The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman
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Book Reviews of The Best Recipes in the World
Book Review: terrific cookbook with an interesting challenge
Summary: 5 Stars
I think the cookbook is great and very useful. We've been able to go to an Indian restaurant, or a Malaysian restaurant, or a Mexican restaurant and try something we love, and then find a similar recipe in this book...at least enough for an inspiration. The recipes we have tried have been top-notch.
My only small complaint with this book is the organization. It is laid out like a normal cookbook: appetizers, soups, meats, poultry, desserts, etc., which is fine, but I think makes this book hard to get through if you're reading it as a source for new things to try. For example, it's not normal for my girlfriend and I to decide that we want to make "poultry" for dinner, we usually decide we want "italian" or "Thai" food, or whatever. In this book, since it is organized like a regular cookbook, you need to look through "poultry" recipes, the first might be Korean, the next from France, etc. It just makes things a little tricky for planning. Other than that, we love the book. If you want a book that you can use to find classic recipes from around the world, this is a good start.
Book Review: Immediate use
Summary: 5 Stars
Mark Bittman's TV show has been lots of fun, and the book is proving to be just as big a hit in my house. With its arrival just before Christmas, it was put to immediate use. I have not just searched through it; several recipes have been produced with excellent results. Many more are tagged for tryout as soon as possible. Bittman's ingredients are true to the cuisine from which the recipes came, but not so esoteric as to be difficult to find in my small-city hometown. His directions are logical and easy to follow, and assume some degree of knowledge on the part of the cook using them. My husband does have a complaint: I have been monopolizing the book so he hasn't had equal access to it. He'll get his turn. It just might take a while.Book Review: Culinary trip around the world for the novice and seasoned home cook.
Summary: 5 Stars
Broad selection of international recipes. Well written and organized. Recipes are spare in the Bittman "minimalist" style with interesting and informative sidenotes. Chapters organized from appetizers, soups, salads, fish, poultry, meat, vegetables to condiments, desserts and beverages allow easy comparison and contrasting of cuisines for the same foods. Each recipe is catagorized "make ahead," serve at room temp/cold," "30 minutes or less." and indexed by cuisine. The index is very helpful for menu planning and selecting culinary themes. It is a fun book to read and easy book to use. For the novice as well as the seasoned home cook. Nice addition to cookbook library.Book Review: A comprhensive collection of recipes.
Summary: 5 Stars
Mark Bittman has presented us with a wonderful set of worldly recipes. The recipes are usually adapted well for the average cook and will give you a taste of various national and ethnic flavors. Although I have not cooked all of the recipes in this book, what I have cooked, work.
Bittman has always done an excellent job of adapting recipes for available foods, herbs, and spices. Unusual techniques are explained clearly and concisely.
I can find nothing to complain about "the Best Recipes in the World." It has become one of the favorite cookbooks in my collection.
Book Review: Great for adventuresome chefs of all skill levels
Summary: 5 Stars
This cookbook is a great choice for classics and new ideas alike. It's my first resource for any and all cooking ventures, and the pre-recipe descriptions provided by the author make it easy to tell whether a given recipe will fit my time frame, budget, tastes and cooking abilities. Bittman also provides alternative preparations for many of his dishes, which makes it easy to alter to one's tastes or to spice up an old favorite. The book is well organized and easy to navigate, is packed with information and easy to use. A wonderful cookbook overall!