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News December 1, 2009
Table of Contents
Events
  Saturday, December 5th, 2 to 3 pm
Elizabeth Baird
The Slow Cooker Collection
Crock pots for those of an age, but slow cookers to millions of users. This piece of equipment is a standby in the kitchen these days. and when the Canadian Living team tackles the slow cooker you can be sure the results will appeal and you'll wonder what took them so long!
 Sunday, December 6th, 12 to 3 pm.
Shortbread Sunday with Sprucewood Handmade Cookie Co.
Come and sample these delicious shortbreads made in Warkworth, Eastern Ontario. We discovered these wonderful shortbreads at the Royal Winter Fair and decided to make them available in the store for the Holiday Season. Savoury and sweet selections in attractive packaging, terrific stocking stuffers or hostess gifts. After the taste the best part is there are 24 in the box, not your usual twelve! Raspberry Chocolate, Rosemary, lemon, spicy thai..... Only $7.50 each box of 24 pieces.
Keller visit & other autographed books
 The Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library was a buzz with 450+ of Toronto foodies &chefs on Monday night, waiting for the much anticipated arrival of Thomas Keller on his first visit to Toronto. He didn't disappoint. With standing room only, Keller hopped on stage and marvelled at the audience and asked if he could take their picture. A confirmed perfectionist Keller signed his books with a flourish of his calligraphy pen. It was a beautiful thing. Although he didn't beat Gordon Ramsay's record of 900 books in less than an hour, Keller's penmanship far outstrips Ramsay's!
For photos of the event (and his signature) check out our blog, and watch for our posting at Cookbook Store TV on our website.
 Meantime we do have extra signed copies of all Keller's books, which make wonderful gifts. It took us ten years to persuade Chef Keller to come to Toronto so who knows when he may return don't miss out on the penmanship!
Keep in mind after all our author visits we always have extra signed copies so even if you can't make it on the day you can purchase a signed copy.
November Best Sellers
- A Year in Lucy's Kitchen by Lucy Waverman (Canadian)
- For the Love of Soup by Jeanelle Mitchell (Canadian)
- Muffin Mania by Prange & Pauli (Canadian)
- Tender by Nigel Slater
- Fat by Jennifer McLagan (Canadian)
- Best of Chef at Home by Michael Smith (Canadian)
- Company's Coming Small Plates for Sharing (Canadian)
New Books
Verjus Update: Alison visited Niagara last weekend and brought back Featherstone's Pinot Noir verjus 2009, a wonderful rose colour and only $15.95 /750ml; she also stopped off at Southbrook Vineyards and managed to convince the good folks that The Cookbook Store could sell their gorgeous golden verjus for the holiday season (375ml bottle/$9.95). So with Sprucewood shortbread and verjus who needs more ideas for a hostess gift?
Company
Laurie Stempfle
Company Practical Gourmet series captured the 2009 Cuisine Canada Award in the cookbook category. What sets this book apart from earlier Company the flavour combinations. Yet, the methods remain as simple as ever as emphasized in the intro to each recipe. Hardcover, 223pp, $29.95
The Baking Answer Book
Lauren Chattman
Why melt chocolate over water instead of directly on the element? What is buttermilk? How big should my circle of dough be to fit in a 9 to these and other questions which stump us when baking are between the covers of this handy reference. The questions are divided into topic-themed chapters that range from science for bakers to high altitude baking. A short bibliography lists some quintessential baking books. Softcover, 377pp, $19.95
Ad Hoc at Home
Thomas Keller
Most known for recipes that require all day preparation and/or an army of sous chefs, Thomas Keller now turns to what he refers to as bowl cooking includes crab cakes, braised artichokes, but also buttermilk fried chicken and brownies. Best of all are his light bulbs moments bits of collected culinary wisdom such as using onion to both clean and grease pans. Glorious photos. Hardcover, 359 pp. $65.00.
The Craft of Baking
Karen DeMasco & Mindy Fox
You may be put off by the less than scintillating photos but do not ignore this book. Formerly with the Craft restaurants and now with Robert De Niro baking classics a contemporary twist. At the same time she imparts enough wisdom to inspire the less experienced courage to experiment on their own. Recipes range from Concord grape pie to brioche cinnamon rolls. Hardcover, 256 pp. $43.00.
Ristorante Fellini
Tony Percuoco
Neapolitan traditions meet the Pacific Ocean in Australia Coast restaurant, Ristorante Fellini. While this is a showcase for fish and seafood recipes, there are also equally appealing rice and pasta, meat and game dishes. Superb photography. Hardcover, 175 pp. $48.50.
 Waste
Tristram Stuart
A proponent of freegan food self-produced or retrieved food Tristram Stuart reveals the dark secret of the world food crisis that what the developed world throws out could feed the rest of the world several times over. Despite the dark picture of a created food crisis, Stuart message is that with a few fairly simple changes, the situation can still be turned around. Hardcover, 451 pp. $35.00.
 The 500 Best-value Wines in the LCBO 2010
Rod Phillips
Now in its third year, the arrival of this guide to the LCBO best-values is now an eagerly awaited event. In this year , 200 of the 500 featured wines are new entries. Each is rated out of five stars with tasting notes and suggested food pairings. There is also space for the user to add tasting comments. Softcover, 248 pp. $19.95.
 Hudson Valley Mediterranean
Laura Pensiero
Produce stars in this collection of recipes celebrating Hudson Valley foods, especially those used at Gigi Trattoria, and Gigi Market and Catering. The result is a perfect marriage between New York State fruits and vegetables and traditional Italian recipes. Hardcover, 317 pp. $39.00.
 Tender Volume 1
Nigel Slater
How fortunate we are that Nigel Slater decided to turn his lawn into a vegetable garden. Beautifully produced, his a to z (actually t!) guide to vegetables embraces general information on each vegetable, how they perform in the garden, available varieties, followed by their usage in the kitchen from seasoning information to inventive recipes for each. Throughout, Nigel Slater sights, smells, sounds and feel of the garden as it transforms over the seasons. Hardcover, 618 pp. $44.95.
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