this largely undiscovered world. He delights and enlightens with traditional recipes from Italian, Yemenite, Ethiopian, Indian, Eastern European, German, Hungarian, Georgian, Alsatian, and Middle Eastern Jewry; culinary conversations with contemporary members of these ancient and medieval communities; and fascinating commentary on Jewish food and Jewish history.

    The World of Jewish Cooking offers an astonishing array of delicacies, including: Pastilla (Moroccan "Pigeon" Pie) * Kik Wot (Ethiopian Split Peas Stew) * Muez con Almendrada (Moroccan Almond-Walnut Confection) * Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread) * Yakhnat (Persian Lamb Stew) * Murgi Kari (Calcutta Chicken Curry) * Meggy Leves (Hungarian Cherry Soup) * Testine di Spinaci (Italian Spinach Stalks) * Hraimeh (Northwest African Red Fish) * Kubba (Iraqi Stuffed Dumplings) * Marunchinos (Sephardic Almond Macaroons)

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful cookbook and cultural lesson!.......2003-01-27

    This is absolutely my favorite cookbook. The recipes are simple and delicious and the variations that are included offer even more ways to prepare the same dish. Everything that I have tried from this cookbook has turned out so good and have resulted in some of our favorite dishes.
    Rabbi Marks also includes information about spices and vegetables and Jewish culture making the cookbook a fascinating read as well (I actually read the whole cookbook before I even tried any of the recipes!).
    It is well worth the money!

    5 out of 5 stars The recipes work........2002-02-05

    This is one of those rare and wonderful cookbooks in which everything you make turns out the way you hoped it would. I've made many, if not most, of the recipes in this book, with no disasters, and without my usual fiddlings and substitutions--the recipes are great the way they are. Some of them are the basic Jewish fare--honey cake and potato kugel--and some of them are more exotic Sephardi recipes. They're all delicious. It's also a good read, but primarily I like it because I can pull it out for every Shabbos and find things to make that I know will come out.

    4 out of 5 stars Superb book on Jewish food - history, symbolism and recipes.......2001-09-05

    If you're looking for a glossy coffee-table book with lots of stylish photographs, this is not for you. That said, it is an attractive book, well laid-out, printed in two colours and illustrated with old engravings and photographs. The illustrations are of people and markets rather than the dishes themselves, which underscore the book's focus on the origins of the dishes and the people who made them.

    Marks does a great job of explaining why Jewish food is so diverse and how the Jews adapted their recipes to local ingredients, and also adapted the local recipes to the laws of kashrut. He includes recipes from India, Poland and Morocco, and everywhere in between. For many recipes he includes an anecdote or a little bit of history, which bring the dishes to life.

    One of the things this book brought home to me was how important food is in Judaism: everything has a symbolic meaning and you don't eat things just because they taste good, but also because they represent something. At Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, apples dipped in honey represent hopes for a sweet coming year, while the challah (bread) is shaped into a round loaf (instead of being braided as usual) to symbolise the cyclical nature of time. Matzo is eaten at Pesach because when the Jews fled Egypt, they did not have time for their bread dough to rise. Thus at every festival meal the participants are reminded of the meanings of the festival and why it is celebrated.

    The recipes themselves are clearly laid out and look easy to follow, although I haven't tried any of them yet. I didn't notice any impossible-to-find ingredients and the techniques are mostly within the average cook's capabilities.

    The only thing missing in this book (and the reason it got 4 instead of 5 stars) is a more comprehensive section on each festival with a description, which foods are traditionally served, and some sample menus. As it is, if you want to create a Rosh Hashana meal you have to look up the individual recipes in the index. Otherwise a lovely book and well worth the money!

    4 out of 5 stars an interesting book about food history.......1997-12-01

    Even if you aren't Jewish, this is an interesting book on food history. This is a great resource for finding authentic period foods.

    5 out of 5 stars A great resource on Jewish cuisine........1997-01-25

    This book is a great compendium of Jewish recipes from around the world. Just as informative is the history of Jewish cuisine, and food in general! You not only get the recipe for the dish, but the history of it as well
    Michelin  Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Michelin Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps)

      Manufacturer: Michelin Travel Publications
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Map

      WorldWorld | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
      MapsMaps | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
      EuropeEurope | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
      FranceFrance | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
      FrenchFrench | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
      Look Inside Reference BooksLook Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
      Look Inside Travel BooksLook Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
      NonfictionNonfiction | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
      ReferenceReference | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
      TravelTravel | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
      All French BooksAll French Books | French | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
      FrenchFrench | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      WorldWorld | Atlases & Maps | Reference | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | Travel | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Travel | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      EuropeEurope | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      FranceFrance | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      MapsMaps | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin Green Guide Alsace Lorraine Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)
      2. Michelin France Champagne Ardenne (Michelin Maps) Michelin France Champagne Ardenne (Michelin Maps)
      3. Michelin Bourgogne France (Michelin Maps) Michelin Bourgogne France (Michelin Maps)
      4. Michelin Ile-De-France (Michelin Maps) Michelin Ile-De-France (Michelin Maps)
      5. Michelin France Normandie (Michelin Maps) Michelin France Normandie (Michelin Maps)

      ASIN: 2067106325
      The Pâtissier: Recipes and Conversations from Alsace, France
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Alsacian Cooking
      • A great find!
      • Wonderful savory recipes!
      The Pâtissier: Recipes and Conversations from Alsace, France
      Susan Lundquist , Hossine Bennara , and Frederic Lacroix
      Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
      FrenchFrench | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. Michelin Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)
      2. Michelin  Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps) Michelin Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps)
      3. Tartine Tartine
      4. French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure French Women for All Seasons: A Year of Secrets, Recipes, and Pleasure

      ASIN: 0595365051

      Book Description

      The Pâtissier: Recipes and Conversations from Alsace, France was born out of a chance encounter between an American spending a year in France and her neighbor, an Alsatian chef.

      Author Susan Lundquist and photographer, Frédéric Lacroix were in search of the authentic European life after spending a few years in Silicon Valley— and they ran right into it. Just days after moving into their new apartment in the heart of the aptly named Petite France, the oldest and most beautiful neighborhood in the city of Strasbourg in Alsace, they came face to face with a two week garbage strike in a town full of restaurants, a furnished apartment that included creepy critters,, and a 90 year old land lord who was proud of his WW II plumbing. They were in over their heads until their neighbor Hossine “Ben” Bennara invited the couple over for dinner. He gave them advice on everything including local recipes, thus creating a beautiful friendship centered around French cuisine. After this life-changing meeting, the concept of The Pâtissier: Recipes and Conversations from Alsace, France developed naturally—a collection of stories, humor, and meals reflecting BenÂ's life and family recipes.

      Together, Ben and Susan have compiled the ultimate combo in The Pâtissier—good food and good company!

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Alsacian Cooking.......2007-01-10

      Excellent cookbook! My father is Alsacian and approved my attempts at Alsacian cooking.

      5 out of 5 stars A great find!.......2006-03-21

      I recently went to a great French bistro and had such an enjoyable experience, that I was hoping to replicate some of the delicious, but somewhat unorthodox, dishes. And this cookbook was perfect; it is filled with savory and hard-to-find recipes. I've only tried a few of them at this point, but found them all to be easy to follow. Plus the results are delicious! A great addition to any kitchen.

      5 out of 5 stars Wonderful savory recipes!.......2006-03-09

      I've been looking for a cookbook from this particular region for a long time,and this one is a winner! The recipes are delicious and easy to follow. The stories about Alsace are entertaining and give the reader a feeling of this little known region in France. This beautiful book can go on the coffee table or in the kitchen.
      Dialectionnaire (alsacien, francais et allemand): Dreisprachiges Worterbuch
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Dialectionnaire (alsacien, francais et allemand): Dreisprachiges Worterbuch
        Claude Guizard
        Manufacturer: Editions du Rhin
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

        FrenchFrench | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
        GermanGerman | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
        GermanGerman | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
        Foreign Language FictionForeign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Arabic | Chinese | Dutch | French | German | Italian | Japanese | Latin | Portuguese | Russian | Spanish | More Languages
        FrenchFrench | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books | All French Books | Arts & Photography | Audiocassettes | Children's Books | Entertainment | Health, Mind & Body | History | Middle French | Nonfiction | Old French | Professional & Technical | Reference | Religion & Spirituality | Travel
        ASIN: 2863390694
        The Wines of Alsace (Faber Books on Wine)
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • the book is dated but very well written
        The Wines of Alsace (Faber Books on Wine)
        Tom Stevenson
        Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        SpiritsSpirits | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
        Wine & WinemakingWine & Winemaking | Wine | Drinks & Beverages | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
        1. The Wines Of Germany (Classic Wine Library) The Wines Of Germany (Classic Wine Library)
        2. Sherry: Mitchell Beazley Classic Wine Library Sherry: Mitchell Beazley Classic Wine Library
        3. Barolo to Valpolicella: The Wines of Northern Italy (Classic Wine Library) Barolo to Valpolicella: The Wines of Northern Italy (Classic Wine Library)
        4. The Wines of the Northern Rhône The Wines of the Northern Rhône
        5. World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Revised and Updated Edition World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Revised and Updated Edition

        ASIN: 0571149537

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars the book is dated but very well written.......2001-10-21

        For Alsace wine enthusiasts this is a wonderful read, and has just about all the pertinent facts about the region, among them all the famous and less well known varietals, all the major producers, the villages, the grand cru vinyards complete with maps, technical information about the Vendanges Tardive and Selection de Grains Noble and how they compare to the German QmP designations, extensive tasting notes, and a detailed vintage chart up to 1992. Needless to say a new edition with more recent vintages would be very welcome.There is over 570 pages of detailed information, including a linguistic analysis. The author wears his considerable scholarship lightly and his sense of humor is used judiciously. Recommended with enthusiasm.
        Michelin Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Michelin Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne (Michelin Green Guides)

          Manufacturer: Michelin Travel Publications
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | France | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
          GuidebooksGuidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
          Green GuidesGreen Guides | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
          EuropeEurope | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
          FranceFrance | Michelin | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Travel | Subjects | Books
          Look Inside Travel BooksLook Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
          Similar Items:
          1. Michelin  Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps) Michelin Alsace, Lorraine, France (Michelin Local France Maps)
          2. Michelin the Green Guide Dordogne Berry Limousin (Michelin Green Guides) Michelin the Green Guide Dordogne Berry Limousin (Michelin Green Guides)
          3. The Pâtissier: Recipes and Conversations from Alsace, France The Pâtissier: Recipes and Conversations from Alsace, France
          4. Michelin Germany (Michelin Map) Michelin Germany (Michelin Map)
          5. Michelin Red Guide 2007 France: Hotels & Restaurants (Michelin Red Guides) Michelin Red Guide 2007 France: Hotels & Restaurants (Michelin Red Guides)

          ASIN: 2060000890

          Books:

          1. The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete
          2. The Pacific Crest Trail: California (Pacific Crest Trail)
          3. The Post-Birthday World
          4. The Power of One (Young Reader's Edition)
          5. The Rough Guide to Germany 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
          6. The Rough Guide to Ireland 8 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
          7. The Secret Art of Boabom: Awakening Inner Power Through Defense-Meditation from Ancient Tibet
          8. The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
          9. The Thomas Guide 2007 Bay Area Metro: Metro Areas opf Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties (Metro Bay Area Street Guide)
          10. The Unbearable Lightness of Being: A Novel (Perennial Classics)

          Books Index

          Books Home

          Recommended Books

          1. Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
          2. Alexander Hamilton
          3. Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About
          4. Trump: How to Get Rich
          5. XML in a Nutshell, Third Edition
          6. A Rich Man's Secret: An Amazing Formula for Success
          7. A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar
          8. Glencoe Accounting: 1st Year Course, Outer Banks Marketplace, Inc.
          9. Time Series Models: 2nd Edition
          10. White Mans Justice, Black Man's Grief