Must Have Cookbooks
This Food That Wine and Hip Tastes by Courtney Cochran and More
It’s that time of year when the foodies in your life deserve a treat or two to tide them over until the next time they start jonesing for a new cookbook or food-related book. So to make life a little easier for you, I’ve compiled a handy dandy list of delectable and noteworthy books that you might consider giving to that lucky gourmand in your life.
All About the Wine:
This Food That Wine- Food and Wine Pairing Made Easy! by Angie MacRae, Stacey Metulynsky and Chris Knight is a perfect place to start. Sommelier and wine fanatic Metulynsky offers serving tips, food pairing ideas and tasting notes from the everyday to the special while Chef MacRae cooks up a storm for entertaining, casual dinners or more formal affairs. The book is based on the Food Network Canada’s program by the same name where the enterprising duo helped a host throw a bash to remember. Now you get the benefit of their experience and invaluable ideas to put together your own production- however large or small!
Hip Tastes-The Fresh Guide to Wine by San Fransisco-based certified sommelier Courtney Cochran offers an unpretentious cheat-sheet of sorts to the often mystifying world of wine. From vintages to varieties, you can bone up on your viniferous lingo and knowledge so that at your next dinner party, you can discuss serving, storing or buying tips like a pro!
All About the Food:
Pure Food- How to Shop, Cook and Have Fun in your Kitchen Every Day by Christine Cushing is every time-strapped home cooks best pal. Cushing, best known for her many Food Network Canada series offers up a bevy of recipes geared at getting dinner on the table pronto, using seasonal, fresh fare you can find in most any grocery store. One of the books biggest claims to fame, “Many dishes can be prepared in less time than it takes to order a pizza!”
Dana’s Top Ten Table- 200 Takes on Family-Friendly Meals by Dana McCauley redefines some of Canadian’s favourite meals. McCauley, one of this country’s leading food experts, takes the top ten most popular dishes and offers fresh, contemporary and tasty spins on classics to make meal time fun and flavourful. Impeccably tested recipes so you don’t have to guess at the outcomes!
The Complete Light Kitchen by Rose Reisman offers readers food that’s as good for you as it tastes. No rice crackers and water diets here- Reisman espouses moderation and yes, that means dessert once in a while too. Her recipes are designed to fill you up on nutrient-dense ingredients that keep you fuelled for the long-haul. For some of her recipes- including a wonderful Butternut Squash and Apple Puree, click here.
Good to Know:
Knife Skills: A User’s Manual by Peter Hertzmann is perfect for any aspiring chef who either wants to know proper knife skills or for those who want to take it to the next level. Clear illustrations and text provide context and a few “aha” light bulb moments for the home cook. Read Food Trend’s Interview with Peter by clicking here.
Hungry Traveler:
Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining by Braiden Rex-Johnson gives readers an insider’s look at some of the region’s best restaurants and vineyards as well as some terrific recipes from her journeys. A journey of cultural and culinary discovery, Rex-Johnson makes pit stops in places such as Walla-Walla, Seattle, B.C. and Idaho to bring gems like Tarte Tatin with Cider Cream to life for you.
Happy Browsing to one and all!
