What I'm Reading

The Elements of Cooking:
Translating the Chef's Craft for Every Kitchen
by Michael Ruhlman

The cooking world needs definition. We can't keep calling tomatoes cooked in olive oil confit. You can't call fried rabbit a fricasse no matter how much you want to, and gosh darnit, "bolognese" doesn't mean you put baloney in it. Michael Ruhlman is here to keep us on the straight and narrow and The Elements of Cooking gives us what no other technique book or dictionary has to date. It should be on bookstore shelves as of mid-November 2007. Absolutely essential for every cook.

Mouth Wide Open
by John and Matt Thorne

If it were not for the Thorne's excellent Outlaw Cook I would not be enjoying the fabulous culinary quasi-celebrity lifestyle that I am. These guys are the real thing, the hard stuff and the best food writers writing in the English language. M.W.O. is in galleys but should be out later this year. Of course if you haven't read Outlaw Cook or Serious Pig you ought to get caught up.

West With The Night
by Beryl Markham

Markham was raised in Africa in the dawn of the twentieth century and went on to become an aviatrix to put the more publicized (not to mention lost) Amelia Earhart to shame. Her memoir handsomely captures ages of aviation and of Africa that are long gone. By the way this is the book that made Hemingway feel like a no talent "carpenter".

Feasting on Asphalt, The River Run
by Alton Brown & J.C. Dhien

Okay so it's not printed yet but I have been reading it a lot. Just under 200 pages of great photos, motorcycle hijinx and road tried recipes. Due out in Arpil of '08 by Stewart, Tabori & Chang.

(Okay, enough shameless plugging)

Peace With God
by Billy Graham

If anyone's got an in with the Big Guy it is Graham and this book, first released in 1953 provides straight talk about getting right with God. Life changing and after-life changing stuff here.

The God Of Cookery
by Steven Chow

DVD of the moment: Good luck finding a disc of this 1997 film by comedy kung fu master Steven Chow (Kung Fu Hustle). But if you can, you?re in for a treat. I'd like to remake this one for the English speaking market.