» Oh dear. The 2006 James Beard Awards Nominees have been announced. I'm committed to acquiring only 1 new cookbook a year — it takes about a year of consistent effort to put a well-made cookbook through its paces. I think it's going to come down to a choice between Vegetarian Suppers from Deborah Madison's Kitchen and Washoku: Recipes From The Japanese Home Kitchen. (I've wanted to learn Japanese cooking since I visited there last year.) Thankfully, the third book I really want isn't really a cookbook at all: Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, the new project from the folks who put together the wonderful Material World: A Global Family Portrait.
rebecca's pocket
.: April 2006 --> James Beard Award 2006 Nominees
James Beard Award 2006 Nominees
[ 04.06.06 ]
I LOVE the the Washoku cookbook. I checked it out of my library for a trial run and I've decided it's a keeper. Very clear and not intimidating for people like me who wants to learn more about a very foreign culture.
I love Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison. I bet Vegetarian Suppers is also great.
For vegetarian cooking, I suggest Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz (Post Punk Kitchen). The lemon waffles with blueberry sauce is amazing and the vegan matzo ball soup is the best I've ever had.
I just love Hungry Planet. I reviewed it in depth on my food blog:
http://www.justhungry.com/2005/12/reading_hungry_.html
It's quite big and expensive, but you won't regret getting it!
As for Washoku, I haven't had a chance to take a look at it yet (well...I don't really need it, being Japanese) but anything by Elizabeth Andoh regarding Japanese culture is bound to be good.