I have been drooling over this book from the second I laid eyes on it. I Know How To Cook is “the bible of traditional French home cooking” and this particular version is the first time it’s been translated into English. That’s nice and all, but oh my goodness, look at those illustrations! The dust jacket even unfolds into a beautiful poster. As a graphic design/home cook I’m totally in love.
My only complaint is that they stuck this giant sticker on the dust jacket and as I pulled it off (thinking it was one of those easily removable ones) it tore the beautiful cover. Why, why, why do publishers do that?! Arg, I was not a happy lady. Dear Phaidon, if you’re reading this, please send me a new cover. Let’s not end on a sour note though, look at these:
The book is interspersed with beautiful photography like this photo of tomato sorbet.
And more beautiful illustrations. If I could, I would frame every page, even the nice clean layout of the recipes. Love it! I can’t wait until I can get in the kitchen with it and try out some of the tasty sounding recipes.
P.S. I have to apologize for my lack of posts lately. Moving/preparing a new apartment and publishing a magazine at the same time has been slightly overwhelming. Things will be a little slow over here for a bit, but I’ll be back with a spash in a week or two. Thanks for sticking around!
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
Such a stunning jacket! let me see if I can find this book locally. I’m not an avid French food fan (or rather haven’t had much exposure to it here) but I would totally buy this for the photographs and adorable illustrations.
While I’m going to miss your posts, all my best wishes for the big move are with you!
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Regarding the book jacket…what kind of paper is it? Is it the uncoated type that just feels like normal paper, or is it the type that has a shiny plastic-like coating? If it’s the shiny coated type and there’s a stubborn sticker, you can use lighter fluid to remove it. I know, sounds dangerous…but lighter fluid evaporates almost instantly and won’t harm the jacket. If the paper is un-coated, however, you’re pretty much stuck with the sticker, pun intended.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
Kelly, your slow posting is still more than the rest of us! Ha. Good luck with move and with Remedy!
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I’ve had my eye on this book for ages! I flip through it in virtually every bookstore I find it in…you’ve inspired me to bite the bullet and actually purchase it. Those illustrations are just irresistible, and I’m on board with any book that finds tomato sorbet to be part of the basic food lexicon!
December 4th, 2009 at 11:59 am
And the recipes are as nice as the graphics? C’est parfait! I hate it when the pictures are pretty but the food just doesn’t measure up.
December 4th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Ooh…is there anything better than sitting down with a new cookbook?
December 5th, 2009 at 5:30 am
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say
except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
December 8th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Yeah, the design is pretty sweet.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I would love to have a copy of this! I have been collecting cookbooks and I would gladly welcome this book in my collection.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Enjoy your blog. Thank you.
linked…
http://prettybeautifulblogs.blogspot.com/
January 7th, 2010 at 7:21 am
That book looks beautiful.
January 11th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Wow, this book looks amazing! Wish I’d seen this post before I left the U.S. yesterday! Oh well, Amazon is always there for me, I suppose.
March 30th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
That book looks beautiful
April 6th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
That book looks beautiful
December 28th, 2010 at 3:37 am
You’re soooo talented in writing. God is truly using you in tremendous methods. You’re doing a great job! This was an incredible blog!