Cooking For Engineers

[cynicalb]

Marix - I believe the book that you reference is "The Physiology of Taste: Or Meditations on Transcendental Gastronomy" by Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. I haven't read it myself, but Brillat-Savarin is always quoted as one of the classic minds in cooking.

Just recently picked up two titles at used book stores - the previously mentioned "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee (the original printing, not the new, revised edition) and "Larousse Gastronomique" (original English translation from 1961).

I've just skimmed "On Food and Cooking" and it looks like it will become one of my standard references. Very informative, and I already have ideas on how to use the information to improve my cooking.

I've been wanting to get a copy of "Larousse" for years, but the new editions are so expensive and trying to find a used one is almost hopeless. "Larousse" is like a Mark's Mechanical Engineers' Handbook for cooks - encyclopedic in layout and very broad in coverage. Everything that you ever wanted to know about cooking - at least from a French perspective. You must have a good grounding in cooking for it to be useful, but if you do, it is invaluable. It is especially good with respect to the evolution of cooking. Plus, I just love classic anything, so it is a wonderful addition to my book collection.

[cynicalb]

An interesting entry in my "Larousse":

"CAT - Domestic cat whose edible meat has a flavour halfway between that of rabbit and that of hare. Cat's meat has often been eaten in periods of famine or siege. Legend has it that in the cook-shops the cat is often used in the making of rabbit fricasses. Examination of the bones would easily enable one, in case of doubt, to distinguish between the one animal and the other."

Hmmm....cat, the other white meat?

[DuxIl]

I always taste with my thong. It is especially taste-sensitive...

[Guest]

[ldyvic]

If you all like to collect cook books, as I do. This website is a good place to start.

Who needs cooking school (unless you are in need of certifications and degrees) when you can buy all the books you need to teach yourself. :-)

http://marketplace.chef2chef.net/cookbook-store/index.htm

[Chef Ewok]

I found Mark Bittman's "How to cook everything" invaluable.

[McDee]

[newfanofCFE]

Just gushed about this amazing web site in the "marshmallow" section so won't repeat. Suffice that I love you all for our mutual obsession!

My suggestion for cookbook follows my passion for baking. Rose Levy Beranbaum's Cake Bible (and I'm guessing her Pie and other "Bibles") is amazing. Her intro where she describes her Masters dissertation on sifting flour for a cake - is just the beginning. Her "Understanding" sections after each recipe tell you exactly why this cake is different from that one.

I've had the book for years and am still discovering things in it. It's the most bent, spilled on, book-marked, and deformed book on my shelves.

Also a huge Alton Brown fan, mentioned on many posts....but don't forget the guest he has on quite often! I'm embarassed to not know her name, but she is a food scientist, and historian and is wonderful.

Thanks again All - happy cooking!

[Michael Chu]

[Thor]

After everyone has purchased one of the great books off of the recommented reading page to help support Michael and his outstanding webpage, you may enjoy the webcasts at:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/index.html

The couple I watched were informative and entertaining, but not overly scientific, as they seem to be geared for a large age range. The Thanksgiving Turkey thermodynamics lesson regarding heat loss/gain of a roasting bird made me wish I had paid better attention in school.

[nicu]

Check out the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) line of books. They publish more than just the PDR, including a book on herbal medicines and several on nonprescription drugs or nutritional supplements.