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Best Sellers October 2005
 1. Susur: A Culinary Life
Susur Lee
The accolades started rolling in even before the proverbial ink dried in this
book. As it does to raise a child, so with this book it took almost a village
to bring it to life. At the centre are two creative geniuses: Susur Lee whose
recipes supplied the raison d’etre for the book and Sara Angel whose “fused
book” vision perfectly represents the seamless whole that Lee has woven
between his culinary life and the life lived beyond the kitchen. The Book One
essays which chronicle Lee’s life, are credited to Jacob Richler. The
recipes which comprise Book Two, will provide inspiration to other chefs as
those of Trotter, Ducasse, and Keller have. For the talented amateur they will
provide challenge. Throughout the photography of Shun Sasabuchi and Edward
Pond are breathtaking. This is a truly stunning achievement which confirms
Lee ’s place in the heights of international culinary stardom. Hardcover,
2 books of 128 pp each, $60.00.
2. Jamie's Italy
Jamie Oliver
One of the great delights of this business has been watching the maturation of
Jamie Oliver. Despite the great and early fame which came to him in his 'Naked
Chef' incarnation, he has retained a sense of whence he came. In this culinary
tour of Italy he celebrates the food which played a major part in his early career
with Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers at the River Café, with Gennaro Contaldo,
with Antonio Carlucci. There are some less familiar versions of well-known dishes
including some particularly seductive risottos, one with artichoke, another with
cauliflower. Not just content to pass along recipes, Oliver also creates a sense
of the place and of the personalities which have shaped them and perhaps himself.
Wonderful photograph of landscapes, food, and people. Hardcover, 319 pp, $49.95.
3. Wish: From Market to Table
Donna Dooher and Andrea Stewart with Suzanne Dimma and Jane Fancisco
Wish, a new entry in the Canadian magazine market, celebrates its first anniversary
with this new cookbook. Dooher and Stewart of Mildred Pierce restaurant fame,
bring their many talents to this all encompassing book. Lots of international
recipes, shopping lists, tips, seasonal ingredients and party ideas and of course
colour photos. Paper, 160 pp, $19.95.
4. A Shortbread
Sampler
Mary McGrath
What magic is made in the simple combination of flour, sugar and butter! Everyone
loves shortbread and this little book, written by local author McGrath, includes
50 great recipes. It has been published as a fundraiser for The Fresh Air and
Santa Claus Funds at The Toronto Star, with the proceeds allowing children
to attend summer camp and have a holiday full of gifts. A bestseller for the
season (and the 2002 year)! Please try the Whipped Shortbread on page 26. Softcover,
64 pp. $9.95.
5. Barefoot in Paris
Ina Garten
The Barefoot Contessa took her show in the road and came back with some of the
most popular French recipes -- boeuf bourguignon, endive, pear and Roquefort
salad, and île flottante. Garten’s mini essays, particularly on Patricia
Wells and her cooking school, are a treat. Photos. Hardcover, 240 pp, $50.00.
6. Don’t Try This at Home
Edited by Kimberly Witherspoon & Andrew Friedman
Take heart, all you home cooks who have watched in horror as the soufflé fell,
as the grilled steak turned to cinder, at the dawning of the sickening realization
that what you thought was sugar was actually salt. Chefs make mistakes, too.
But when they make them it is not just in front of their nearest and dearest.
Claudia Fleming’s runaway egg whites, the New Year’s disasters of
Anthony Bourdain and Marcus Samuelsson and the tale of the blind line cook are
hilariously and deliciously reassuring. Hardcover, 308 pp, $32.95.
7. Canadian Living Everyday Favourites Cookbook
This latest offering, celebrating 30 years, from Canadian Living magazine
lacks the thoroughness in production which we have come to depend on. That aside
the book delivers the same reliable recipes we have come to know and love and
the two chapters featuring Top 10 Most Requested Recipes as well as Test Kitchen
Favourites are worth the purchase. Hardcover, 377 pp, $39.95.
8. Kitchen Diaries
Nigel Slater
In combining excerpts from his diary with recipes, Nigel Slater illustrates in
a very direct and appetizing way, the relationship between mood and food. Colour
photos. Hardcover, $59.95.
9. Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Ina Garten
Another Hampton's caterer/overachiever (Carter administration White House budget
analyst), Garten's recipes are rather retro in both content and presentation
- guacamole, baked ham, chocolate layer cake - there is an undefinable appeal
to this book, sort of a Martha before she took over the world. Hard cover, lots
of colour photos. $53.50.
10. Eat My Trivia
(food trivia game)
$29.99 Canadian
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