Cookbook Meme- "I'm Tagged"

Rachael from Fresh Approach has tagged me to do the latest cookbook meme that's been going around.


Cookbook Meme 

I am to answer the Five Favorite Cookbooks questions below.

1. Total number of (cook) books I’ve owned: This was my opportunity to actually count all the cookbooks I have currently. I counted 277 books and 3 of my personal binders filled with recipe clippings.

2. Last (cook) book I bought: Desserts, Wiliams-Sonoma, The Best of the Kitchen Library 2005.

3. Last (food) book I read: The New Taste of Chocolate, A Cultural History of Cacao with Recipes by Marieel E. Presilla

4. Five (cook) books that mean a lot to me:

 Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom- Essential Techniques and Recipes from A Lifetime of cooking- Julia Child. This book means a lot to me simply because it is personally signed by Julia and was probably her last.

 Sylvia’s Family Soul Food Cookbook, From Hemingway, South Carolina, to Harlem- Sylvia Woods and Family. One might think that I love this book for first name sake. My love is one of respect for Sylvia Woods who from poverty built a soul food empire from hard work, commitment and strong family support. I use many of her recipes as a base for many of my own meals. She is nicknamed the “Queen of Soulfood” which is most fitting as her notoriety has opened the world to a style of cooking which was for many years only familiar to the Black American lifestyle. Sorry to say, I have never eaten in her restaurant but I did receive as a gift, a can of Sylvia’s Black Eye Peas. I also own one of her other cookbooks, but this meme limited me to five books. The story would be the same.

 Mess Management Specialist- United States Navy, Navy Education and Training Command. For those of you familiar with my background you know I have a son in the U.S. Navy. He is a CSSR which translates to Navy Cook. He also has a deep love and passion for all things food. During his mess training, they used this manual as the primary text. Upon completion, he gave it to me. It is close to me primarily for this reason but in addition, the wealth of information from conversions, inventory and stocking galleys, equipment use and cooking for the masses, etc is all-inclusive in this manual.

 The Bombay Café- Neela Paniz. I took a class taught by Neela Paniz at the Culver City New School of Cooking about a year ago. I thoroughly enjoyed the simplicity which Neela presented Indian cooking and the passion she also has for the food. The recipes are easy, authentic and tasty. By the way, this is also a personally autographed copy from Neela to me.

 Bouchon- Thomas Keller with Jeffrey Cerciello. I found an autographed copy at a local Barnes and Noble. I missed the actual appearance of the authors I am told, by one day. This cookbook is just as special as The French Laundry Cookbook (not autographed) simply because they provide an opening into the world of Thomas Keller, a master.

5. Which 5 people would you most like to see fill this out in their blog?
I don't know who's done this already, so if you've already written one up, let me know.

Big Lu
Rustic
Rose
Jason
Foodgoat

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